Best use of little time in the Kimberley

We will be travelling the Gibb River Road in September, leaving from Darwin, ending up in Broome after 11-12 days. We want to make the most of our sadly limited time, and are trying to work out if we have time to do the Bungle Bungles as well as the Mitchell Plateau.

We are hiring a 4WD with rooftop tent and camping equipment. Do you have any advice as to "not miss" places, or best places to visit for this time of year?

Your site is fantastic, by the way!

Regards
Melissa
(Darwin ex Adelaide)

Re: Little Time In The Kimberley

Hi Melissa!

Thanks!!
That is indeed little time, but you can fit in the Bungle Bungles and the Mitchell Falls. (If you asked me for the two most important "not miss" places, that's them…) However, you will have to skip other stuff.

• Most people starting in Darwin first visit Kakadu, Litchfield and Katherine Gorge. I'd skip all that. It is so close to Darwin, as someone living in Australia you can always see it another time. It only takes a few days.
• Good spots to camp the first night would be Victoria River Roadhouse or Keep River National Park. Both offer a couple of beautiful walks, best seen in the early morning or late afternoon.
• The Duncan Road is a good alternative to get from there to the Bungle Bungles. (Saves backtracking to Kununurra on the highway when you leave the Bungles, but requires an extra night, which you may not have.)
• I'd spend two nights in the Bungles, and then head to Kununurra for one night, to fuel up and stock up for the Gibb River Road trip.
• Next day you could see some of El Questro, (Zebedee Springs if you can get there before lunch time, Emma Gorge, El Questro Gorge) as time allows. I'd recommend to spend the night at Home Valley Station.
• From HVS you can get to the Mitchell Plateau in a day, but it's a big drive.
• Otherwise camp at the King Edward River. It's a beautiful site, and if you get an early start you can still drive the last bit and then hike to the falls the same day.
• You would camp on the Mitchell Plateau the next night. That leaves you four nights for the rest of the Gibb River Road, Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek. I think two to three nights for that part is reasonable.

That's a busy schedule, but you have one or two nights to play with. You could use them to laze on the beach in Broome, or take it easier and see more along the Gibb River Road.

You'd miss Geikie Gorge (that's ok), and you won't have time for Cape Leveque (that's a real shame).

Hope that helps some with the planning!