Kimberlies - stick with the plan or bail out given current flood watch
2oldducks said
11:45 PM May 27, 2025
Hello
I was told today that there is a flood watch for the Kimberlies. We wont be doing the Gibb River. A few day trips from Kununurra, then onto Derby via Fizroy Crossing. Then off to Broome and Cape Leveque.
I was wondering if anyone knows if you can still do day trips from Kununurra to either Five Fingers Lookout and/or El Questro?
We had our first off-road experience travelling out to Mary Kathleen. I took wrong turn and winded up in area where bridge had been washed away and only option farmers quad bike track with only enough room for Pajero and 2m drop off - white knuckles for 2 inexperienced old ducks and no other tourists/travellers insight. So, we were wondering if anyone is based in Kununurra over the next couple of days and happy for us to tag along on day trip to either Wyndham or El Questro?
All advice welcome
Cheers
2oldducks
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:45 AM May 28, 2025
The correct names are "Kimberley" and "Five Rivers Lookout"
Please do not cross post in several places.
Check here. travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Home/Map
All the places you mention are accessed via bitumen roads. Telephone ElQuestro to check their roads.
Cheers,
Peter
Silkwood said
11:58 AM May 28, 2025
Currently at Mt Barnett Station, enjoying an "obligatory" extra couple of days, due to the rain. According to the roads closed page the Gibb River Road itself did not close, the road from the campground to the roadhouse here was closed to protect the track (and absolutely fair enough).
Rain came through yesterday but mainly fell around Broome and, to a lesser extent, Kalumburu. For some reason, though we go rain here, the worst of it went either side of us! Today is cloudy but no rain. The cloud is thin enough I'm getting power from the solar (well, enough to slowly increase my battery levels). No rain forecast for the next week (though the occasional drizzle may eventuate).
The campground road opens tomorrow morning. According to the West Kimberley Roads report, the Gibb is still open (it has been open to El Questro for the past month, call them as suggested for an update on their road). The road out to Mitchell Falls and Kalumburu are closed and not expected to open for at least a week (they thought it might open this week, untill the current rainfall was forecast. The King Edward River is still well up, though fuel and supply vehicles did get through last week). In addition, the road to Drysdale Staion has been declared closed after yesterdays downpour. I has been open for the past few weeks. Hopefully it may reopen in a couple of days (according to the council- no promises of course!).
Could be worse here, at least I missed the rain when coming through Queensland on the way up last month (sorry Cuppa!)...
Cheers,
Mark
Silkwood said
02:32 PM May 28, 2025
Should have added, as Peter mentioned, the road to Wyndham is both bitument and easy. However, the King River Rd is closed, as is the road through to Parry's Lagoon and the nearby waterholes/falls.
Peter_n_Margaret said
03:11 PM May 28, 2025
Silkwood wrote:
According to the West Kimberley Roads report, the Gibb is still open
According to Main Roads WA.
If you are towing a caravan, you would be well advised to stay put......
Cheers,
Peter
Flooding
Gibb River Rd, Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley
Gibb River Rd both directions Kalumburu Road and Pentecost River, Shire of Derby-West Kimberley - Flooding
Open with caution 4x4 and buses and trucks up to 15 tonne. Drive to conditions Caution advised when crossing water crossings- some levels are sitting at 300mm. Check depth & flow before driving through. Road crews working along the network. Please follow all signposted instructions.
Peter_n_Margaret said
03:17 PM May 28, 2025
Some of the Southern end of GRR is CLOSED. Flooding Gibb River Rd, Shire of Derby-West Kimberley Gibb River Rd between Mount Barnett to Kalumburu Road - Flooding Road closed. Several water crossings are flooded and have become impassable
Cheers,
Peter
Silkwood said
06:03 PM May 28, 2025
Thanks Peter... updated 27 mins ago. Word from Mt Barnett and the West Kimberley council suggested otherwise only an hour or so ago. Things change quickly...
Just checked, Hann river now at 2m, not expected to be crossable for at least 4-5 days. Gibb Road west from Mt. Barnett open with caution.
-- Edited by Silkwood on Wednesday 28th of May 2025 06:23:43 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
06:19 PM May 28, 2025
Silkwood wrote:
Things change quickly...
Sure do, but you also need to be careful which road reports you believe.
I have been watching the East Pilbara Shire report because it includes the Gary Junction Road east of Marble Bar which provides access to and from the middle of the Canning Stock Route. BUT it has not been updated for a month now, so any info it provides is pretty useless.
We were ready to leave to go to the northern end of the Canning, but that last lot of rain dropped up to 200mm on the northern end and the Tanami Road is also closed.
A few more mm is expected on about 8/6/25, so keep aware of that if you are in the Kimberley-Pilbara area.
Hello
I was told today that there is a flood watch for the Kimberlies. We wont be doing the Gibb River. A few day trips from Kununurra, then onto Derby via Fizroy Crossing. Then off to Broome and Cape Leveque.
I was wondering if anyone knows if you can still do day trips from Kununurra to either Five Fingers Lookout and/or El Questro?
We had our first off-road experience travelling out to Mary Kathleen. I took wrong turn and winded up in area where bridge had been washed away and only option farmers quad bike track with only enough room for Pajero and 2m drop off - white knuckles for 2 inexperienced old ducks and no other tourists/travellers insight. So, we were wondering if anyone is based in Kununurra over the next couple of days and happy for us to tag along on day trip to either Wyndham or El Questro?
All advice welcome
Cheers
2oldducks
Please do not cross post in several places.
Check here. travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Home/Map
All the places you mention are accessed via bitumen roads. Telephone ElQuestro to check their roads.
Cheers,
Peter
Rain came through yesterday but mainly fell around Broome and, to a lesser extent, Kalumburu. For some reason, though we go rain here, the worst of it went either side of us! Today is cloudy but no rain. The cloud is thin enough I'm getting power from the solar (well, enough to slowly increase my battery levels). No rain forecast for the next week (though the occasional drizzle may eventuate).
The campground road opens tomorrow morning. According to the West Kimberley Roads report, the Gibb is still open (it has been open to El Questro for the past month, call them as suggested for an update on their road). The road out to Mitchell Falls and Kalumburu are closed and not expected to open for at least a week (they thought it might open this week, untill the current rainfall was forecast. The King Edward River is still well up, though fuel and supply vehicles did get through last week). In addition, the road to Drysdale Staion has been declared closed after yesterdays downpour. I has been open for the past few weeks. Hopefully it may reopen in a couple of days (according to the council- no promises of course!).
Could be worse here, at least I missed the rain when coming through Queensland on the way up last month (sorry Cuppa!)...
Cheers,
Mark
According to Main Roads WA.
If you are towing a caravan, you would be well advised to stay put......
Cheers,
Peter
Flooding
Some of the Southern end of GRR is CLOSED.
Cheers,
Peter
Thanks Peter... updated 27 mins ago. Word from Mt Barnett and the West Kimberley council suggested otherwise only an hour or so ago. Things change quickly...
Just checked, Hann river now at 2m, not expected to be crossable for at least 4-5 days. Gibb Road west from Mt. Barnett open with caution.
-- Edited by Silkwood on Wednesday 28th of May 2025 06:23:43 PM
Sure do, but you also need to be careful which road reports you believe.
I have been watching the East Pilbara Shire report because it includes the Gary Junction Road east of Marble Bar which provides access to and from the middle of the Canning Stock Route. BUT it has not been updated for a month now, so any info it provides is pretty useless.
We were ready to leave to go to the northern end of the Canning, but that last lot of rain dropped up to 200mm on the northern end and the Tanami Road is also closed.
A few more mm is expected on about 8/6/25, so keep aware of that if you are in the Kimberley-Pilbara area.
Ho Hum.....
Cheers,
Peter