Kimberley Travel

The northernmost region of Western Australia is called the Kimberley. This spectacular region has an area of over 421,000 square kilometres.

It is bordered by the Northern Territory to the East, the Pilbara to the South, the Indian Ocean to the Northwest and the Timor Sea to the North.

Broome is a historical pearling town situated in the Kimberley region in Western Australia. It is developing as a tourist resort, popular with Australians, in the dry season (from May to September).

In the dry months the weather is ideal. It has sunny days with temperatures around 30C and balmy evenings and nights when the temperature fall to the low twenties.

The town is situated on the Indian Ocean and the main beach, Cable Beach, is a beautiful expanse of golden sand. The sunsets on Cable Beach are magnificent and can be enjoyed on the beach or from one of the restaurants on the esplanade.

Regions, Cities and Major Towns of the Kimberleys

• Broome Surrounds and Dampier Peninsula are becoming fashionable tourist destinations for Australians. Nice beaches and very few people make for a nice retreat away from it all.
• The Gibb River Road crosses the heart of the region.
• The Mitchell Plateau is an extremely remote region of wilderness.
• In the South Kimberley, the Great Northern Highway crosses bushland for several hundred kilometers.
• Broome

Things to See at the Kimberleys

• Purnululu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, located South of Kununurra. Access is by 4WD only.
• Windjana Gorge National Park, around a beautiful gorge formed by an ancient coral reef now emerged, is accessed through the Western side of the Gibb River Road. There is usually a large population of freshwater crocodiles.
• Geikie Gorge National Park, offering the possibility of picturesque cruises on the Fitzroy river.
• Lake Argyle, South of Kununurra, is a huge artificial lake with a very rich fauna (crocodiles, marsupials, etc.).
• The famed Cable Beach, from which you can admire the sunset while riding camels, is indeed a nice place. You will also find various historic sites and shops focusing on the world-famous pearls produced in the town. The town has a few interesting restaurants, and boosts the only nightlife for a few hundred kilometers around. Do not get too overexcited however, it is very far from the excentricity of the East Coast. Overall, it is a nice place to have a break before going to the Wild.

• The main reason to come to Kimberley is to enjoy the surrounding wilderness. Drive only a few kilometers on an unsealed track and you can quickly feel the immensity of the region. You can also observe wild birds by the thousands (provided you are not too far from a water source, you will hear them when the sun rises anyway) and wander through unusual flora (baobs all around...). Saltwater as well as freshwater crocodiles are found in numbers in the region, so observe if you can, but be very careful at all times near waterholes.

• The UNESCO world heritage Purnululu, with its multitude of dome formations, is one of the star attractions of the Kimberley. The park has been only "explored" recently (mid 1980s!), though it was known by the aboriginals for a much longer time. Be warned that the 4WD track to the park will put your vehicle to the test.

• Be it the spectacular (but very tough to access) Mitchell Falls on the Mitchell plateau, the dozens of gorges on the Gibb River Road, including the Bell Gorge, the Geikie Gorge close to Fitzroy Crossing and the Windjana Gorge in the eponym Windjana Gorge National Park, the area is simply a feast of Gorges and falls.

• Strictly speaking, the Horizontal falls are not falls, but very strong tidal currents through very narrow gorges giving the strange impression of horizontality. There is no road access, you will have to go through a tour operator with a turboprop or an helicopter.

• North Kimberley is the place to see the Gwion Gwion or Bradshaw Figures Aboriginal paintings, some of which are believed to be around 50 000 years old. You will probably need the authorization of the traditionnal owners, so enquire beforehand, for instance with a tour operator. Some of these paintings are located in very remote areas.

• In Derby, on the road to Broome, the huge Boab Prison Tree is believed to have been used as a staging point for prisoners.

• From Broome, a rough 4WD track will lead you through the Dampier Peninsula up to Cape Leveque. There are splendid beaches, nice snorkeling and good Barramundi fishing in the area. Accommodation is available at the tip of the cape at the aboriginal owned Kooljaman Resort.