Travel Information
Vehicle Access & Suitability
Not every Kimberley trip needs a 4WD, but plenty do. The highways linking Derby, Broome and Fitzroy Crossing are sealed and fine in any vehicle. The moment you turn onto the Gibb River Road or head for the gorges, you're on unsealed roads where a 4WD is required.
Use this guide to match your route to the right vehicle. Road conditions change through the year, so treat it as a starting point and confirm your plans with us when you book.
Route by route
Which vehicle for which road
Derby town, airport & jetty
Local trips, Mowanjum Art Centre, the Boab Prison Tree and Derby Jetty.
SealedAny vehicleDerby to Broome
About 220 km via the Derby Highway and Great Northern Highway.
SealedAny vehicleDerby to Fitzroy Crossing
About 260 km east along the Great Northern Highway.
SealedAny vehicleGibb River Road
Roughly 660 km from Derby to Kununurra, with corrugations, bulldust and river crossings.
Mostly unsealed4WD requiredBandilngan (Windjana Gorge) & Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek)
Reached via the unsealed Fairfield-Leopold Downs Road off the Gibb.
Unsealed4WD requiredDalmanyi (Bell Gorge) & Silent Grove
A rough side track off the Gibb into the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges.
Unsealed4WD requiredGalvans Gorge & Manning Gorge
Further east along the Gibb, around Mount Barnett Roadhouse.
Unsealed4WD requiredRemote tracks
Kalumburu Road, Mitchell Plateau and other remote station or coastal tracks.
Very roughTalk to us first
Distances are approximate. Unsealed roads can close at short notice after rain.
Our fleet
What each vehicle type suits
Every vehicle we hire falls into one of three categories. Here's where each one fits.
4WDs
Built for the Gibb River Road and the gorge access tracks, with the clearance and grip unsealed roads demand.
Good for
- Gibb River Road self-drive trips
- Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek and Bell Gorge
- Families and groups of up to seven
Not suited to
- Anyone needing a tray or serious towing capacity
In our fleet
See all 4wdsPassenger vehicles
Comfortable and economical for the sealed highway network and getting around town.
Good for
- Derby, Broome and Fitzroy Crossing
- Airport transfers and business trips
- Group transport on sealed roads (12-seat bus)
Not suited to
- The Gibb River Road
- Gorge access tracks or any unsealed road
In our fleet
- Hyundai i30 · 5 seats
- Mitsubishi Outlander · 5 seats
- Toyota Camry · 5 seats
- Toyota Hiace Bus · 12 seats
Utes
For when you're moving gear as well as people: work, camping equipment or tools.
Good for
- Tray and towing capacity
- Contractors, tradies and mine-site work
- Mine-spec fit-out available
Not suited to
- Groups of more than five
In our fleet
See all utesOff the bitumen
Why some routes need a 4WD
Corrugations and bulldust
Unsealed roads develop deep corrugations and fine bulldust patches that hide holes and rocks. A 4WD's suspension, tyres and traction handle them far more safely.
Creek and river crossings
Crossings along the Gibb and the gorge tracks vary through the season. Ground clearance matters, and water levels can change quickly after rain.
Rough side tracks
The best gorges sit at the end of rocky, narrow access tracks, often slower and rougher than the Gibb itself.
Weather and closures
Rain can close unsealed roads at short notice, even in the dry season. Most of the Gibb is impassable through the wet season.
Before you go
Heading onto unsealed roads
Check road and park conditions
Look at Main Roads WA for road status and Explore Parks WA for national park alerts before you leave, and again along the way.
Plan your fuel stops
Fuel is limited once you leave Derby. Know where the next roadhouse is before you pass the last one.
Expect no phone coverage
Mobile coverage drops out soon after leaving town. Tell someone your plans and consider a satellite communicator or PLB.
Carry water and allow extra time
Pack more drinking water than you think you need, and budget slower travel times on unsealed roads than on the highway.
More detail in our guides to driving in the Kimberley and seasonal travel.
Not sure?
Tell us your route when you book and we'll recommend the right vehicle. It's a common question and we'd rather get it right than have you find out on the road.
It helps to know:
- Where you're heading and any side trips
- Your travel dates
- How many people and how much luggage
- Whether you need a tray or towing