Outback Road Trips

Embark on the road trip of a lifetime through the rugged and enchanting landscapes of North Western Australia. From the striking red earth of the Pilbara region to the untouched beauty of the Kimberley, this part of Australia offers a road tripper's paradise. Imagine traversing the iconic Gibb River Road with its pristine waterfalls, or exploring the remote but accessible gorges of Karijini National Park.

Covering a million square kilometres, Australia’s North West offers unrivalled road trip experiences for both seasoned road warriors and first time adventurers. Start your engine and let the road lead you to places that will ignite your sense of wonder and leave you yearning for more.

Start planning your adventure, from choosing your dream itinerary, information on car hire, iconic attractions, key road trip destinations and more!

Jump ahead:

Itineraries
Car & Equipment Hire
Deals & Packages
Kimberley & Pilbara Map

Drive the Dream in North West

Self-driving holidays in the Pilbara, Kimberley and Broome regions offer epic adventures for all.

Karijini National Park

Gibb River Road

Bungle Bungle

Broome

Karratha

Kununurra

FIND YOUR DREAM ROAD TRIP

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Gibb River Road

Start-End:

Derby-Kununurra
Duration:

7-14 days
Distance:

660km

Pyramid Hill in the Pilbara region of Western Australia

Warlu Way

Start-End:

Exmouth-Eighty Mile Beach
Duration:

12+ days
Distance:

3,000km

Limestone cliffs and landscape at Mimbi Caves near Fitzroy Crossing, the Kimberley

Australia's North West and CJ Maddock

Great Northern Highway

Start-End:

Kununurra-Broome
Duration:

8 days
Distance:

1,095km

A man stands overlooking the waterfalls and swimming area at Bell Gorge in the Kimberley region of Western Australia

Western Gorges Loop

Start-End:

Broome-Broome
Duration:

4-5 days
Distance:

1278km

An aerial view of 80 Mile Beach showing the ocean, beach and caravan park at sunrise

Coastal Route South of Broome

Start-End:

Broome-Port Hedland
Duration:

2-4 days
Distance:

616km

See all Kimberley and Pilbara Itineraries

CAR & EQUIPMENT HIRE

Need to hire a car or campervan to explore Broome, the Kimberley and the Pilbara?

RedSands Campers

RedSands Campers provides Australia’s highest quality 4WD campers and touring 4WD's for hire, for the ultimate self-drive adventure. With depots in Perth, Broome, Darwin and Adelaide, RedSands’ provides…

4xploring Rentals

Western Australia's premium off road rental experience! Looking for a thrilling adventure off the beaten track? Look no further than 4xploring! We offer off road rental vehicles for hire that will take…

Kimberley Adventure Hire

Hiring a reliable range of 4WD vehicles, camper trailers and camping equipment from our base in Kunuurra, we make planning your Kimberley adventure a dream! 4WD Cars View our range of capable Toyota and…

Thrifty Car and Truck Rental - Kununurra

Thrifty Kununurra is part of a franchise that covers the Kimberley region of Western Australia and all of the Northern Territory; it is owned and operated by people who live in this region. The…

Adventure Rentals

Adventure Rentals 4WD Cars and 4WD Campers are perfect for adventurous couples, families or small groups of friends wanting to get off the beaten track. All you need to to is take the keys and get out…

Broome Broome Car Rentals

Broome Broome Car Rentals has been supplying quality vehicle rental to the Kimberley for over 20 years. With a large fleet of modern, air-conditioned and reliable vehicles, Broome Broome can help you…

Sunrise Car Hire Broome Pty Ltd

Sunrise Car Hire are the Broome car hire specialists. Located in Cable Beach we can assist you with the right vehicle choice and show where to go, to get the most out of your Broome holiday. As a…

PLANNING YOUR CAR HIRE

When planning your car hire there are some important things to consider.

Depending on the itinerary you choose, you may need to hire a 4WD vehicle – for example the Gibb River Road, Mitchell Plateau and the access road to Purnululu National Park (the Bungles) are all 4WD only. Other itineraries can facilitate either 2WD or 4WD vehicles – for example the coastal and inland routes of the Warlu Way are along sealed roads, while the Geoheritage and Manuwarra Red Dog Highway routes involve some travel along unsealed roads, and exploring remote locations.

What’s your preferred type of accommodation for the trip? Campervans and roof-top campers offer incredible flexibility for your journey, and there are plenty of campsites across the region. If you’d prefer to stay in hotels, station stays, glamping and lodges, you can opt for a hire car, and may also be able to take advantage of packaged itineraries (see below).

Round trip car hire (that is, returning the car to your point of origin) is often the most cost-effective way to hire a vehicle, as one-way car hire can attract an extra charge. That said, RedSands Camper for example include no extra fee for one-way hire.

Finally, check how many kilometres per day are included in your daily hire fee – some hire companies will offer unlimited kilometres, whereas with others you may need to purchase extra kilometres.

DEALS AND PACKAGES

Opting for a packaged accommodation and car hire deal could make smooth work of planning your North West Road Trip. See itinerary options from trusted travel agents below, and contact them for more details!

East Kimberley Icons - The Kimberley Collection

East Kimberley is in the ruggedly picturesque and sparsely populated north-east corner of Western…

Kununurra Highlights - The Kimberley Collection

Kununurra, the gateway to the East Kimberley, is the ideal destination to visit such Kimberley icons…

West Kimberley Circuit - The Kimberley Collection

On this Broome self-drive adventure, experience the vast and panoramic landscape of the Fitzroy…

Accommodation and Camping

A range of accommodation options in the Kimberley, Broome and the Pilbara are available to suit all from wilderness lodges, luxury safari tents and hotels to motels, caravan parks and national park camping areas. During the peak season (June to September) it is best to book well ahead to avoid disappointment.

Places To Stay

From blissful beach resorts to outback homesteads, holiday accommodation in West Australia’s Kimberley and Pilbara regions caters for every kind of holiday you care to mention.

Accommodation By Type

Accommodation options in the North West are up there with some of best accommodation Australia has to offer, particularly if you’re looking for adventure. Think rustic outback homesteads. Think…

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK ADVENTURES

Off the Beaten Track Road Trips

Aerial view of Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve

Parry Creek Road

An alternative 4WD route from Wyndham to Kununurra, with access to the Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve, Mambi Boat Ramp and spectacular scenery.

Mitchell Falls in the Kimberley region of Western Australia

Mitchell Plateau

Heading north from the Gibb River Road, the Kalumburu Road provides access to Punamii-Uunpuu (the Mitchell Falls) and the coast north of Kalumburu Community.

An iron ore train along the rail access road near Newman

Pilbara Rail Access Roads

Running alongside the tracks of the world’s largest private rail network, get a permit to travel along some of the over 1400km of tracks connecting mines at Tom Price and Pannawonica with the ports at Dampier and Port Lambert.

Duncan Road

This 429 kilometre unsealed track leads you through some of the most scenic landscapes in the Kimberley, connecting the Great Northern Highway at Halls Creek with the Victoria Highway to the east of Lake Argyle just over the NT/WA border.

Tanami Road

Crossing the Tanami desert is one of the most memorable ways to reach the Red Centre.
The two day route from Halls Creek to Alice Springs via the Tanami Road 4WD track crosses the vast expanse of the Tanami Desert.

Canning Stock Route

For experienced Australian adventurers only, the Canning Stock Route stretches over 1,700 kilometres through the vast open spaces of the Gibson, Great Sandy and Tanami deserts between Halls Creek in the north and Wiluna in the south

Off the Beaten Track Road Trips

An APT Kimberley tour vehicle in Purnululu National Park shown with the striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Ranges in the background — 4WD tour vehicle in Purnululu National Park, the Kimberley.

Road Trip Option: Guided 4WD Tours

Take a drive adventure with an expert guide! A range of group and private tours are available, leading you off the beaten track with an experienced local guide and allowing you to discover places you might have just driven by. A private charter or tag-along tour can also allow you the comfort of your own vehicle.

KIMBERLEY AND PILBARA ROAD TRIP MAP

While a detailed road map will be indispenable on your travels, this regional map will get you started with planning your adventure - download it to your own device at the link below.

Please note we don't recommend relying only on Google Maps during your travels as particularly in remote areas it may sometimes be inaccurate.

Click here for full map

TRAVEL APPS

There are also some apps that you may find useful to download, including options for offline use.

Warlu Way - Travel Safe Pilbara

Offline Maps | Digital Guides | Stop Points with audio and text information The…

Pilbara East Travel App

Experience the ‘Heart of the Pilbara’. Explore its hidden beauty. Discover the true essence of what…

Explore Broome App

The Explore Broome app features interactive self-guided walking trails for the Town Beach and…

Road Safety

It’s essential to carefully plan your trip before hitting the road. Make sure you inform…

Maps

Whether you’re at the start of your trip planning or about to start your adventure a…

Important Travel Tips

For a safe and enjoyable holiday in the North West, check out these important travel tips.

Knox Lookout Karijini National Park. Image CJ Maddock Australia's North West

Natural Wonders

Dolphins swimming on the Kimberley Coast

Wildlife & Animals

Imagine seeing a humpback whale breach, turtles nest, snubfin dolphins and incredible bird species…

Tours & Sightseeing

Guided tours are an exciting way to explore the vast breathtaking wilderness, unique culture and…

Cruises

There's a wide range of cruises and on-the-water experiences to discover in Broome, the…

View of El Questro Homestead from Chamberlain Gorge

Remote Lodges & Experiences

Immerse yourself in the untouched beauty of the Kimberley and Pilbara. Remote lodges and tours allow…

Discover the cafes, restaurants and pubs of the North West

Eat & Drink

Broome has a food and drink scene as diverse as its multicultural past - Chinese, Japanese, Indian…

Ord Valley Muster Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow

Events

Road Trips - Frequently Asked Questions

Can you drive through the Pilbara and Kimberley?

The Pilbara and Kimberley regions are home to some of Australia’s best road trips and offer accessible adventure to people travelling in both 2WD and 4WD vehicles. Iconic attractions such as the Bungle Bungle Ranges in Purnululu National Park, Punamii-Uunpuu (Mitchell Falls), Karijini National Park, the Gibb River Road and the Dampier Peninsula are all accessible by road, whether on a self-drive adventure or by tour.

Some parts of the region, such as remote stretches of the coastline, and locations such as the Rowley Shoals and Horizontal Falls are not accessible by car, and can instead be reached by joining a cruise expedition or scenic flight tour.

Do you need a 4WD in the Pilbara and Kimberley?

Travelling in a 4WD vehicle is the best way to ensure you can see as much of the Kimberley and Pilbara as possible at your own pace. Some drive routes such as the Gibb River Road, access road to the Bungles, East Pilbara Geoheritage Route, Punamii-Uunpuu (Mitchell Falls) and others are 4WD only.

In addition, a 4WD may be required for the access roads to some campsites and attractions that are close to sealed roads – for example on the Dampier Peninsula.

However, If you are travelling with a 2WD vehicle there is still plenty of adventure to be had in the Pilbara and Kimberley. For example, in Karijini National Park, the sealed Karijini Drive which runs along the south of the park provides access to Jofre Falls in the west, and the Dales Gorge recreation area (including Fern Pool and Fortescue Falls) to the east. Guided tours can also provide access to more remote areas across the region that are only accessible by 4WD, cruise or flight.

Can I drive my electric car in the Kimberley and Pilbara?

Electric vehicle charging points are available at a range of service stations and accommodation providers across the Kimberley and Pilbara. We would advise planning your charging stops in advance of your trip.

The WA EV Network will provide EV fast charging stations at 79 locations across Western Australia. Once the network is complete, EV chargers in the Kimberley and Pilbara will be located at Kununurra, Warmun, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Mueller Ranges, Broome, La Grange, Sandfire, Pardoo, Port Hedland, Whim Creek, Karratha and Fortescue River. As of September 2023, the charging station at Broome is operational, and the network is scheduled to be completed by 2024.

When is the best time of year for a road trip in the Pilbara and Kimberley?

The most popular time for road trips in the Pilbara and Kimberley is from May to October, the tropical Dry Season during the Australian Winter.

During this time daytime temperatures range from 20°C to 30°, all tours and attractions are open, and regular direct flights operate from the East Coast of Australia to Broome.

Travelling during the Wet Season (approximately November to April) is possible though not as popular – seasonal rainfall and high daily temperatures mean that many attraction and unsealed roads are closed, and seasonal flooding may cause the temporary closure of highways.

For travellers during the early part of the Dry season it’s important to check for up to date road conditions and opening dates for national parks and campsites.