Gibb River Road — Kalumburu Road to Drysdale River Station via Mitchell Plateau Track Junction
Real Kimberley. No net. No crowds.
Turn north off the Gibb at the Kalumburu Road junction and the Kimberley stops pretending to be accessible. The corrugated dirt to Drysdale River Station — roughly 165 km of pindan red — crosses King Edward River, one of the Kimberley’s most reliable croc-monitored crossings, before winding through open savannah and sandstone range country to the station homestead. The Mitchell Plateau spur peels off here if you’re chasing the falls, but the Drysdale leg alone will shake your fillings loose and test every suspension bushing you’ve been meaning to replace. Fuel at Drysdale Station — it’s the last certain supply before Kalumburu.
This is genuine Expert territory during the wet, and Difficult-to-Expert in the dry depending on creek levels. You need a capable 4WD with high clearance, dual spare tyres, a minimum 200-litre fuel range, satellite communicator, and recovery gear — the RFDS is not a recovery service. Best window is May to September, before the build-up makes King Edward River impassable. Permits are required to enter Kalumburu Aboriginal Land beyond Drysdale if you continue north. Dispersed camping at Drysdale Station (fee applies). What you get out here is the real Kimberley — no safety net, no phone signal, no crowds.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 103 mi / 165 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 820 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with dual spares and 200L+ fuel range |
| Nearest town | Kununurra, Western Australia |
| Land manager | Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions / Drysdale River Station (Private) |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | DBCA Kimberley Parks Kalumburu Community — Permits |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Land Cruiser 200 Series handle this section, or does it need mods?
A stock 200 Series with factory clearance will get through in the dry season, but you're pushing its limits on the rocky creek crossings and corrugated pindan sections. All-terrain tyres, a bash plate, and two full-size spares are non-negotiable — a single spare out here is a gamble you don't want to take.
When does this section of Gibb River Road typically open and close for the season?
May through September is the reliable window — the Wet season (October to April) turns creek crossings into impassable torrents and the pindan clay into a greasy death trap. Even in shoulder months like April and October, check conditions with DBCA and Drysdale River Station directly before committing, because one early storm can close it fast.
Do you need permits to drive through here, and who do you get them from?
Yes — if your route touches Kalumburu Road toward the Aboriginal community of Kalumburu, you need a permit from the Kalumburu Aboriginal Corporation before you go. The Mitchell Plateau Track Junction area also falls under DBCA jurisdiction, so check current access conditions with them. Drysdale River Station is private land; respect their boundaries and check if access fees apply when you stop there.
What's the hardest section on this stretch and what exactly makes it technical?
The creek crossings between the Mitchell Plateau Track Junction and Drysdale River Station are the crux — rocky, uneven bottoms with unpredictable depth even in dry season, and no recovery infrastructure anywhere close. The corrugated gravel and pindan dust sections punish underprepared rigs with broken components; locker or at minimum a rear diff lock is strongly advised for the loose rocky climbs.
How much fuel do you actually need to carry for this 165km section, and is there any resupply?
Drysdale River Station is your only potential fuel stop on this segment, and availability is not guaranteed — call ahead before you leave. Carry a minimum 200 litres total capacity and assume you won't find fuel until Kununurra; the Kimberley corrugations kill fuel economy hard, so budget 30–40% worse than highway figures.
Trail track
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