Our Route: Broome to Darwin
A 6-day road trip from Broome (WA) to Darwin (NT), crossing Western Australia into the Northern Territory.
Two separate legs, two different 4WD vehicles – because why make it simple:
Safari Landcruiser 4WD Camper Review
Safari Camper Camprite 4WD Review
Part One: Starting the Road Trip
Aug 31
Arrival in Broome (AirNorth flight from Darwin).
Picked up our prepaid Safari Landcruiser 4WD from Britz.
Grocery shopping in Broome. Sunset with camels at Cable Beach – the town’s highlight.
Overnight stay at Seashells Broome – solid recommendation.
Sep 1
Drove north to Willie Creek Pearl Farm and then on to James Price Point.
Camped on the beach 15 km north of Willie Creek.
Sep 2
Returned to Broome, dropped off the Safari Landcruiser at Britz.
Didn’t like the camper – full review here.
Part Two: On the Gibb River Road
Sep 2
Picked up Safari Camper Camprite 4WD from Hire Center Broome.
Drove to Derby, stopped by Boab Prison Tree, fueled up, and hit the Gibb River Road.
Camped in the bush – first impressions of the new camper: positive!
Sep 3
The bitumen ended. Turned off at Lennard River Crossing onto Fairfield-Leopold Downs Rd.
Visited Windjana Gorge NP (gorge, crocs), Tunnel Creek (bats, caves), and RAAF Boab Quarry (boab trees and rock formations).
Returned to pavement – Great Northern Hwy.
Fueled up in Fitzroy Crossing. Quick detour to Danggu Gorge NP – boat ride and hiking trails (meh).
Long drive to Halls Creek, stayed overnight at Kimberley caravan park.
Sep 4
Entered Purnululu NP (the main goal of the trip).
53 km of rough road from highway to park entrance.
Camped at Kurrajong (recommend Loop 3).
Another campground – Walardi – is closer to the domes but more crowded.
(Purnululu NP deserves its own article!)
Sep 5
Explored the northern section of Purnululu.
Returned 53 km to highway, reached junction: left = back to Broome via Gibb, right = Kununurra and then Darwin.
Planning Mistakes
I booked flights into Broome and out of Darwin (via Singapore).
1. One-way 4WD rental is expensive.
2. The drive from Kununurra to Darwin is boring – just touristy places like Katherine Gorge / Nitmiluk NT, Kakadu NP, Litchfield Park.
Why It Ended Up This Way
This was a spontaneous detour. Originally we planned to go to Koh Lipe, Thailand from Singapore. 7 days – perfect.
Then I switched to Australia in July, but couldn’t find a decent 4WD less than 30 days out.
These were the options I considered:
- Singapore – Darwin – Alice Springs – Uluru – back via Darwin
- Singapore – Darwin – Broome – Perth – Singapore
- Singapore – Darwin – Broome – Darwin – Singapore
If I had known a cancelled Safari Camper Camprite 4WD would become available, I would have made it a Gibb River Road loop – in/out of Broome.
In that case:
Flights: Singapore – Darwin – Broome, return via Perth.
Car rental: Broome – Broome.
Even then, the car became available only on Sep 2, which would’ve still limited us from seeing most Gibb highlights.
The Right Gibb River Road Itinerary
- Broome – Windjana Gorge
- Windjana – Tunnel Creek – Fitzroy Crossing – Mary Pool
- Mary Pool – Purnululu NP
- Purnululu – El Questro
- El Questro – Pentecost River – Mt Barnett (Manning Gorge)
- Manning Gorge – Bell Gorge / Silent Grove
- Silent Grove – Derby
- Derby – Broome (on flight day)
You’ll need at least 8 days.
Conclusion
Looks like I’ll have to return in May next year – but this time with a properly booked 4WD.
Gibb River Road has snubbed me twice now… Next time it’s personal.
