The Kimberley might be nicknamed Australia's last frontier, but there are still a few options to get there. Many travelers start their Kimberley adventure in Broome – the largest town in the region – but you could also start in Kununurra or Derby.
The quickest and most convenient way to get to the Kimberley is to fly, and then join a tour or rent a car.
If you're not on a tight schedule and you don't mind driving long distances, there's always the option of a road trip or taking a private coach from Perth or Darwin.
Flying to the Kimberley
Broome is the best starting point if you're traveling eastbound towards Kununurra, Lake Argyle and Wyndham. There are flights to Broome International Airport from Darwin, Perth and Kununurra all year round with Qantas, Virgin Australia or Airnorth, as well as regular flights to/from Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in the dry season (from May to September). It's generally easier to get to the Kimberley in the dry months as it coincides with the main tourist season.
You can also fly into Kununurra Airport (also known as East Kimberley Regional Airport) if you're traveling westbound towards Broome. There are direct flights to/from Perth and Darwin several times a week with Air North and Virgin Australia, with the option to transfer to a domestic flight to other cities throughout Australia.
Driving to the Kimberley
A slower, but perhaps more immersive, way to travel is to drive (if you have the time and a 4WD, that is). In fact, a Kimberley road trip could be one of the most epic road trips you'll ever do. The Gibb River Road – a 410-mile road that runs through the heart of the Kimberley – is the gateway to the region’s most spectacular parks, gorges and waterfalls including Windjana Gorge and El Questro Wilderness Park. You can access Gibb River Road from Kununurra/Wyndham in the east, or Derby in the west.
- From Darwin: To get to Kununurra from the Northern Territory, follow the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Katherine and turn onto the Victoria Highway. You'll then cross the NT/WA border into Kununurra.
- From Perth: If you're coming from Perth, you can follow the Great Northern Highway all the way up to Broome or continue onto Kununurra.
If you’re self-driving, it’s super important to plan ahead and prepare. This is one of the country's most remote and sparsely populated regions where tourist infrastructure is minimal and amenities are few and far between. You'll also need to ensure your vehicle is cut out for the trip, which means having a 4WD. A 2WD just won’t cut it for the Kimberley – not if you want to do it safely and properly – as the weather and road conditions are unpredictable and many roads are unsealed.
Catching a bus to the Kimberley
Bus routes to the Kimberley are limited, but you can take a coach from Darwin to Broome with Greyhound, or from Perth to Broom with Integrity Coach Lines. Sure, it's much slower (the trip takes 25 hours from Darwin and 35 hours from Perth), but it's a great way to travel if you want to reduce your footprint.
You'll also get to see some of the amazing outback scenery along the way. Just make sure you're armed with plenty of snacks, podcasts and a couple of films for the journey.
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