We are looking at heading to WA via King Ash Bay then across to Broome and down the west coast from the beginning of March, Is this a suitable time , we plan to take approx. 3 months
Yep, I think so. The worst of the monsoon weather should be finished and the countryside should be lovely and green. It's been 5 years since we were over that way (WA) and we went in peak tourist time but didn't have any troubles finding places to stay. We stayed in caravan parks or free camped depending where we were and what was around. A couple times we had a non-power site in a caravan park but that didn't bother us. We never knew where we would be from one day to the next so didn't book ahead anywhere but I have heard that Broome can become booked out. We stayed at the Roebuck Plains Roadhouse/Caravan Park about 36km from Broome. Enjoy your trip. Cheers.
We went anti clockwise 2 years ago. We went into Karijini NP 20 June & back out on the public road through Millstream Chichester NP (Python Pool), very Green. A few weeks earlier the roads very flooded Sperling to a ranger. Also told don't be in Karijini in school holidays!
Albert Tognolini lookout has great camping, & go for a walk & for photos up out the back of the camping area.
They haven't had a wet season up the NT, Borroloola has had about 400mm, the Gold Coast has had 600+ in about 30 days. According to BOM there is a low forming in the gulf but unlikely to create a cyclone, but cyclones can be late.
Under normal weather conditions March would be wet and it's not looking like it so far. But even if it's not it will have high humidity and temperatures 23 min outside at night 40 max under a tree with a breeze of the Mcarthur.
Just my observations.
We have had two cyclones this season here in WA with quite a bit of flooding. Father and son rescued off the roof of their 4wd after being stranded in floodwaters for 4ihrs out of Meekatharra just recently, so lots of water up north.
You will still be in the tail end of the wet season so you could still strike it unlucky and if there is much water in that country most of the unsealed roads become impassable.
Don't go there in school holidays unless you have booked ahead. It gets very busy once the cold sets in down south.
June / July better than March when it's still very hot and humid. We went last year to Kununurra in June and it was still high 30's in the Kimberley's.
Wasn't much wet season at all last year. Like previous have said....avoid school holidays.
July and August is near perfect, and if your heading further south in September the wildflower country is awesome.
RAC C/p in Broome is a great location and possibly the only Broome park that is light on "Midgies". Right on Cable Beach with a bus stop at the front gate, and not overly expensive with your RAC Card.
Anywhere in the Pilbara or Kimberlies is awesome at that time of the year. But full on during the school holidays; and I think NT school holidays are a week infront of WA, so things are quite hectic for 3 to 4 weeks.
We give Broome a miss during school hols and head up the Peninsular. Heaps of free camping.
At the beginning of March King Ash Bay will be almost certainly closed and it still is possible cyclone season and very likely to have heavy rains through there or the Kimberley and it will be very very hot and humid. Most places in the Kimberley outside of Broome and Kununurra are not open till often late April, possibly later depending on the wet season. You will be well ahead of the crowds, that is probably the only positive of going at that time. I would be leaving it at least a month later, probably 2.
Glorgeo, personally I think it might be a bit early unless you like steamy/humid weather. I know we were in Darwin the end of March 2015 and it was very humid up until about the end of April. A cup of coffee in the morning, my tea shirt looked like I had just run a marathon! Also, this is Darwin, most of the parks are all still closed for swimming as they have'nt cleared any crocs out from the wet season.
If possible I would be putting it off until May at the earliest
cheers
Ian
March is the month to travel WA but starting in the south of the state not the north. The southwest has cold wet winters so most travel north then. If you are traveling WA starting in the north in March you will be heading south just as it is starting to turn cold and wet in the south. Better travel WA if starting in the north during August.
