Michael's Review of his Gibb River Road trip

Amanda & Michael’s first-timers Gibb journey with 3 x 691 GAPs, 2 Landcruisers, 1 Ford Ranger Super Duty, 3 couples!

When you get married in November and then decide to tackle the Gibb River Road the following May, you’re already taking an adventurous approach to married life especially as Amanda is relatively new to caravanning. Add three 691 GAP caravans, two Landcruisers, one Ford Ranger Super Duty, and three couples (one couple we had only met once!) — none of whom had ever done the Gibb before — and suddenly it feels like the opening scene of a Kimberley reality show.

Fortunately, we had two secret weapons: a friend who spent nine months planning the entire trip and Michael who should know CRV’s inside and out except maybe the intricacies of the Clesana toilet which after a little user error hitch never missed a beat! Let’s call it toilet paper error.

Broome Warm-Up & Barred Creek

The girls flew into Broome for a gentle start — warm beds, cocktails, and sunsets — while the boys brought the vans up and squeezed them into Barred Creek with some creative scratchy-scratchy manoeuvring that two of the vans did but fortunately Michael went on a kinder route and managed to avoid the pin stripes.  Word has it that Harry from Fire to Fork might be responsible for that dodgy recommendation.

After regrouping and getting over the minor cosmetic damage we eased into the journey with a night at Kilto Station, a stop in Derby and then a spectacular five-star experience at Horizontal Falls — the perfect pre-Gibb warm-up cruising through the falls in a speedboat which fitted perfectly into Michael’s other obsession..boats !

Bungle Bungles, Lake Argyle & El Questro

Onwards to the Bungle Bungles which delivered everything they’re famous for we left the van at the caravan park (since closed on the 1^st June) and did the 2 hour drive into the park. We timed the middle of the day for the Echidna Chasm and it did not disappoint with stunning light glistening through the gaps in the rocks and from there we visited Cathedral Gorge with its magnificent amphitheatre.

From the Bungles we stopped at Kununurra Discovery Park with a beautiful site on the river and enjoyed a delicious meal at the pump house restaurant up the road. Lake Argyle was next and absolutely stunning as we hired a BBQ boat (yes, always have to find a boat) and had a beautiful afternoon cruising around, jumping off rocks and trying to fish. It was interesting reading about the Ord River Scheme, and the Argyle Homestead Museum, gaining a real appreciation for the region’s history. It was interesting talking to the managers of Argyle Homestead and hearing how Amanda’s grandfather Sir Charles Court was instrumental in saving the home and it was moved to higher ground.

Then came El Questro — Emma Gorge, Zebedee Springs, and the Chamberlain Gorge cruise. Early-season travel was a gamble, but it paid off with flowing waterfalls and minimal crowds.

Mount Elizabeth Station, Mount Hart Station, Ellenbrae Station, Mount Barnett, Windjana Gorge and most things in between

Leaving the vans behind, we tackled the rough tracks into Wunnamurra Gorge and Wyler Gorge in Mount Elizabeth. The scenery was unforgettable, the driving was bumpy, and the lamingtons at the station were worth every corrugation. The drive into Mount Hart about 50 km was even longer with about 25 Water Crossings and we were the lucky ones to get through as a few days before many had to turn around.

By the time we rolled back into Broome for the final nights we were sad it was coming to an end.

How the Vans & Vehicles Performed

Despite the heat, corrugations, creek crossings and remoteness, the three 691 GAPs and cars performed flawlessly.  Remarkably no flat tyres the whole way or mechanical issues (a little on the Landcruiser). We were extremely happy with the performance of the Ford Super Duty, and it was ready literally the day before departing so nothing like cutting it fine!

For a group of first-timers on the Gibb— that’s a remarkable result.

Tips for First-Time Gibb Travellers

• Provisioning — Shop in Kununurra (east–west) or Broome (west–east). Don’t overpack from Perth.
• Alcohol Restrictions —All of the Kimberlys have daily limits; plan ahead. Michael’s Corona bottles survived the Gibb and so did Amanda’s wine bottles just FYI.. until they were consumed that is.
• Rubbish — Carry it with you; disposal points are limited.
• Fuel — Expensive this year but accessible. Two jerry cans gave peace of mind, but we never used them.

And honestly — what price can you put on an adventure like this?

Final Thoughts

For a group of Gibb first-timers, this trip was everything we hoped for and more. The landscapes, the history, the sense of space — it all gets under your skin.

We now understand why people disappear for months at a time. Life slows down. The days stretch out. And suddenly, three months away doesn’t sound crazy at all… our group are now best friends and we are planning our next adventure so stay tuned.

If you’ve ever thought about doing the Gibb River Road: Do it before you get too old to enjoy it. It’s worth every corrugation and everyone deserves to have those Wow moments exploring the beautiful colours of the Kimberley.

PS There is extensive coverage of our trip on Cameron Caravans YouTube channel with a lot more detail so go and check it out!