Broome to Kununurra 2-Week Road Trip + FREE Map

Day 1: Broome > Derby

• Distance: ~220km
• Drive time: ~2.5 hrs

After spending a few days exploring Broome, it’s a straightforward run along the Great Northern Highway to Derby.

Make sure to stock up before leaving Broome, though (food, water, fuel).

You can get the basics in a few towns or roadhouses along the way, but the next big town is Kununurra which is 2 weeks away.

That said, you can break it the drive in Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park. It’s a fun detour, with croc feeding shows and other local wildlife on show!

Once in Derby, here are some things to do, you can easily do them in 1 day:

• Boab Prison Tree: A massive hollow boab on the edge of town, once used to hold Aboriginal prisoners. It’s a sobering bit of history but worth seeing in person.
• Derby Jetty tidal range: At low tide, the water recedes so much you can see the jetty’s pylons! Then it rushes back at high tide.
• Horizontal Falls tour: It’s usually cheaper to see the Horizontal Falls from Derby vs Broome, so definitely do it if the budget allows.

Here are 10+ things to do in Derby if you’re keen!

Where to stay in Derby?

The Kimberley Entrance Caravan Park is really good, best for self-contained campers and has easy access to local attractions.

If you’re after a hotel-style stay, the Spinifex Hotel or the King Sound Resort are both solid picks.

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Day 2: Derby > Windjana Gorge

• Distance: ~145km
• Drive time: ~2 hrs

Start your day early and head to Windjana Gorge, one of the most accessible attractions in the Gibb River Road.

The gorge walls tower up to 100 metres in places! It’s absolutely massive and awe-inspiring.

No swimming allowed, though. It’s packed with freshwater crocs. They’re not considered dangerous, but there are so many of them that you might accidentally stand on one if you swim.

The gorge is part of an ancient reef system, so the rock formations are millions of years old and full of fossils if you look close!

Then spend the night at Windjana Gorge Campground! It has flush toilets, showers and a big camping area.

Day 3: Windjana Gorge > Fitzroy Crossing via Dimalurru

• Distance: ~145km
• Drive time: ~2.5 hrs (plus stops)

On your way out, take the detour to Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek), about 35km from Windjana.

Tunnel Creek is a truly impressive place. It’s the oldest cave system in WA and has a wild backstory involving the Aboriginal leader Jandamarra.

The whole tunnel is 750-metres long, with some sections being 20 metres high and 15-metres wide!

There are some incredible rock formation and stalactites as well, but it’s pitch-black so bring a torch / headlamp.

From Tunnel Creek, it’s a straightforward drive into Fitzroy Crossing.

Fitzroy Crossing

This small settlement is the gateway to the iconic Danggu Gorge National Park, one of the Kimberley’s most accessible and beautiful gorges.

The gorge has had a rough few years with flood damage, though. At the time of writing, it’s open for day use with basic facilities, but check DBCA alerts before you go.

If it’s closed, consider checking out the nearby Mimbi Caves for an Aboriginal tour or even camping!

Accommodation is quite limited in Fitzroy Crossing, though – there’s the Fitzroy River Lodge and The Crossing Inn.

If you’re self-sufficient, you might want to free camp at the Ellendale Station Rest Area or the Ngumban Cliff Rest Area.

Day 4: Fitzroy Crossing > Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater

• Distance: ~460km
• Drive time: ~5.5-6 hrs

This is a big driving day, so get an early start and head to the 2nd largest meteorite crater in the world!

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It’s 880 metres across, and you can explore it via the rim walk (about 3km).

It’s a long way out there, so we recommend this detour only if you can spend the night, which we strongly recommend doing anyway.

The sky is as unpolluted as it gets, so you’ll be able to see the Milky Way and all the stars! Plus, the campground is free.

Also, the drive to the crater (Tanami road) has been undergoing some upgrades in the last couple of years, so the first section is sealed.

Last time we checked, the last 30 kms to the crater are unsealed with heavy corrugations, so it’ll be a fun 4WD adventure!

Day 5: Wolfe Creek > Halls Creek

• Distance: ~170km
• Drive time: ~2.5-3 hrs

Today’s a shorter one, backtracking along the Tanami Road to the highway junction, then driving on to Halls Creek.

Halls Creek itself is a small gold rush town, but it’s a good base to restock before your next stop – Purnululu.

The China Wall, a natural quartz ridge that looks like it was built by hand, is an easy stop just out of town.

Where to stay in Halls Creek?

There’s the Kimberley Hotel, it’s central and has a pool (great after a few dusty days). Halls Creek Motel is another solid option.

There used to be a caravan park in town but it closed a few years ago.

If you’d rather camp, we’ve heard there’s a free campsite at the nearby Caroline Pool. Alternatively, you can drive a bit further down the road to the next rest stop.

Day 6-9: Halls Creek > Purnululu

• Distance: ~160km
• Drive time: ~3.5-4 hrs

Purnululu is one of the highlights of the whole trip, so definitely spend a few days here!

It’s home to the iconic Bungle Bungle Range, these giant beehiive domes with black and oragne stripes, scattered throughout the park. They’re like nothing else in the world.

You can easily fill 2-3 days in Purnululu. Here are some places to check out:

• Cathedral Gorge, a short walk to this natural amphitheatre with towering walls
• Echidna Chasm, best visited at midday to see the sunlight make the chasm walls look golden
• Mini Palms Walk, a 45km return hiking trail taking you through the gorge to this area with clusters of palms clinging to the towering rock walls

Some details before you go:

• After the Purnululu turnoff, there’s a rough ~50km 4WD-only track into the park. It takes around ~3 hours to drive
• Only high-clearance 4WDs and single-axle off-road vehicles allowed.
• Standard park entry fees apply, plus separate camping fees

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Where to stay in Purnululu?

There are a few stays in the National Park, we’d recommend the campsites:

• Walardi Campground: Closest to the Domes and Cathedral Gorge, 37 unpowered sites
• Kurrajong Campground: Closer to Echidna Chasm and Mini Palms, ~100 unpowered sites
• The Wilderness Lodge or the Savannah Lodge if you want safari-style tents instead of camping

Day 10-13: Purnululu > El Questro

• Distance: ~330km
• Drive time: ~6 hrs

It’s time to say goodbye to the beautiful domes and continue the drive to El Questro!

You can technically do the whole drive in one day, but it’s going to be a VERY long one, especially with all the corrugations leaving Purnululu.

There are several rest stops along the way where you can break the trip, though. There are also two roadhouses on the way, one in Warmun and another in Durack, both good for fuel and a feed.

El Questro

We recommend spending 3 days at El Questro because there’s sooo much to do:

• Visit Emma Gorge
• Swim at Zebedee Hot Springs and Champagne Springs
• Take a cruise through Chamberlain Gorge.
• Hike any of the many walking trails.
• Do any of the cultural tours

Note that El Questro charges a separate visitor permit, which covers access to all the gorges and walks on the property.

Where to stay in El Questro?

Stay at El Questro Station if it’s in your budget, it’s got a range of accommodation from campsites to riverside rooms, plus the famous Steakhouse for dinner.

If it’s out of budget, the Cockburn rest area is about an hour away, though you can only stay there for 24 hours.

There’s also the Wunggubun Aboriginal Community Campground, about an hour away too. We haven’t stayed there yet, but we’ve heard good things, and it sounds like a budget-friendly option as well.

Day 14: El Questro > Kununurra

• Distance: ~110km
• Drive time: ~2 hrs

Your last leg is mostly sealed, with just a short unsealed stretch leaving El Questro. Once you hit the highway, it’s an easy run into Kununurra.

After 2 weeks on the road, Kununurra will feel like a proper town again. Grab a nice meal, do a load of washing, and consider adding a few extra days here before you head off on your next adventure!

Things to do in Kununurra

• Lake Argyle: A 50-minute drive out of town, but worth it for the scenery, kayaking, and an early morning cruise
• Kelly’s Knob: A short, steep walk for the best sunrise or sunset view over town
• Mirima National Park: The “Mini Bungle Bungles”, right on the edge of town with a few easy to moderate walking trails
• Ivanhoe Crossing: A 4WD river crossing in the dry season, gorgeous even if you’re just looking

Check out our full guide to Kununurra for more things to do, where to stay and more!

Planning your road trip

Best time to go

The dry season (May to October) is pretty much the only time to do this route, as most spots in this itinerary will be open by then. Most of this area is closed in the wet due to flooding.

April and November are shoulder months. They can work, but some access tracks (like Purnululu’s) might still be closed or just reopening, so double-check before you commit to dates.

What to pack

This route is remote, so it’s best to be over-prepared! Here are some things to bring:

Vehicle and recovery:

• A UHF radio, phone reception drops out completely for long stretches
• Basic recovery gear (traction boards, a shovel, a tow strap)
• A spare tyre (2 if you can manage it) plus a repair kit
• Extra fuel, especially for the Wolfe Creek and Purnululu detours where there’s none available
• We recommend metal jerry cans, they’re more resistant to bumps on the road than plastic

Camping and personal gear:

• At least 4 litres of water per person per day, more for campgrounds with no water (Wolfe Creek, Windjana Gorge)
• Sun protection, a hat, and heaps of insect repellent
• Sturdy shoes for wading through Tunnel Creek and rock hopping at the gorges
• Cash, some roadhouses and campgrounds don’t take card

And don’t forget your national park pass!

Top Tips

• Book the National Park campsites as soon as possible, some sell out even months in advance
• Purchase your Park Pass ahead of time
• Always check DBCA park alerts even the day of if possible. Access to attractions can close at any time of the year due to safety concerns, maintenance, etc.

FAQs