Mitchell Plateau

A detour into the deep north Kimberley that few have experienced.

Venture off the Gibb River Road on a detour that rewards you with jaw-dropping views of the wild escarpments, tropical rainforests and tiered falls of the spectacular Mitchell River National Park, and world-class fishing on the remote north coast near Kalumburu.

A true adventure and a challenging drive, the unsealed Kalumburu Road winds its way through changing tropical landscapes of incredible natural diversity and great cultural significance to the traditional land owners, the Wunambal people.

The section that climbs to the Mitchell Plateau leads you through patches of rainforest, dense stands of Livistona palms and eucalypt forests supporting an incredible variety of mammal, bird and reptile species.

Access to the main attraction, Mitchell Falls, is via the unsealed Mitchell Plateau track. You can opt to take a six-kilometre return hike, a short helicopter flight to the falls from the camping area, or walk one way and fly the other! Along the route to Mitchell Falls you will pass by Little Mertens Falls and Big Mertens Fall, and you can choose to extend your adventure by including a drive to Surveyors Pool, walking the last 1km or so from the end of the track.

Continuing north, you’ll reach Western Australia’s most remote and isolated Aboriginal community at the historic Kalumburu Mission. This ancient and rugged landscape has been home to the Kwini, Gambra and Walmbi people for many thousands of years, and their stories are told in the Kalumburu Museum. The community invites you to discover its culture and experience some of the best fishing on Australia's coast.