Gibb River Road

A true outback odyssey on one of Australia’s most unique 4WD tracks. 

Turning off the bitumen and going ‘over the range’ on the Gibb River Road is a truly unique Aussie outback adventure through the Kimberley’s vast untouched wilderness, ancient gorge country and epic cattle stations the size of small countries.

Originally constructed in the 1960s to transport cattle from outlying stations to the ports of Derby and Wyndham, the 660-kilometre 4WD trail is the best way to discover the natural treasures of the Kimberley’s wild heartlands.

• Gorges
• Gibb River Road Tours
• Places to Stay
• Itineraries
• Plan Your Trip
• About the Gibb River Road
• Continue Your Journey
• Frequently Asked Questions

Tours that take you along the Gibb

Head off the beaten track with an experienced guide and like-minded fellow travellers, join a micro-group (6 travellers or fewer) or to take a private charter/tour. 

Gibb River Road tours allow for a choice of accommodation, from fully accommodated, to participatory camping tours, where you pitch in to set up camp and prepare the evening meal, tours offering permanent campsites for some or all of your overnight stays, or tours allowing you to choose to upgrade your accommodation along the way. 

The classic Kimberley 4WD itineraries can vary from 10 to 15 days, travelling through the Gibb River Road and onwards to take in all of the region's major attractions, such as the Purnululu National Park (the Bungles), and on some longer itineraries, the Punamii-Unpuu (Mitchell Falls). 

Where to stay on the Gibb River Road

There's a surprising range of accommodation for travellers along the Gibb River Road, from campsites to station stays and glamping.

Explore Gorges in Stations and Wilderness Camps

Dotted along the Gibb a number of former and current cattle stations offer camping, comfortable accommodation and meals, as well as the chance to discover some of the gorges and sights tucked away in millions of acres of remote and spectacular country. 

Allow at least an overnight stay at the stations and wilderness camps to give yourself enough time to explore. 

National Parks along the Gibb

Gibb River Road Itineraries

Whether you're planning to explore every part of the Gibb on a longer trip, or seeing the highlights on a shorter one, you'll find plenty to delight you in the Gibb's gorges, stations and landscapes.

Allow yourself at least 14 days to truly immerse yourself in the adventure at Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Lennard Gorge, Bell Gorge, Galvans Gorge, Manning Gorge, Drysdale River Station, Balanggarra Home Valley Station and El Questro Wilderness Park. Or make a shortlist of your must-see attractions for a shorter, but no less exciting trip.

Our itineraries will give you lots of inspiration! 

Plan your Gibb River Road Trip

Gibb River Road Map

This map of the Gibb River Road, produced by Derby Visitor Centre is a great planning tool for your Gibb River Road trip and part of the Gibb River and Kalumburu Roads Guide. You can pick up the guide in person from Derby or Kununurra Visitor Centres, or you can order a copy by post from from the Derby Visitor Centre here. 

Fuel and Supplies along the Gibb River Road

Fuel and basic supplies are available at a small number of roadhouses and stations along the Gibb River Road.  While the distances between fuel stops are manageable, it is important to take into account the extra kilometres travelled along side tracks to tourist sites and accommodation.  Travellers are advised to carry jerry cans with extra fuel.

Fuel along the Gibb River Road:

Derby - Imintji Store (Diesel only; mechanical and tyre repair; grocery items) 227km.

Imintji Store – Mt Barnett Roadhouse (Diesel and petrol; grocery items) 80km.

Mt Barnett Roadhouse – El Questro (Diesel and petrol; minor mechanical and tyre repair; grocery items) 320km.

El Questro – Kununurra 81km.

Note: while Balanggarra Home Valley Station does not sell fuel, it does have a workshop for mechanical and tyre repairs. Balanggarra Home Valley Station is closed in 2022. 

Fuel along the Kalumburu Road/Mitchell Plateau

Drysdale River Station (Diesel and petrol; tyre repairs; grocery items).

Prepare before you go: 

Broome, Derby and Kununurra all have well-stocked supermarkets where you can stock up for your trip. Local butchers Tenderspot in Broome and Kununurra, and Sampey Meats in Derby can cryovac meat packs for you; we recommend that you place an order for these packs well in advance of your trip. 

About the Gibb River Road

The route of the Gibb River Road crosses the traditional lands of many Kimberley peoples, including the Njikena, Bunuba, Ongkomi, Ngarinyin, Gedija, Worrorra and Wunumbal language groups. A rich indigenous culture has been practised throughout the area for many thousands of years, and the Gwion (Bradshaw) and Wandjina rock art traditions are features of the rock paintings in the region surrounding the Gibb River Road and Mitchell Plateau.

Once pastoralists moved across the Kimberley and established cattle stations, Aboriginal people were forcibly displaced from their traditional lands, working as stockmen and domestics on stations, and living and working in remote missions.

While the Gibb River Road as we know it today was constructed in the 1960’s, pastoralists had previously constructed two unsealed tracks linking Derby with Mt House station in the west, and Wyndham with Karunjie Station, Gibb River Station and Kalumburu in the east. Both tracks (known as the Mt House Road and Karunjie Track) were hand-hewn roadways wide enough for bullock wagons, and for drovers with their cattle herds.

These roads provided essential connections between the ports at Derby and Wyndham and outlying stations, but the going was rough – it could take over a week to travel with a supply wagon from Mt House to Derby.

The “Beef Roads Programme” was set up by the government in 1949 to provide funding for the construction of infrastructure to support the beef industry. The Gibb River Road was constructed as part of this programme, and under the supervision of Main Roads WA teams of surveyors, engineers and labourers set out on an arduous 3-year road-building project.

The Gibb River Road only partially follows the routes of the Mt House Road and Karunjie Track – with the benefit of explosives and heavy machinery, the road team were able to cut a new direct route through the Napier and Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges, and construct creek crossings. The first beef truck travelled the western section of the road in 1963, while works continued at the eastern end until 1967, completing the route of the Gibb River Road that we travel today.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s Aboriginal communities were established along the Gibb River Road, including Imintji, Kupingarri (Mt Barnett Station), Ngallagunda (Gibb River Station), Dodonun (east of Mt Elizabeth Station), Prap Prap (west of Doongan Station) and Kandiwal Community at the Mitchell Plateau.

Some of these communities are now involved in the tourism industry along the Gibb River Road and its surrounds, including operating tours, campsites, shops and roadhouses, and galleries featuring local artists.

Continue Your Journey

FAQ's