The Gibb River Road Adventure touring route map
Photo by Michael Jerrard on Unsplash

10 days · off-road touring · hard · The Kimberley

The Gibb River Road Adventure

The Kimberley’s legendary 660 km of dirt between Derby and Kununurra, strung with gorges and station stays. Brutal corrugations, a couple of real crossings, and worth every kilometre if your rig is up to it.

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  1. Day : Derby to Windjana

  2. Day : The central gorges

  3. Day : El Questro country

  4. Day : The Pentecost and out

The Kimberley’s legendary 660 km of dirt between Derby and Kununurra, strung with gorges and station stays. Brutal corrugations, a couple of real crossings, and worth every kilometre if your rig is up to it. ## The route, leg by leg ### Leg 1: Derby to Windjana Derby → Windjana Gorge · roughly 150 km · 1–2 nights Windjana and Tunnel Creek. Freshwater crocs sunning on the banks. ### Leg 2: The central gorges Windjana → Manning Gorge · roughly 230 km · 3–4 nights Bell Gorge, Galvans, Adcock, Manning. The best swimming of the trip. ### Leg 3: El Questro country Manning → El Questro · roughly 200 km · 2–3 nights Emma Gorge, Zebedee Springs, El Questro Gorge. ### Leg 4: The Pentecost and out El Questro → Kununurra · roughly 110 km · 1 nights The Pentecost River crossing (tidal, estuarine crocs — check depth), then the bitumen to Kununurra. ## Planning notes Total distance is around 660 km and we would allow about 10 days to do it without living in the driver’s seat. Best months: Jun–Aug (roads open, gorges flowing). Distances and timings here are a starting point — how long you actually take depends on how often you find a spot you do not want to leave.

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Common questions

Can I take a caravan on the Gibb River Road?
A well-built off-road van can do the main Gibb in the dry, but the corrugations destroy trailers not made for it, and the side tracks (Mitchell Falls, Kalumburu) are 4WD-only. Many people leave the van in Broome or Kununurra and run the Gibb with a rooftop tent or camper.
Is the Pentecost River crossing dangerous?
It can be. It is tidal, the depth changes, and there are large estuarine crocodiles. Check the depth and the tide, watch someone else cross first, and never walk in to check it.