Part 5: The Gibb River Road
This post is about The Gibb River Road! 🙂
If you’d like to read the previous part of the trip, click here: Part 4: From Karijini to Broome.
Details
The Gibb River Road is a 660km long road which is unsealed most of the time with a few rivers to cross. Amazing and unique landscape and wildlife, if you like adventure road trips, that’s a really good one if not the best in Australia! 😉 There is no phone reception and even no radio signal… Summer is the wet season where it rains a lot and winter is the dry season. We went there at the end of the dry season. It was extremely hot, almost no water in the rivers and the air started to get humid as the wet season was coming soon! 4 wheeled drive is highly recommended for that road. That’s why we rented car. The renting cost was extremely expensive but so worth it. We left Coconut at the rental company at Broome.
The car we rented was a small 4 wheeled drive car with a very useful roof tent which is deployed in a few minutes only. 🙂
Our new car for the Gigg River Road
Compared to Coconut, everything was very small. ^^ No fridge, no sink, no solar panel.
Sumire on Broome Road
Me on Broome Road
Buffalo in front of a Boab tree next to the road
We arrived at Derby where the Gibb River road started. We did some shopping and filled up the fuel.
A few parrots on a tree near Derby
Amazing Milky Way during our first night on the Gibb River Road
The next morning, we realized that we didn’t have any 240V power to charge the batteries of my camera. We decided to go back to Derby where we bought a power inverter. After that, we started our Gibb River Road trip again.
Along the way, we saw many abandoned cars which shows how tough this road is.
Abandoned car on the Gibb River Road
Later, we arrived at Windjana Gorge where we saw many fresh water crocodiles. First time for me to see them in the wild. Usually, fresh water crocodiles don’t attack humans, but they can if they feel disturbed. 😉
Fresh water crocodile caution sign at Windjana Gorge
Windjana Gorge
A fresh water crocodile at Windjana Gorge
A fresh water crocodile at Windjana Gorge
This place is quite unique. Crocodiles in the water, and bats in the trees or flying.
A few fresh water crocodiles at Windjana Gorge
A fresh water crocodile eating a bat (!!) at Windjana Gorge
A tree full of bats at Windjana Gorge
We finally went to Tunnel Creek which is a cave full of bats and crocodiles in the water. A bit creepy… ^^
Huge lizard at Tunnel Creek (I guess about 70cm)
Aboriginal paintings at Tunnel Creek
Fresh water crocodile in the water, inside Tunnel Creek cave
After that, we decided to drive further.
We wanted to drive until a petrol station, but it took us quite a long time because the road was very bad. A long road train passed next to us very fast at night! That was very impressive! We arrived at the petrol station and discovered that there was only Diesel provided. We needed Unleaded… :-/ We slept one night in the bush and saw amazing stars once again. 😉
Milky way at Windjana National Park on the Gibb River Road
The next morning, we drove back to see Bell Gorge. There was a waterfall (with water!!!). As it was the end of the dry season, all the other waterfalls that we saw were empty.
Bell Gorge at the Gibb River Road
Another big Lizard enjoying the hot weather at Bell Gorge
Me jumping at Bell Gorge
We took there a nice swim. The weather was always extremely hot!
Bell Gorge next to the Gibb River Road
Then we went to another gorge with an empty waterfall, dirty water, lots of spiders and white parrots. 🙂
Parrots near the Gibb River Road
Our car on the Gibb River Road
Crossing a road train on the Gibb River Road is quite unique… 😀
We finally stopped at a petrol station where we had to get petrol otherwise we couldn’t go very far. The tank and the spare tank were almost empty… It was the most expensive petrol ever seen for my whole trip around Australia!! $2.15/L. In Perth, the cheapest I got (just before leaving) was $0.92/L….
For the night, we slept in a campsite near Manning Gorge. Not a very good choice because it was expensive ($22 per person with very bad facilities!).
Starry sky under a Boab Tree at Manning Gorge campsite
Boab Tree at Manning Gorge campsite
The next morning, we did the little hike from the campsite to Manning Gorge. It was so hot and the sun so strong!! And almost no shade during the whole hike. It was a 6 km walk return. But very nice walk. 🙂
At the beginning of the walk, there was a pool with a little boat to cross it. It was quite fun. 🙂
At the end of the hike, a good reward: A nice pool to cool down a bit and to have fun by jumping from the rocks. 🙂 There were already a few people. We stayed there for about 2 hours and had lunch.
Lizard and spider at Manning Gorge
After that, we drove a few kilometers further and stopped at a campground to ask if we could take a shower. Unfortunately it was closed. When we wanted to leave, someone came by car and asked how he could help us. We asked him if you could take a shower. He said: “Yes, no problem! And you can take it for free! And if you want to camp here, it’s only $20 for both of you!” We paid $44 the night before…. Soooo nice! We took a shower for free but finally decided to sleep in a free campsite a bit further near a river (not really flowing). Loooots of insects!
Free campsite on the Gibb River Road
The next day, we drove 230 km until El Questro. The road was better and we could drive quite fast.
We arrived at a place where we finally got some phone reception! 😀 At that point, I discovered that I passed my Cambridge of Advanced English exam! Was so happy!! 🙂
Place with phone reception on the Gibb River Road before El Questro
The Gibb River Road before El Questro
We arrived at a famous river crossing, the Pentecost River. But it was so dry that there was no water at all. 😀
The famous Pentecost River crossing
Near the famous Pentecost River crossing
Near the famous Pentecost River crossing
We finally arrived at El Questro and had to cross for the first time a little river. Nice experience! 🙂
We did a hike inside El Questro Gorge, stopped at half way and took a little swim. It was still extremely hot!
For the night, we slept in a campground at El Questro. It was expensive, but amenities were rather good. 😉
The next morning, we got up early, at sunset (about 5:30). We wanted to go to a place near the campground where there was apparently a good view and nice colors at sunrise and sunset. The road was soooo tough that we finally decided to go back. Even though we had a 4WD, we hit many rocks and I was afraid that we destroyed the car. We took nice photos on the way, though. 🙂
Then, we went to Zebedee Hot Spring. It was very nice! Perfect water temperature! A bit colder than the air (28-32 degrees). We stayed there about 1 hour.
After that, we went to Emma Gorge. Nice place at the end of the walk with a big waterfall that was unfortunately empty! This place has to be really wonderful after the wet season! 🙂
Emma Gorge
After that, we started our way back to Broome. We had to bring the car back the next day at 3pm. Quite long trip!
Road train with lot of stuff on it near Kununurra
Road train with lot of stuff near Kununurra
On the way, we saw a lot of livestock in the middle or next to the road and some kangaroos.
Sunset on the Great Northern Highway
We drove until late and slept in a free campground with many other travelers.
Couple with huge camper van pulling a 4wd car and a boat xD
We continued our trip to Broome the next day.
Needed some coffee to stay awake 😉
Along the Great Northern Highway
Big road train on the Great Northern Highway full of livestock
Big road train on the Great Northern Highway
We finally arrived at the car rental company at about 3:05 pm. Almost on time. ^^ We had to wash the car otherwise they tax $200 for that. Everything was alright.
I dropped Sumire at the airport at 4:30pm and that’s how our wonderful Gibb River Road trip ended! 🙂
I went to a caravan park in Broome, took a shower and washed my clothes. I met nice travellers there. 3 cars, 5 people. They met each other on the way.
Distances
Here are the distances of this part of my trip. 🙂
Day 17 (22.09.2016): Driving: 334km
Day 18 (23.09.2016): Driving: 395km
Day 19 (24.09.2016): Driving: 151km. Walking: 650m
Day 20 (25.09.2016): Driving: 102km. Walking: 9.9km
Day 21 (26.09.2016): Driving: 233km
Day 22 (27.09.2016): Driving: 489km
Day 23 (28.09.2016): Driving: 586km
Total: Driving: 2,300km. Walking: 10.55km
Distances may not be totally accurate. 😉
Map generated automatically by Google Maps showing the itinerary of this part of my trip (created thanks to the GPS of my smartphone). Enlarge the map to see the details. 🙂
One thought on “Part 5: The Gibb River Road”