A 410-mile outback track through the ancient Kimberley region — one of the last true wilderness drives on Earth. Gorges, waterfalls, and Aboriginal rock art older than the pyramids. 4WD essential. Fuel and water planning critical. Note: driving is on the left.

Stops on This Tour (20)

1. 1
   Derby — Boab Prison Tree The western starting point. The 1,500-year-old boab tree, 14 meters in circumference, was reportedly used to hold Aboriginal prisoners in the 1890s. A sobering start to a journey through ancient country.
2. 2
   Windjana Gorge A 3.5-kilometer gorge cut through a 350-million-year-old Devonian reef system. Freshwater crocodiles sun on the banks of the Lennard River. The reef was once beneath a tropical sea.
3. 3
   Tunnel Creek A 750-meter cave carved through the Oscar Range by a creek that still flows through. Freshwater crocodiles, bats, and stalactites inhabit the darkness. Bring a waterproof torch and wade through.
4. 4
   Galvans Gorge A short walk leads to a palm-fringed waterfall and plunge pool — a perfect swimming hole in the Kimberley heat. Aboriginal Wandjina art adorns the rock shelter above the falls. Fuel up at the last station.
5. 5
   Mount Barnett Roadhouse The only fuel and supply point on the central Gibb. Run by the Kupungarri Aboriginal community, it provides diesel, basic food, and camping. Plan your fuel range carefully — the next stop is far.
6. 6
   Manning Gorge A swim across a creek and a one-hour walk leads to a stunning waterfall dropping into a deep pool. The upper gorge reveals Aboriginal art sites painted over tens of thousands of years.
7. 7
   Mount Elizabeth Station A working cattle station offering accommodation since the 1940s. Scenic helicopter flights reveal gorges and waterfalls inaccessible by road — the Kimberley's true scale is best understood from the air.
8. 8
   Barnett River Gorge A series of cascading pools connected by small waterfalls. Each pool is warm and crystal-clear. The isolation here is profound — you may be the only visitors for days.
9. 9
   Pentecost River Crossing A river crossing that tests both vehicle and nerve. Saltwater crocodiles inhabit the Pentecost River — assess the crossing carefully. The Cockburn Range rises dramatically behind.
10. 10
    El Questro Wilderness Park A million-acre wilderness park with thermal springs, cliff-edge pools, and gorges. El Questro Gorge and Zebedee Springs offer accessible wonders in a vast landscape. Check conditions before swimming.
11. 11
    Emma Gorge A 3-kilometer walk through Livistona palm forest leads to a 65-meter waterfall and swimming hole surrounded by towering red cliffs. The warm water and dramatic setting make this a Kimberley highlight.
12. 12
    Home Valley Station An Indigenous-owned cattle station beneath the Cockburn Range. Horse riding and fishing on the Pentecost River offer authentic outback experiences. The sunset over the ranges is unforgettable.
13. 13
    Cockburn Range A massive sandstone escarpment rising from the floodplain. The range glows deep red at sunset. Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock art in shelters along its base dates back 40,000 years.
14. 14
    Wyndham — Five Rivers Lookout Five rivers converge in the mudflats below this viewpoint — the Ord, King, Pentecost, Durack, and Forrest. The tidal flats stretch to Cambridge Gulf. King crocodiles patrol every waterway.
15. 15
    Kununurra — Ord River The eastern terminus of the Gibb River Road. Lake Argyle — Australia's largest artificial lake — holds 18 times the volume of Sydney Harbour. The Ord River irrigation scheme turned desert into farmland.
16. 16
    Lake Argyle A vast inland sea created by the Ord River Dam in 1972. Freshwater crocodiles, wallabies, and over 260 bird species thrive here. The infinity pool at the Lake Argyle Resort overlooks the lake and the Carr Boyd Range.
17. 17
    Mirima National Park Called "Mini Bungle Bungles" — eroded sandstone formations resembling the famous Purnululu beehive domes. The short walking trails reveal the ancient geology of the Kimberley in miniature.
18. 18
    Zebra Rock Gallery Unique banded mudstone found only at Lake Argyle — 600-million-year-old rock with zebra-like stripes. The gallery showcases polished specimens of this geological rarity.
19. 19
    Celebrity Tree Park — Kununurra Boab trees planted by visiting celebrities line the park. Nicole Kidman's tree stands near the entrance. The massive boabs can live over 1,500 years in this ancient landscape.
20. 20
    Ivanhoe Crossing A concrete causeway crossing the Ord River — a popular spot for watching freshwater crocodiles. The crossing floods in the wet season, cutting off road access and isolating the community beyond.

Tour content is for entertainment and general information only. Verify practical details independently. Not a substitute for official guidance.