Your news and views? Email us at [email protected] SPECIAL EDITION: the tHE GIBB Special Times March 17, 2017 SPECIAL GIBB RIVER ROAD EDITION A road with A legendary track a highlight at every turn It’s a long and dusty road but you’ll never forget there’s plenty to keep grey If your Big Lap is about nomads interested. Start- ing from the Derby end and making memories, this is heading north-east along the an adventure not to miss Gibb River Road, travellers will come across (in order): The Gibb River Road. The • Birdwood Downs cattle mere mention of the name station (camping) is enough to get grey nomad • Turn off to Windjana pulses racing. Gorge and Tunnel Creek. A rugged, largely unsealed • Turn off to Mt Hart Wil- track through the heart of the derness Lodge (camping) Western Australia’s stunning • Turn off to Lennard Gorge Kimberley region that will in King Leopold Range Con- take you to waterfalls, gorges, servation Park remote stations and beauti- • Turn off to Bell Gorge and ful campsites. Along the way, Silent Grove (camping) you will experience sights and • Imintji Store (diesel, tyre sounds that will live with you Crossing the Pentecost River is all part of the adventure. PIC: Australia’s North West Tourism patching, general supplies) forever, and discover a cama- • Turn off to Mornington Proper preparation and a planned your trip carefully raderie that can only be forged Wilderness Camp (camping) healthy respect for the track and are carrying sufficient to by genuine adventure. • Charnley River Station are the keys to maximising the cope with unexpected situa- And make no mistake, for (camping) pleasure derived from taking tions. all the improvements to the • Adcock Gorge it. Travellers should ensure While free campsites are not road and for all the increasing • Galvans Gorge their vehicles are in good or- as plentiful as they once were, numbers of travellers, tackling • Manning Gorge (camping) der, they carry sufficient water, there are still excellent camp- the Gibb River Road remains • Turn off to Barnett River they have spare tyres, they ing options at some stations an adventure. It is, though, an Gorge have thought about things like and at some gorges. achievable one. • Mount Elizabeth Station emergency communication, Few of those grey nomads Most of the road is dirt and (camping) and that they have thoroughly who have overcome their gravel construction, with some • Turn off to Drysdale Sta- researched what lies ahead. doubts and ‘gone for it’ regret floodways paved. While there tion, Kalumburu, and the Road conditions here can vary their decision to immerse are river crossings and it is Mitchell Plateau wildly depending on when it themselves in one of the definitely a track for 4WD • Turn off to Ellenbrae Sta- last rained and when the grad- world’s great wilderness areas. wheel drive vehicles, some tion (camping) ers have been through. Gener- We hope that this special edi- caravans and campers do now • Durack River crossing ally speaking, the earlier in the tion of the Grey Nomad Times travel it. • Home Valley Station ‘season’ you go, the more water will give you at least some Most grey nomads who (camping) there will be about and the insight into the wonders that haven’t had an awful lot of dirt • Pentecost River crossing fuller the rivers will be. this remarkable and beautiful road experience approach the • Turn off to El Questro Sta- Similarly, while there are place offers. Welcome to the challenge with an element of tion (camping) places to buy fuel on the road, Gibb River Road. trepidation, as well as excite- • Turn off to Emma Gorge ment. And that’s a good thing. you need to ensure you have Click to comment Page 1 Your news and views? Email us at [email protected] SPECIAL EDITION: the tHE GIBB Special Times March 17, 2017 ‘Everyone should do it’ By Glen Chidlow Chief Executive, Australia’s North West Tourism Turning off the bitumen and going ‘over the range’ on the Gibb River Road is a truly unique Aussie outback adventure. It takes you through the Kim- berley’s vast untouched wil- derness comprised of ancient gorge country, rugged ranges, pristine waterways, savannah Beautiful Bell Gorge (left) plains, and epic cattle stations and Windjana Gorge (above) are highlights which can be the size of small PICS: Australia’s North West Tourism countries. The Gibb River Road is one of Gorge, Bell Gorge, Galvan’s the magnificent waterfall at the conditions, the lack of Australia’s great drive adven- Gorge, Manning Gorge, Bell Gorge, or seeing incred- repair options along the route, tures, and a journey that all Drysdale River Station, Home ible examples of Aboriginal and not to mention the dust! Australians should aim to Valley Station and El Questro rock art at Mt Elizabeth Sta- Fuel is available at only a few experience. Wilderness Park. Or make a tion, there is a raft of experi- locations along the route, so It’s the artery that runs shortlist of your must-see at- ences to be had along the appropriate planning is essen- through the heart of the Kim- tractions for a shorter, but no route. tial. The Mt Barnett Road- berley. It provides the traveller less exciting trip. The road itself is a well-main- house and Imintji Store both with the opportunity to see Pastoralists along the Gibb tained unsealed road and is provide diesel fuel, as well as and experience the highlights River Road have embraced recommended for 4WD vehi- the chance to top up on essen- of the incredible landscape tourism, and nearly all the cles only. The surface changes tial grocery items. Mt Barnett for which the Kimberley is stations offer some form of considerably along the route, also has unleaded fuel. renowned. accommodation or camping with corrugations, rough Over the Range Tyre and Originally constructed in the facilities. Each property pro- gravel and creek crossings Mechanical is located not far 1960s to transport cattle from vides something a bit differ- presenting some challenges. from Mt Barnett Roadhouse, outlying stations to the ports ent, not only in the accom- In terms of taking your own and Neville and his team have of Derby and Wyndham, the modation offering which can accommodation, the condi- saved many a traveller who 660-kilometre four-wheel- range from five-star resort tions are most suited to an off- has needed a helping hand drive trail is the best way to facilities to riverside camping, road camper trailer or 4WD in relation to tyre or vehicle discover the natural treasures but also in the experiences camper. With continuous repairs. of the Kimberley’s wild heart- that can be had at each over- improvements to the off-road Never is there a better exam- lands. night stay. capability of some caravan ple of when pleasure comes Allow yourself at least 14 days From canoeing along Dimond models, the road is seeing from the journey, rather than to truly immerse yourself Gorge on Mornington Station, more people choosing to take the destination, than when in the adventure to be had fishing for barramundi in the caravans along the road. travelling the Gibb River at places such as Windjana Pentecost River at Home Val- Anyone considering this Road. Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Lennard ley Station, swimming under needs to be very mindful of Click to comment Page 2 Your news and views? Email us at [email protected] SPECIAL EDITION: the tHE GIBB Special Times March 17, 2017 ‘A trip we just had to take’ John & Lorraine H were looking for adventure Lorraine & John ... and they found it! share their tips for We had been warned about surviving the Gibb corrugations, mud and washa- ways, creek crossings, croco- • Secure your paper towels diles and razor sharp stones and toilet rolls ... corruga- turned up by the grader ... but tions do strange things to at no time were we intimidated them! by the trek we were about to • Pack your fridge and pan- undertake. try even more carefully than We arrived in May when the you would normally. roads had recently opened and graded after the Wet season, • Reduce your tyre pressure, and we were raring to go. John & Lorraine cautiously approach the Pentecost crossing and constantly check your We had also been warned tyres as you travel. about towing on the Gibb, Another bucket list item was caravan has three 100-litre • Make sure your spare tyres but were comfortable that our ticked crossing the Pentecost. water tanks, one of these is are in good condition (we 2011 Kedron ATV 21’ caravan We talked to travellers on dedicated drinking water; we have three across the 4WD with independent suspen- the track about conditions, did not have to top this up at and caravan). sion, towed by our 2003 GU watched for several days as any time during our visit to • Cover vents on fridge, but Nissan Patrol would make the the tide rose and fell and, not the area. There are no dump uncover them when stop- distance. wanting to walk the crossing points along the road, so be ping for any length of time. We had tackled the Oodna- due to salties, we watched oth- prepared to take your shovel datta Track a couple of years er vehicles cross to see where and cassette for a walk, dig a • Approach water crossings earlier and our plan in the rocks and holes might be. hole well away from any water with caution and drive to Kimberley was to take two I always worry about fuel and way, to a depth of at least suit the conditions.