Kimberley/Top End/Arnhem Land - 4WD tracks

[Finnius]

Hey folks,

In a couple of months i will be taking my Disco up north for a month (provided i get all my work done on her!).
I will be headed across the Kimberley and then the NT top end and across to Arnhem land before heading back through the center and back home through the WA desert.
I am currently researching must see spots but more importantly good 4WD tracks and camping destinations to get away from the crowds of people that will inevitably be in all the more touristy locations.

Do you folks have any ideas of nice 4WD tracks that get off the beaten track and away from the crowds for camping?

Thanks!

[Saitch]

Just on the Eastern side of the Pentecost crossing there is a turnoff to the left, the Wyndham - Karunjie Rd. This takes you around the Western and Northern sides of the Cockburn Range. (Pic is my D1 with Mt Cockburn in the background heading East to West)
In '05, I stayed at a place on this road called Diggers Rest, a working cattle property. Some good fishing there too. I think the lady there gave me a mud map to the water holes. Watch out for the Swamp Geckos though.

Also, stay well clear of any greyish to grey coloured earth on this track. You'll need a Chinook to get out!

Have a good trip.

Steve

[Finnius]

Great ideas! Thanks!

Are you allowed to just setup camp anywhere out in that desert? No rules/regulations?

It's going to be sad not being able to jump in waterholes and go for a swim like i can do here down south in WA... damn crocodiles [biggrin]

[Saitch]

Great ideas! Thanks!

Are you allowed to just setup camp anywhere out in that desert? No rules/regulations?

It's going to be sad not being able to jump in waterholes and go for a swim like i can do here down south in WA... damn crocodiles [biggrin]

I reckon you could camp there.

You may get a visit from Norforce, though! [bigsmile1]

[gavinwibrow]

Hey folks,

In a couple of months i will be taking my Disco up north for a month (provided i get all my work done on her!).
I will be headed across the Kimberley and then the NT top end and across to Arnhem land before heading back through the center and back home through the WA desert.
I am currently researching must see spots but more importantly good 4WD tracks and camping destinations to get away from the crowds of people that will inevitably be in all the more touristy locations.

Do you folks have any ideas of nice 4WD tracks that get off the beaten track and away from the crowds for camping?

Thanks!


There is a new book out for 100 places to visit in the Kimberley. Haven't had a chance to read it yet - pinched by the boss cos I told her it was a present for her [bigwhistle] - but written by a local tour guide and will no doubt have at least a few special places to check out.

I assume you know all about this site Kimberley News, Kimberley and NT Newsletter (https://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/newsletter.html)

[trout1105]

If you want to stay away from tourists and the maddening crowds then the Gibb river road is not for you, even the main hwy and Kununurra is crawling with tourists during the season.
I did find Wyndham caravan park to be a Lot quieter than any park in Kununurra and it is a great base to explore the area from and there are some good 4WD tracks in the area as well.
On the way north the mouth of the Fortescue river ( about 80k South of Karratha) is a good little spot and one of the only Free camping spots to be found with sea access and some interesting beaches to explore.
Another interesting spot is Port Smith (100k South of Broome) with nice beaches and some good 4WD tracks as well.

[Finnius]

If you want to stay away from tourists and the maddening crowds then the Gibb river road is not for you, even the main hwy and Kununurra is crawling with tourists during the season.

Hmmm, so i have heard from other people as well. If i am up north i have to drive the famous Gibb River Road though! :) I will then just disappear offroad hopefully... [smilebigeye]

I have heard there is a few stations up in the Kimberley that you can pay entry onto and then go off exploring? Home valley station is one i can remember that has camping. Anyone been there before?

[Saitch]

Another spot, just South of Broome, Is Barn Hill Stn. Walk to the beach or launch a boat. When I was there they had a $12.50, all you can eat, 3 course, roast dinner.

[Finnius]

Another spot, just South of Broome, Is Barn Hill Stn. Walk to the beach or launch a boat. When I was there they had a $12.50, all you can eat, 3 course, roast dinner.

That sounds like a darn good place to stay on the way into Broome.

[Saitch]

Hmmm, so i have heard from other people as well. If i am up north i have to drive the famous Gibb River Road though! :) I will then just disappear offroad hopefully... [smilebigeye]

I have heard there is a few stations up in the Kimberley that you can pay entry onto and then go off exploring? Home valley station is one i can remember that has camping. Anyone been there before?

I stayed at Home Valley. They had a bar, dining area and good camping. Sort of semi-commercial but still enjoyable. I met some people there whom I still keep in contact with. You just have to remember this was 14 years ago.

The GRR is what you want to make of it. Oh, Barnett Gorge was OK for a camp, too.

[POD]

The Gibb River Road is just a road, and a busy one; however you can access some fabulous country around it. You generally can't just camp where you please though as it's all station land. Mount Elizabeth station has a nice little campground and you can access some nice out-of-the-way spots there, such as the Munja Track which is worth the $100 per vehicle and a good 6-day jaunt. Mount Barnett is well worth several days stay, walk in to their main gorge and go exploring up & down stream from there. Top spot. The Kurunjie track along the Pentecost is a great drive- by the way, that's not desert in the photos, it's mud flats. Gregory National Park, between Kununurra and Katherine, is a great way to head south, you can go all the way down to the Tanami Track through there and not encounter too many other vehicles.
Home Valley Station has a huge plastic kiddies playground. That was all I needed to know about the place.

[Saitch]

Another spot I stayed at that had only one other camp, was Keep River NP. The turn off is only a few klms East of the W.A. - N.T. border and then, from memory, around 15 klm on good dirt. Worth a pokearound there too.

[weeds]

Some good tips...

[Finnius]

the Munja Track which is worth the $100 per vehicle and a good 6-day jaunt. Mount Barnett is well worth several days stay, walk in to their main gorge and go exploring up & down stream from there. Top spot. The Kurunjie track along the Pentecost is a great drive- by the way, that's not desert in the photos, it's mud flats. Gregory National Park, between Kununurra and Katherine, is a great way to head south, you can go all the way down to the Tanami Track through there and not encounter too many other vehicles.

Nice. I am thinking of driving out to the coast on the Munja track. Also, probably take the Kurunjie track as well. Keep the suggestions coming!

Eventually i have to head into the red center and then drive back to southwest WA. Just not sure if i go see a bit of the NT top end as well and then head to Alice Springs or after the Kimberley just take the Tanami Rd into Alice Springs.
I only have a month off to go up north and i am thinking that is only enough time to see some of the Kimberley let alone make it over to Arnhem land...

[DiscoMick]

Have you got the Hema maps?
There is a Facebook site called Station Hoppers which has reports from people who have stayed on stations, so you might find that helpful.

[gavinwibrow]

I only have a month off to go up north and i am thinking that is only enough time to see some of the Kimberley let alone make it over to Arnhem land...

Too true - you won't have time to smell the Kimberley roses if you try and fill in too much.
Definitely recommend split the trip - at worst do Tanami/Alice/home, but even that leaves less new ground for the next trip, unless you do part or all of the Canning in lieu.

[POD]

[QUOTE=Finnius;2902279
I only have a month off to go up north and i am thinking that is only enough time to see some of the Kimberley let alone make it over to Arnhem land...[/QUOTE]

Ok forget Arnhem Land and the NT then and take the time to explore while you are in the Kimberley area, otherwise you will find yourselves amongst those who have 'done the Gibb' but have no idea what they missed. I could spend a month in just one or two spots up there. The Tanami is a nice quick route from the centre to the Kimberley and an enjoyable drive in it's own right.

[Saitch]

Ok forget Arnhem Land and the NT then and take the time to explore while you are in the Kimberley area, otherwise you will find yourselves amongst those who have 'done the Gibb' but have no idea what they missed. I could spend a month in just one or two spots up there. The Tanami is a nice quick route from the centre to the Kimberley and an enjoyable drive in it's own right.

^^^ x 2

[Finnius]

Does anyone know if you are allowed to camp on 80 mile beach south of Broome anywhere you feel like?
I see there is a couple of DPAW campgrounds off the beach and a caravan park but that is not really enjoyable for me.

[weeds]

Does anyone know if you are allowed to camp on 80 mile beach south of Broome anywhere you feel like?
I see there is a couple of DPAW campgrounds off the beach and a caravan park but that is not really enjoyable for me.

I’m guessing no, based on the difficulty of booking into options in and around Broome, you’d have cast of thousands camped on the beach.

[Finnius]

I’m guessing no, based on the difficulty of booking into options in and around Broome, you’d have cast of thousands camped on the beach.

Meh. Probably right. As usual, people, people, people... :(

[weeds]

Meh. Probably right. As usual, people, people, people... :(

When I was in broome with my dad we opted for a hotel room over sealing with camping/caravan spot......made it a decent break.

[Saitch]

Trouts mention of Port Smith brought back memories of me nearly needing a blood transfusion there after getting out of the D1 and grabbing a palate cleansing ale from the Engle, in the back. Talk about vicious little flying bities!

[POD]

Can't see why you couldn't access the beach, drive away from the hordes and camp in the dunes. Long time since I was there though.

[Finnius]

Trouts mention of Port Smith brought back memories of me nearly needing a blood transfusion there after getting out of the D1 and grabbing a palate cleansing ale from the Engle, in the back. Talk about vicious little flying bities!

I've been thinking about ways to keep the mozzies at bay on the trip. Down south here you get a few mozzies when camped near water - so i always have some mozzie spray and a few repellent candles and coils in the landy. But i expect the mozzies to be a lot worse up north.

[weeds]

Vehicles & Camping (http://www.broome.wa.gov.au/Community-Information/Ranger-Services/Vehicles-Camping)

[Finnius]

Vehicles & Camping (http://www.broome.wa.gov.au/Community-Information/Ranger-Services/Vehicles-Camping)

Rules and regulations... :(
It's all good, i am slowly compiling a list of tracks and destinations in an effort to get away from tourists!

There are a few places on El Questro to visit too. Anyone know if the tracks on the station are super busy - explosion gorge track, saddle back ridge track?
I have a feeling every family and their Landcruiser Prado staying at the station campgrounds will go up them...

[Finnius]

Are the corrugations on the Tanami track as bad as people say they are?
I'm not too keen on using it as a 'shortcut' if it's hundreds of kilometers of corrugations... [bighmmm]

[POD]

Are the corrugations on the Tanami track as bad as people say they are?
I'm not too keen on using it as a 'shortcut' if it's hundreds of kilometers of corrugations... [bighmmm]

That depends entirely on how long ago the grader went through. Our first trip through there, the grader was just starting out as we turned on at the northern end. So it was rough-ish. The first couple of hundred km at the northern end, out of Halls Creek, are over-used by vehicles coming down to the Wolfe Creek crater. From there down to the Granites is pot luck, and from the Granites down to Tilmouth Well takes all the gold mine road trains so is well maintained. Southern 200km is mostly bitumen. If you were to go south via the Gregory NP, the track from Kalkarinji south through Lajamanu and down to Rabbit Flat sees only two or three vehicles a day so is generally smooth, although I think you're supposed to have a permit to go that way.
A lot of people say the Tanami is a boring thouroughfare but I have always enjoyed it.