Gibb River Rd etc

Hi Gossy,

Do keep away from the busy campsites between 6-20July as this is school holiday time and will be heaving...Silent Grove, El Questro, Home Valley, etc all will be pretty full at this time and where possible try and book ahead. Other than that it is a good idea at that time to get off the beaten track and also avoid the major tourist venues like the Bungles where all the big tour 4WD coaches will be rolling into. The Gibb is no longer the "hard road" to travel and more and more there are inexperienced drivers out there on a mission.... slow down and enjoy!

Gossy,

I'd look at trying to grab yourself something in Broome now believe it or not). It's a nightmare otherwise and a luck of the draw if you are prepared to line up outside the parks first thing in the morning. Coral Coast is the same with the camp-sites at Cape Range being first in, best dressed at the ranger station that morning. Port Headland/Karratha may be OK but bloody expensive and usually a 3 night stay max. Try Point Sampson as an alternative to Karratha. 80 mile Beach half way between Hedland and Broome is another good stop but ring them a week or two before.

ELQ you should be OK but Kununurra can be tight during June-July (REAL tight). The free camps along the Gibb will be taken early but saying that, we had amazing luck finding Dog Chain Creek free last year. A Kimberley guide book would be a good thing and I'd suggest the EO GRR trek notes will probably outline a few roadside camps along the way.

Have fun.

Mick

Hi, I am a guide up it in that amazing part of the world. You will be there with every other mad nut. Busy is an understatement. Can you delay till August? Dog chain creek is an amazing place and try to get arvo tea there. Not easily done. We had seven roll overs this year. They are upgrading the road by forming it and people have been clocked at 120km/hr. Can you beleive it. In 2010 the Wydham police were sent up the Kalumburu Rd due to speed and drinking. You will also find that around August they will grade the road after the school hols and your 4by has a better chance of survival!!!!! The kids won't miss much and probably get a better education? My email should show up and if you have some specific questions, happy to help.

shane

Sorry just saw the tanami part. remember, Rabbit flats is now closed and when I went that way in 2010 fuel was at the bakery at Yudu. I wouldn't trust it too much either! Tilmonth if you can make it would be best bet. While you are Halls Creek, Palm springs is well worth a look and you can camp there as well. Sunsets are amazing and the best time. The country comes alive!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Gossy

Broome is the one that needs booking in peak season these days - but a place we avoid. If you ask at the tourist centre, there are overflow areas you may be able to get into if all is booked out. Also camping area behind Roebuck Road House - without the need to drive into Broome.Kununurra can be tight, but you can usually get an unpowered site and sit it out for a day or two until someone pulls out. Pleasant CP at Wyndham (although amenities blocks are old) which you can also use as a fall back if you can't get into Kununurra. We reach Kununurra just before their show, otherwise showgrounds is an overflow camp ground, and we still managed to get a place. We never book anywhere so we can travel at our own pace.

We hit Alice Springs in 2009 just before their show early July, and getting into CPs wasn't the easiest.

In most places if you arrive before lunch there are always people pulling out each day.

If you don't need power it is much easier to get into a CP or bush camp a bit out of town.

Check out My Blogs 2008 for Gibb River Road and Tanami.

Motherhen

We travelled the Gibb in July/August in 2011. We did not want to be tired down to dates and so we did not book. Having said that, we did book the Horizontal Waters Falls trip, the overnight stay, and glad we did. That trip is a must do!
The biggest problem we found was with large tag a long groups. They would arrive at camping areas and just take over. Of cause they would have to set up together and were very noisy. Windjana Gorge was so full we camped in the tour group area. There were some vacant spots in the camping area, but when we tried to go to them someone would run over and say they are holding that spot for someone else. The local rangers said you cannot hold sites, but who wants to argue and cause a scene.
We never were unable to find a place to camp, even at Broome. We just tried not to arrive late in the day and took our time touring.
The Kimberley is a big place and even though lots visit you can still find some quite places. We will be back!

Camping in Tour Operators area, Windjana Gorge.




Nice spot at Bungle Bungles.


Camp spot just outside Halls Creek.


Silent Grove camp ground


Camping atEl Questro.


Nice spot north of Kalumburu.