2006065 Kimberley NP Bro
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Photos – Tourism WA Image Gallery, Lochman Transparencies, Rod Hartvigsen and Helen Moses. Helen and Hartvigsen Rod Transparencies, Lochman Gallery, Image WA Tourism – Photos 2006065-10-100M from rivers and water holes and do not go swimming. swimming. go not do and holes water and rivers from Treat all waters as potential crocodile habitat. Camp well away well Camp habitat. crocodile potential as waters all Treat Crocodiles Land Council on (08) 9168 2298, email [email protected] email 2298, 9168 (08) on Council Land Karijini National Park National Karijini (08) 9235 8000 or visit www.dia.wa.gov.au or the Kimberley the or www.dia.wa.gov.au visit or 8000 9235 (08) Contact the Department of Indigenous Affairs on on Affairs Indigenous of Department the Contact Entry permits are required to enter some communities. communities. some enter to required are permits Entry Aboriginal communities Aboriginal at www.naturebase.net at culture and heritage by leaving the area as you found it. it. found you as area the leaving by heritage and culture reserves visit DEC’s NatureBase website website NatureBase DEC’s visit reserves very few are officially open to the public. Please respect Indigenous respect Please public. the to open officially are few very For more information on parks and parks on information more For Aboriginal people. Aboriginal art sites are common in the area, but area, the in common are sites art Aboriginal people. Aboriginal Kimberley lands and waters have deep cultural significance for significance cultural deep have waters and lands Kimberley [email protected] Ph: (08) 9191 1426 9191 (08) Ph: Aboriginal art Aboriginal Derby Visitor Centre Visitor Derby information phone (08) 9311 5333 or visit www.agric.wa.gov.au visit or 5333 9311 (08) phone information [email protected] Restrictions apply on all vehicles entering WA. For more For WA. entering vehicles all on apply Restrictions Ph: (08) 9168 1177 9168 (08) Ph: Quarantine Quarantine Kununurra Visitor Centre Centre Visitor Kununurra should break down, always stay with the vehicle. the with stay always down, break should [email protected] between facilities and services in the Kimberley. If your car your If Kimberley. the in services and facilities between Ph: (08) 9168 6262 9168 (08) Ph: Carry plenty of fuel and water. There are often vast distances vast often are There water. and fuel of plenty Carry Halls Creek Visitor Centre Visitor Creek Halls Travellers [email protected] Ph: (08) 9168 2888 9168 (08) Ph: Parks with camping areas are indicated inside this brochure. brochure. this inside indicated are areas camping with Parks East Kimberley Visitor Centre Visitor Kimberley East Camping www.mrwa.wa.gov.au national parks. Camping fees apply at most parks. most at apply fees Camping parks. national Ph: 1800 013 314 013 1800 Ph: A fee is charged for your vehicle to enter many of WA’s major WA’s of many enter to vehicle your for charged is fee A Road condition report (24 hours) (24 report condition Road Visitor fees Visitor Main Roads Western Australia Western Roads Main Ph: (08) 9195 5500 9195 (08) Ph: Contact the local visitor centre or DEC offices for updates. for offices DEC or centre visitor local the Contact Western Australia Western Broome Most are open by the end of April and close in early December. early in close and April of end the by open are Most 111 Herbert Street Herbert 111 National Parks and Reserves and Parks National Park opening times vary and depend on weather conditions. weather on depend and vary times opening Park DEC Broome office Broome DEC Opening times Opening The Kimberley Region Kimberley The Ph: (08) 9168 4200 9168 (08) Ph: Kununurra or DEC offices. DEC or Ivanhoe Road Ivanhoe purchasing a National Park Pass from Kimberley visitor centres visitor Kimberley from Pass Park National a purchasing A VISITOR’S GUIDE TO GUIDE VISITOR’S A DEC Kununurra office Kununurra DEC You can help conserve our environment and save money by money save and environment our conserve help can You Contacts National Park Passes Park National Ibis Aerial Highway Vast distances separate the Kimberley’s attractions. If you want to travel long distances in a short time then flights should be considered. Welcome to the Kimberley Times to visit The Ibis Aerial Highway links flights to major Kimberley The Kimberley region is in the extreme north of Western The weather needs to be considered when travelling to the attractions with stop-overs and ground tours. For information Australia stretching from Broome in the west to Kununurra in Kimberley. The best time to visit is between May and November. contact travel agents, Kimberley visitor centres or DEC offices in the east. At 421,000 square kilometres, it is roughly five times Most of the region’s rain falls between December and March; Derby or Broome. the size of Ireland. flooding may make roads impassable for many weeks. Most parks and reserves are closed during this time. Check with local visitor Caring for the Kimberley Experience the timelessness of this vast and remote area with its centres or Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) remnant rainforests and savannah woodlands. This part of offices for up-to-date information. Every year more than two million visitors make their way to the Australia is rich and diverse with unique wildlife and mysterious Kimberley’s protected areas. This means that huge pressures are cave systems, spectacular waterfalls, mangrove fringed estuaries Temperatures in the Kimberley can reach 50 degrees celsius. placed on the natural environment and local communities. and rugged, red ranges decorated with sacred Aboriginal rock art. Most people travel to the area between June and August when Travelling responsibly can reduce your impact and help to it’s cooler. Be aware that during these months, night conserve the environment. You can stand on the rim of a spectacular meteorite crater. View temperatures can drop to zero degrees. wetlands that are a stopover point for international migratory Please consider the following when travelling in the Kimberley. shorebirds. Visit the World Heritage Area of striped orange and Road access and conditions • Appreciate nature and refrain from feeding native animals grey sandstone domes. Explore the numerous parks and reserves Enter the region from the west at Broome or the east at Kununurra. and picking wildflowers. Pets and firearms are not permitted in this region by vehicle, boat and walking. You will take home in WA’s protected areas. unforgettable memories of one of Australia’s special places. Four-wheel drive vehicles can take a circular route. Take the Gibb River Road, starting at either end and return via the Great Northern • Stay on marked roads, tracks and paths and camp only in Highway. Allow longer travelling time on the Gibb River Road. It is designated areas. Your safety in natural areas is our only for four-wheel-drive vehicles and at times during the season, concern, but your responsibility. quite corrugated. • Leave no rubbish or other traces of your visit. Using soap Access to the far northern parks of Mitchell Plateau, Drysdale and detergent in rivers or streams can kill aquatic life and River, King Leopold Conservation Park, Windjana Gorge and damage valuable ecosystems. Tunnel Creek national parks is via the Gibb River Road. • Not all parks allow fires. For those that do, only light fires in Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek are also accessible via a designated fireplaces. Preferably use your own portable stove. gravel road off the Great Northern Highway. The highway is • Check weather forecasts and road conditions. sealed and suitable for light-weight vehicles and those towing caravans. Access to Purnululu, Geikie Gorge, Tunnel Creek • Take appropriate clothing, first aid supplies, car equipment, and Windjana national parks are off this highway. Purnululu extra fuel and water. Always carry a map of the area. There is National Park access is four-wheel drive only. Check with visitor no mobile phone coverage in most of the Kimberley. A satellite centres for all road conditions. phone is a useful piece of equipment to take with you. In places, coverage is limited. It’s essential to carry additional fuel and water when travelling • Respect the local community and ask permission before in remote areas. Kununurra, Halls Greek, Fitzroy Crossing, Derby entering private land. and Broome are places where visitors can refuel and restock. • Choose responsible tour operators and guides who are aware of environmental impacts. Parks and Kimberley reserves Rowley Shoals Marine Park Drysdale River National Park The marine park is 180 nautical miles (324 km) west of Broome Drysdale River National Park features open woodlands, the and only accessible by boat. The shoals are two atolls which are massive Drysdale River including waterfalls, rugged cliffs and ideal for diving with exceptional water visibility. They are one of gorges and unusual plant species. There are no visitor facilities. three breeding sites in WA for the red-tailed tropicbird. Camping Local water needs to be boiled or treated before drinking. Access and fishing are not allowed in this area. to the park is via Carson River Station. Contact Kalumburu Guided Aboriginal Corporation on (08) 9161 4300 with details of your Geikie Gorge National Park tours visit and to pay for a permit. Bunaba guides run Aboriginal heritage tours in the park, which Board is 20 km from Fitzroy Crossing. Check with the local visitor Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve walk centre for tour times. National park rangers take boat cruises The nature reserve is off the Great Northern Highway, south of down the Fitzroy River through Geikie Gorge, into narrow Wyndham. It is a Ramsar Wetland Area internationally significant canyons with near vertical walls.