kalumburu

Oops..I did it again! That's what happens typing on an I pad whilst enjoying a vino and not concentrating!i do actually know how to spell and where we are going!!

Thanks stu for feedback. The boys a 4 and 5 and are active and fairly good at climbing! Are there any gorges you would recommend over other for kids that age?ive heard some are quite steep and not worth attempting with young kids. Our main plan is bungle bungles,emma gorge, manning,bell,kalumburu. I've been up there a long time ago, and from memory tunnel creek is probably not suitable... Any feedback would be great, just it convinced we should make the trip to kalumburu for 3 nights only

Hi Stu,

You have sensibly allowed yourselves plenty of time to do the GRR. My suggestion would be to avoid planning your itinerary too tightly so that you can be flexible and respond to prevailing conditions when you are actually there. eg if you find that the boys are getting a bit tired of driving long distances it might be better to stay longer at a gorge where they can swim and run around. Or you may not be able to get a campsite at one place (can happen) so need to move on to the next area etc.

You dont seem to have either Mornington or Windjana on your list? Mornington has some lovely swimming spots and nice walks. Windjana with its freshies is great for walking along the gorge and getting up very close to the crocs (dont let the kids pat them tho).

While we havent been to Kalumbaru, the road up to the Mitchell Plateau can be rough (especially the drive to the Michell Falls) but the Falls and the KER crossing and camping area are great places with opportunities for swimming and seeing some wonderful aboriginal art. The boys would, I'm sure enjoy exploring the rock outcrops and making their own art discoveries.

However you go, have a wonderful trip.

Cheers,

Val

Thanks for that Val, ill look into Mornington, I've not heard of that one, and Windjana is on our list...I have photos from years ago of me walking alongside freshies and my boys are amazed, so the definately want to go there!
Cheers
Eve

Hi Eve,

Mornington is on the southern side of the road a bit east of Bell Gorge. It was probably one of our favourite places in the Kimberley. Bit of info in one of our blogs here.

BTW I think your boys would really enjoy Tunnel Creek, its just the first few metres that are a bit of a scramble.

Cheers,

Val

Permits??? Wot permits are required for that area??

I don't think you need a permit to actually go to Kalumburu, but the information I have been reading up on prior to my trip indicates that if you intend to explore around Kalumburu such as accessing beaches and some camping areas etc then you may need a permit. There is some basic info on this page but a quick suref on the net should give you more. Please correct me if I am wrong, as I was about to start looking into this myself.

http://www.derbytourism.com.au/pages/kalumburu/

Happy travels

You should have a permit to go to Kalumburu and when you get there you have to purchase a further permit.

"On arrival at Kalumburu in the northern Kimberley, a visitor permit costing $50 per vehicle (or $25 per person where visitors come by coach or air) must be obtained from the Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation office. This can be arranged by mail prior to the visit, but allow four weeks to receive your permit. The office may not be open during the lunch hour or outside of office hours of 8.30 am to 4.30 pm weekdays. This permit is in addition to the free transit permit required to visit Kalumburu, and is only for seven days."

As we left our plans very flexible, when we decided to go to Kalumburu I telephoned about a transit permit. They told me just to get the visitor permit when we arrived. I took it that I had been given a verbal transit permit.

Mh

Hi Bill,
I've got the Hema "the Kimberley" book and also Gibb river road (Ben Knapinski), and I've downloaded Brigits guide too! I'm really looking forward to the trip, I'm sure it will be amazing! We are planning 2 nights in the bungle bungles first stop,I was there years ago and it was the highlight of the trip for me!
Enjoy your travels
Cheers
Eve

Hi,
Thanks for the info, we may spend a night at drysdale and king Edward river, we have no definite plans as yet, but would like to get up to kalumburu. We have had mixed opinions about it. Our boys are 4 and 5 and are good travellers, so we can get a good run, but just not sure how rough it would be for them...

It would not be too rough for your boys - just take it slowly and cautiously. Unlike the corrugations of the GRR and to the Mitchell Plateau, much of the road on to Kalumburu was rock base and required going very slowly. They were grading at the time which improved the surface and had made detours around some bad washouts. This road can be closed for some time after the wet season.

We left our decision until we talked to others at Drysdale River Station who had just returned from Kalumburu.

Anne at Drysdale River Station often posts road opening news here on the forum.

Mh

Thanks for that, can't wait!

Eviec I should have mentioned that another reason to called in at Drysdale River Station is for fuel. They are the only fuel outlet between the Gibb River Road and Kalumburu. They also have a mechanical repair shop and are very resourceful as they see all sorts of breakages.

Mh

Mc Gowen's Island has the cheapest diesel up there. If you can make it up there it's a great experience, a bit expensive but a great spot to relax and explore.

My wife and I lived on oysters off the rocks while we were there.
We spent a day going as far north as we could. We checked out the Old Pago Mission ruins, some beautiful little beaches and didn't see another vehicle all day.

Kalumburu is pretty special. The old Church and Museum is worth spending some time checking out, as is the art centre. We found they have a different style to other Communities and it's generally quite affordable.

Kalumburu is a really tidy Community with a fair bit to see. The people are friendly, there's some old plane wrecks to check out and some safe swimming holes.

We love the area and can't wait to get back up there.

Steve