Gibb River Road

end of april 03 gibb was 2wd territory with ankle deep crossings all along. Mitchell falls was a different storys with 700mm at King Edward. grr is hardly the test of man or machine anymore (only tyres) like it sounds you are chasing

How about looking at a map of the Kimberley. This will give you a clue.

I will be there about the same time but 700mm is the limit for me in a petrol without a snorkel. I'd rather it a bit drier.

Nick,

I think the answer to your question would vary from year to year depending on seasonal conditions. We're heading along the GRR in late May/June. I was speaking with the Fitzroy Crossing Visitor Info Centre only a couple of days ago and they tell me that some parts of the GRR are quite dry and currently passable to local traffic whilst other sections remain closed and are unlikely to open until May. In particular, the Mitchell Plateau and sections of the GRR were severly affected by Cyclone Ingrid and associated rainfall. They don't expect the GRR to be open to through traffic until the beginning of May. They also told me that the Main Roads Dpt in the Kimberley region are the best people to speak to for the most up-to-date and specific road condition report. Might be worth your while to give them a call.

:o) Melissa

Yes it is very different every year, impossible to predict in fact. If it doesn't rain any more the GR road is expected to be open by mid April. MRD predicting about 12 th at present. They are grading from both ends now and were almost to the Pentacost from the Kununurra end 2 days ago.
If it doesn't rain anymore you will have low water crossings on the GR road as they are already low now. The GR road is closed due to the cyclone damage to road round ELQ and Home Valley not due to depth of water. Except for the over 400 mm in one day that the ELQ area got, in general in a lot of the Kimberely it has had a small wet season.
The Mitchell plateau missed most of the rain from the cyclone but quite a lot fell around the King Edward crossing, nothing like the coast near Kalumburu or ELQ got though. The shire plans to inspect our road shortly and then we will know what the story is further North. At present i think it will only be a matter of how soon the grader can get through rather than depth of water. May be a different story thru to Kalumburu, it may be wetter up that end as Theda Station got 360 mm and Kalumburu got more again.
We have had the odd year with heavy rain early April BUT if it has finished we are in for a pretty dry year.
We have been away and just got home so I'll post this as new as well in case others are interested.
cheers, Anne