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The Kimberley in WA is often cited as Australia’s last frontier.
Covering a whopping 420,000 square kilometres and stretching from the Northern Territory border all the way to the Indian Ocean, this vast wilderness is a magnet for adventure enthusiasts from all over the world.
I’m often asked ‘what’s the right amount of time to spend in the Kimberley’, and my answer is usually ‘how long do you have’? There is so much to see and do, and vast distances to cover. You will need to plan your visit carefully, paying special attention to the season you’ll be travelling in and what sort of vehicle you want to take. A guided tour may be the answer for those who are unsure about navigating the region under their own steam.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in the Kimberley.
Watch our video of ten top things to do in the Kimberley:
Ten Amazing Things to Do on a Kimberley Road Trip in Western Australia, 2020 – The Big Bus
Welcome to The Big Bus tour and travel guide’s YouTube channel. In this video, we bring you ten amazing things to do in the Kimberley in Western Australia’s …
1. Drive the Gibb River Road
For a Kimberley adventure like no other, hit the Gibb River Road. We’ve been driving this 660-kilometre outback route regularly since the early 1990s. Stop along the way to visit far flung cattle stations, explore rugged gorges, and swim in breathtakingly beautiful waterholes. It’s always a memorable trip.
Technically you could drive the Gibb River Road in the dry season from one end to the other in a 2WD vehicle with appropriate clearance, but it’s the station tracks where you could come unstuck — as they’re not regularly maintained. Therefore, a 4WD is recommended. A further word of caution: the corrugations will shake your vehicle and caravan or camper trailer to the core. And while it sounds ridiculously simple, a roll of heavy duty adhesive tape can be very useful for holding things together until you’re back in the outside world. Likewise, cable ties, super glue, and silicon goop will all prove handy in a shake-induced emergency.
2. Explore Purnululu National Park
The striking black and orange beehive-style domes of the Bungle Bungle Range in UNESCO World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park make bushwalking through its gorges and chasms an almost other-worldly experience. Towering up to 300 metres in places, this stunning massif in the remote East Kimberley is a must-visit if you have the time and high clearance tyre tread (the trip from regional travel hub Kununurra takes around five hours each way). It’s also possible to fly in/fly out. There is eco lodge accommodation inside the park, along with two bush-style campgrounds.
3. Cruise Western Australia’s largest lake
Classed as an inland sea and more than 18 times the size of Sydney Harbour, man-made Lake Argyle — roughly 70 kilometres from Kununurra — is big. Really big. And it would be remiss not to book a sightseeing cruise. The sunset trip operated by Lake Argyle Cruises is our pick from the many options available. You’ll motor past some of the lake’s more than 70 islands, which are home to an abundance of birds and wildlife. Cool drink in hand, watch the sun sink behind the glowing red ranges. Magic!
4. See a waterfall at sea
Over on the Kimberley coast, one of the most unique natural attractions is the Horizontal Falls in the Buccaneer Archipelago. Here, massive tides are forced through two narrow gorges, and the water surges horizontally — creating waterfalls up to four metres in height.
Tour boats have been traversing the falls since 2006, and it’s a thrilling experience. However, following a serious accident in 2022, the WA Government announced that in consultation with the Traditional Owners the activity will be phased out over a number of years. For now, you still have the option to do it. Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures offers an all inclusive day trip from Broome.
5. Chill out in Broome
In our opinion, there’s nowhere on earth quite like Broome. The western gateway to the Kimberley is packed with character and characters, and welcomes visitors with real heart. Amongst the town’s many attractions is the oldest outdoor picture theatre in the world — Sun Pictures. Pull up a canvas pew and watch a movie on the big screen while the stars twinkle overhead. You can also ride a camel along gorgeous Cable Beach at sunset, and check out the famous fossilised dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point.
5. Camp on the Dampier Peninsula
With its red cliffs, turquoise water, and ultra white sand, the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome oozes natural beauty — and camping is a wonderful way to fully immerse yourself in the vivid splendour of this ancient landscape. Free or informal camping is not permitted on the Peninsula. You will need to stay in designated campgrounds, and the fees charged generally support local Aboriginal communities.
7. Learn about an age-old culture
The Kimberley is home to multiple Aboriginal groups and provides plenty of opportunities to learn about the world’s oldest continuous culture. There are dozens of Indigenous-owned-and-operated tours and accomodation options operating across the region. The protocols for entering remote communities vary; seek advice from the Broome Visitor Centre before you set off.
8. Walk through WA’s oldest cave system
Tunnel Creek in the Central West Kimberley is another extraordinary natural attraction and one of our all-time favourite places to visit in the wider region. Walking through this 750-metre-long subterranean watercourse is surreal, and yes, your feet will get wet. Wear appropriate shoes and a head torch to help light the way. Shine your torch around to spot stalactites, stalagmites, and the odd low flying bat!
9. Attend a local festival
Festivals are a great way for visitors to get a true taste of local life, and there are several staged across the Kimberley mid-year. The Ord Valley Muster and Agricultural Show are held in Kununurra in May and July respectively, while cross-cultural fiesta Shinju Matsuri takes over Broome in late August/early September. Derby holds two festivals during July: the Boab Festival — a celebration of the West Kimberley lifestyle, and Mowanjum — one of the largest Indigenous cultural events in Western Australia.
10. Do a scenic flight
The rugged Kimberley is spectacular at ground level, but seeing it from the air is next level (literally!) and we highly recommend splashing out on at least one scenic flight during your trip. Helicopter and fixed-wing flights depart from Broome, Kununurra, and Derby, and can last anywhere from less than an hour to a full day (or longer). Kimberley Air Tours’ year-round Bungle Bungle Air Adventure from Kununurra will see you soaring above Lake Argyle, the epic Bungle Bungles, and the now-closed Argyle Diamond Mine.
This post was published thanks to Stylus Tapes International.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.australiasnorthwest.com.
Browse our range of Western Australia tours and experiences here.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the best things to do in the Kimberley? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Linda Hanan is a freelance photojournalist who travels for six to eight months a year around Australia with her travel writer partner Grant. With a number of touring setups available at their fingertips, this adventure-loving duo vary their travelling style between camping, caravanning, and off-the-grid 4WD-ing. When they’re not on the road, they’re either enjoying the great outdoors on their hobby farm in South Australia or sharing their travel experiences at My Aussie Travel Guide.
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