Crossing The King Edward River

by Tina
(Germany)

Crossing The King Edward River

Crossing The King Edward River

The road to the Mitchell Plateau had just been opened. The King Edward River was full of loads of water. Novices as we were with river crossings, we did not dare to cross!

Then, lucky us, the Mitchell River National Park ranger arrived and assured us: "If I can do it, you can do it as well." So he crossed first. Then we did.

And then yet another tourist arrived on his way to Port Warrender - towing his boat behind! We asked the ranger, if he thinks the car and the boat will be able to cross.

His answer: "I don't know if the car will, the boat sure will - we just don't know where it will cross exactly..."

Comments for Crossing The King Edward River

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Oct 28, 2007
 Great Photo And A Good Laugh
by: Birgit

Thanks, Tina, for a great photo, a good laugh and the memories! Yes, an early season King Edward crossing is quite an adventure, isn't it? I remember my own first time and I was exactly like you! Sitting there until the ranger came along... :-). No way I would have ventured into the river without his assurance!
Jul 10, 2008
 Best route
by: Charles

It's natural as you enter the river to follow the curve of the left hand markers - this is the best route, as I found out on the way back when I cut straight across: much deeper, rocking from side to side, scary! So keep to the same path on the way back. It worked best to use first gear in 4WD(H), take my foot right off the accelerator and just steer, then give it a gentle boost to get out. Easy!
Nov 01, 2009
 King Edward Crossing
by: JJ

We traveled the road to Mitchell Falls late May 09. There is a huge rock on the right of the crossing so keep to the left. Came back through just on dark very scarey going through at night. The water seemed a lot deeper.
Dec 27, 2009
 All over
by: Scott

The fun is all over with the shire of Wyndham East Kimberley sending a excavator up there mid season 09 and totally filling the crossing with rock. There is no longer a river crossing instead there is just a rock crossing! :(
Aug 03, 2016
 King Edward River.
by: Dennis Ferrell

From 1982 to 1986 I lived at Mitchell Plateau. I worked for Mitchell Plateau Bauxite and lived all year round at the mining camp. We were locked into the area for the wet season and the only way in or out was by aircraft.

The King Edward River crossing was sometimes up to 6 meters deep at the height of the wet. So from November to May we never even attempted a crossing. We used to wait until after Easter each year to grade the track to Kalumburu Rd so as to access our fuel truck supplies of 25000 lts of diesel and drums of petrol.

My Toyota Land Cruiser used to float/bounce from rock to rock in the King Edward and I had to smooth the rock as best I could with the Grader.

It took 24hrs of continuous driving to reach Derby just after the wet before the Gibb River Road was graded.
A great experience never forgotten.

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