Kellys Camp to Cape Leveque — Dampier Peninsula Red-Track Circuit via One Arm Point
Pindan red to paradise on the Kimberley coast.
The Dampier Peninsula track north of Broome is the real thing — a corrugated, pindan-red spine that punches through Bardi Jawi and Nyul Nyul country to Cape Leveque at the peninsula’s tip. You leave the sealed road at Broome and don’t see bitumen again for the better part of 200 km. The track passes through Beagle Bay (its pearl-shell mosaic church is worth the detour), Middle Lagoon, and Lombardina before hitting One Arm Point and the cliff-edge camp at Cape Leveque itself — white sand, turquoise water, reef, and total isolation. Sand bogs are the primary hazard; the track softens badly after rain and some creek crossings become impassable during the Wet.
This is a high-clearance 4WD route — a stock Prado or Land Cruiser is minimum, aired-down to around 18 psi for the soft sand sections. A second spare tyre is not optional. Most of the land is Indigenous-owned and you need to book permits through Bardi Jawi and Nyul Nyul ranger offices before you go — these are genuine communities, not tourist parks. Fuel at One Arm Point only; carry a minimum 80-litre reserve. Dry season only: May through September. Phones go dead north of Beagle Bay. Takes 2–3 days return, longer if you camp at multiple spots. Worth every metre of it.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 124 mi / 200 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 410 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with dual spares |
| Nearest town | Broome, WA |
| Land manager | Bardi Jawi Niimidiman Aboriginal Corporation / Nyul Nyul Rangers |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | Tourism WA — Dampier Peninsula DBCA Cape Leveque |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Prado or 4Runner handle this trail, or does it need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD can manage it, but you need decent all-terrain tyres and two full-size spare tyres minimum — the pindan tracks are brutal on rubber. A lift helps on the softer sand sections near the cape, but it's not a dealbreaker. Low-range will be used regularly.
Is the Dampier Peninsula track open year-round?
No. The wet season (October–April) makes most of the peninsula impassable — creek crossings flood and the pindan turns to bog. Stick to May through September. Even in the dry, check with the Bardi Jawi Niimidiman Aboriginal Corporation if there's been late wet season rain.
Do you need permits to drive through to Cape Leveque and One Arm Point?
Yes. The route passes through Aboriginal land managed by Bardi Jawi Niimidiman Aboriginal Corporation and Nyul Nyul Rangers — permits are required to access communities and certain areas. Get permits sorted before you leave Broome; some communities also charge entry or camping fees on top.
What's the hardest section of this route and what should I actually expect?
The corrugations north of Middle Lagoon toward One Arm Point are relentless and will shake your gear loose if it's not properly secured. Deep bulldust holes are the other main threat — they're invisible until you're in them. Tyre pressures down to around 22–26 PSI on the sand sections makes a real difference.
How far is the fuel range between reliable fuel stops, and is there any cell service on the peninsula?
Broome is your last guaranteed fuel before heading north — carry a minimum 40–50 litres of extra fuel as the 200km route has no reliable servos and the communities are not fuel stops for travellers. There is zero cell service for the entire route, so a satellite communicator is not optional out here.
Trail track
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