North Of Perth Western Australia

Campervan Touring Information

The Kimberley in a week

It will take you five days to cross the top of Western Australia if you stop to enjoy the highlights of the region, and you'll probably want to spend at least two days in Broome before heading south to Perth.

DAY 1: Kununurra and Lake Argyle

Drive time:
3.5  hrs from Gregory National Park in the Northern Territory
6 hr 45 min (650 km) from Fitzroy Crossing

Kununurra

Kununurra is the first town you’ll come to upon entering Western Australia from the Northern Territory. It is a green oasis on a river surrounded by the red landscapes of the Kimberly.

Things to do in Kununurra

• Take an Ord River boat tour to see the wildlife (from 11.30 am – 5.30 pm $180)
• Walk through Mirima National Park (formerly called Hidden Valley National Park) a mini bungle bungles right in the town of Kununurra.
• Climb Kelly’s Knob for great views (take plenty of water and take your time).

Lake Argyle

1 hr south of Kununurra

After so much flat desert you’ll be pleased to know that man-made Lake Argyle has hills (The Carr Boyd Ranges), greenery, and water. Lots of water. Lake Argyle covers 1000 km², an area 18 times the size of Sydney Harbour. At full flood level that area doubles!

Things to do in Lake Argyle

• Visit the museum
• Drive over the dam wall
• Visit Homestead Falls
• Take a sunset cruise
• Swim in the infinity pool ($10 if you are not staying here)

Campervan Camping

The caravan park at Lake Argyle is also the resort with the infinity pool that has amazing views over Lake Argyle. There is also a restaurant, bar, shop, bait, tour bookings and fuel.
RATES: $17.50/adult (there are family discounts) $10/adult if you just want to use the infinity pool.

DAY 2: Parry Lagoon and Wyndham

Drive time: 45 mins

On the Victorian Highway, take the Wyndham turn off onto the Great Northern Highway. Travel for 30 minutes and look for a blue sign to Parry Lagoon Nature Reserve.

Parry Lagoon Nature Reserve

Stop at the information bay on the way in to get your bearings. This wetland area is best visited just after the wet season (wet season is Dec – Mar) but there is water here all year on waterlily studded Marglu Billabong. You’ll see a lot of waterbirds such as jabirus, spoonbills, herons, magpie geese, waterfowl, pelicans, egrets, ibis, and more. There are bird hides so you can watch them.

Check out the surreal boab forest at Parry Creek Farm.

Do not swim here and keep away from the waters edge. There are crocodiles.

The Grotto

A little further north, heading toward Wyndham, is the Grotto. It is 2WD accessible but the water dries up in summer so it’s best to visit it just after the wet season, such as in April. It is croc-free and safe for swimming.

There are a lot of stairs. Maybe that’s what keeps the crocs away. There is a tarzan swing which is fun. Take care of submerged rocks before jumping in from a height.

Wyndham

Wyndham is in two parts; old Wyndham (or Wyndham Port) and Wyndham three Mile (or Wyndham East). Wyndham is the northern most town in Western Australia and is about as isolated as you can get, surrounded by desert and mudflats.

The arrival of the Overland Telegraph Line in 1889 provided the local Aborigines with an excellent source of spearheads because they climbed up the poles and helped themselves to the ceramic insulators.

Population is now 1200 and is partly sustained by tourism.

Things to do in Wyndham

• Five Rivers Lookout. It is signposted from Wyndham Three Mile and you couldn’t get a better view unless you actually flew over the region. The five rivers are the Durack, King, and Pentecost to the south, Forrest to the west and Ord to the north.
• The Big Crocodile at the entrance to Wyndham Three Mile. This 20 metre long crocodile is hard to miss. It was designed and built by sculptor Andrew Hickson and the students from the Halls Creek TAFE using steel rods, mesh and concrete.
• Wyndham Port has a few old meatworks buildings and a small display of the trains and cranes which operated on the wharf. The Old Post Office (across the road from the low security prison) is now the Tourist Information Centre and Post Office Museum.
• Wyndham Three Mile: At Wyndham Three Mile the local Aboriginal population have constructed enormous statues depicting an Aboriginal family with a dingo and kangaroo (It is a block east of the main street). In the same street is a open air cinema with comfortable deck chairs, a small screen and enclosed projector booth.
• The Prison Tree is on the King River road. It is a hollowed out old baobab tree which was used as a temporary lockup by the local police,

There is camping at Parry Creek Farm. To get to the campsite, keep driving past the information bay on Parry Creek Road.  Facilities include a pool, BBQs, camp kitchen and nature walks.
RATES: Unpowered sites are $15 for up to 8 people.

DAY 3 – 4 (optional): The Bungle Bungles

Drive Time: 5 hours from Kununurra or Wyndham (4WD can be hired from Kununurra)

Located in the Purnululu National Park, the Bungle Bungles are accessible by 4WD only. You have two options. You can take a day tour from the Bungle Bungle Caravan Park for $315 per person. Or you can hire a 4WD vehicle from Kununurra for around $70 per day. Due to the distance from Kununurra (5 hr drive), you’ll need the car for at least 2 or 3 days and will have to overnight in a tent.

After turning off the highway to Purnululu National Park, stop at the information bay to get your bearings. Further along, the Purnululu Visitor Center (Ranger Station) has maps to the walks and nearest lookouts.

Free Camping

Between Kununurra and Fitzroy Crossing (650 km) there are 5 rest areas where you can camp overnight for free. Just look for the “24hr” blue signs.

Budget Camping

Larrawa Bush Camp isn’t free but it has more facilities than the rest areas including hot showers, flushing toilets, internet, BBQs and campfires.
RATES: $10 pp

DAY 5: Mimbi Caves and Fitzroy Crossing

Drive time:
6 hrs 45 mins (650 km) from Kununurra/Parry Creek Farm
4 hr 10 min (400 km) from the Purnululu National Park turn off.

Mimbi Caves

96 km before you reach Fitzroy Crossing you will see a sign to Mimbi Caves, a series of cave networks carved through the 400 million year old Devonian reef system which includes active growing limestone formations, including shawls and flowstones, some with sparkling crystals.

Book a 3 hour walking tour with Girloorloo Tours a 100% indigenously owned and operated tour company.
RATES: adults $80, kids $40

Campervan Camping

There is a campsite at the caves, if you feel like resting up, with swimming holes that are safe for swimming. Group rates are $14 pp. Facilities include a camp kitchen, toilets, shower and BBQs.

Fitzroy Crossing

Fitzroy is a small town with a 24 hr fuel station, shops, a visitor centre and a place to camp in your campervan The main attraction here is Geikie Gorge National Park – a river carved through weathered sandstone cliffs - which lies 20 km north of town on a sealed road.

1 hr boat tours run from May – October.

Campervan Camping

Fitzroy River Lodge has a swimming pool, showers, laundry, tennis, bar and pub food. It has grassy sites under shady trees and friendly staff. The amenities are okay.
RATES: $38 for two people.

Day 6 & 7: Broome

From Fitzroy Crossing it is a 4 hour drive to Broome. There are a lot of things to do in Broome, so you will probably want to spend a couple of days here to enjoy it and recuperate from all the driving.