Australia's North West

The Pilbara and Kimberley in Western Australia's far north, with Karijini's gorges, Broome's Cable Beach camels, the Bungle Bungles and the Horizontal Falls, form Australia's last wilderness.

This region corresponds to Tourism Western Australia's "North West" tourism region, including the Pilbara (Karratha, Port Hedland, East Pilbara and Ashburton) and the Kimberley (Broome, Derby, Halls Creek and Wyndham–East Kimberley). The existing "Kimberley" region is only the northern half of it.

Highlights: the red gorges and pools of Karijini National Park; in Broome, camel rides at sunset on Cable Beach, pearl farming and the "Staircase to the Moon"; the Horizontal Falls near Derby (by speedboat or seaplane); gorges along the Gibb River Road; the beehive-shaped sandstone domes of the Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park (a World Heritage Site); Kununurra, Lake Argyle and the Ord River; and the Aboriginal communities of the Dampier Peninsula.

Classic itinerary: 3–4 days in Broome; 10–14 days driving the Gibb River Road by 4WD to Kununurra; or head north from Perth along the Coral Coast to Karijini and Broome, for 2–3 weeks in total.

Getting there: Broome, Karratha, Port Hedland and Kununurra have flights; distances between towns often run to hundreds of kilometers, and dirt roads require a 4WD.

Notes: most dirt roads are closed in the wet season; there are saltwater crocodiles in the sea and rivers, so never enter the water casually; fuel stations are scarce, so carry enough fuel and water.

Destinations

Itineraries