Great Northern Highway: Broome to Kununurra
About 1,050 km across the Kimberley on a fully sealed highway: boabs at Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Geikie Gorge, Halls Creek and Warmun, ending in the Ord River valley.
- Distance
- 1,120 km (696 mi)
- Driving
- 12 h 13 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 11
- States
- Western Australia
- Updated
- April 26, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 1,120 km (696 mi) with 11 stops, from Broome to Kununurra. About 12 h 13 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Western Australia
Route description
Day 1: leave Broome on the Great Northern Highway and drive about 220 km to Derby, around 2.5 hours, on flat, sealed road across pindan scrub and mudflats. In Derby, see the huge tides at the jetty and visit the Prison Boab Tree just south of town. Tidal water here has crocodiles, so stay away from the edge. The highway is the main road between all Kimberley towns and is suitable for caravans.
Day 2: continue about 260 km east to Fitzroy Crossing, across the Fitzroy River floodplain. In the dry season, take a boat cruise in Danggu (Geikie) Gorge, about 20 km from town, where the white limestone walls and freshwater crocodiles are the highlight. Check whether the park is open after floods. Fuel and food are available at Fitzroy Crossing, and nights are best spent in town.
Day 3: drive about 290 km to Halls Creek, through open cattle country and low ranges, roughly 3.5 hours. Stop at the China Wall, a white quartz vein 6 km from town, and, if time allows, at the Old Halls Creek townsite, where Western Australia's first gold rush began in 1885. Wolfe Creek Crater lies about 150 km south on the Tanami Road and needs a full extra day.
Day 4: the last leg is about 360 km to Kununurra. About 110 km north of Halls Creek you pass the turn-off for Purnululu National Park, whose 53 km access track is for high-clearance 4WD vehicles only; leave caravans in Warmun or Kununurra. Warmun is home to the Gija people, and its art centre is a rewarding stop for ochre paintings. Fill up in Warmun and arrive in Kununurra before dark.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Broome
Western Australia - 2198 km
Derby
Western Australia - 38 km
Prison Boab Tree
HistoryDerby, Western AustraliaA huge hollow boab by the Great Northern Highway south of Derby, estimated to be well over a thousand years old. In the 1890s it was used as an overnight holding place for Aboriginal prisoners being walked to Derby, a sobering stop.
- 4269 km
Fitzroy Crossing
Western Australia - 526 km
Danggu (Geikie) Gorge
NatureFitzroy Crossing, Western AustraliaWhite limestone walls of an ancient Devonian reef rise above the Fitzroy River about 20 km from Fitzroy Crossing. Boat tours in the dry season show freshwater crocodiles and sawfish. Flooding can close the park, so check its status before you go.
- 6248 km
Halls Creek
Western Australia - 78 km
China Wall
NatureHalls Creek, Western AustraliaA natural wall of white quartz, a few metres high, runs in a long line across red hills east of Halls Creek, glowing at sunrise and sunset. Easy to reach on a short walk from the car park; a good quick stop on the highway.
- 810 km
Old Halls Creek townsite
HistoryHalls Creek, Western AustraliaThe ruins and cemetery of the original Halls Creek, centre of Western Australia's first gold rush after gold was found in 1885. The town later moved to its present site on the highway. Little remains, but the setting is atmospheric.
- 9172 km
Warmun
Western Australia - 100 km
Warmun Art Centre
HistoryWarmun, Western AustraliaAn Aboriginal-owned art centre in Warmun, home to Gija artists known for ochre paintings of East Kimberley country. It is a way to learn about the region directly from its people. Ask before taking photos, and visit during opening times.
- 11183 km
Kununurra
Western Australia
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Broome → Prison Boab Tree · 205 km · 2 h 14 minOn the way: Derby.
- Day 2: Prison Boab Tree → Danggu (Geikie) Gorge · 294 km · 3 h 13 minOn the way: Fitzroy Crossing.
- Day 3: Danggu (Geikie) Gorge → Old Halls Creek townsite · 265 km · 2 h 53 minOn the way: Halls Creek, China Wall.
- Day 4: Old Halls Creek townsite → Kununurra · 355 km · 3 h 52 minOn the way: Warmun, Warmun Art Centre.
Best time to go
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–August. Hot in September–May. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Great Northern Highway: Broome to Kununurra?
4-day road trip of about 1,120 km (696 mi) with 11 stops, from Broome to Kununurra. About 12 h 13 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Great Northern Highway: Broome to Kununurra?
We suggest 4 days: about 12 h 13 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Great Northern Highway: Broome to Kununurra start and end?
It starts in Broome and ends in Kununurra.
Which states does Great Northern Highway: Broome to Kununurra pass through?
Western Australia.
When is the best time for Great Northern Highway: Broome to Kununurra?
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–August. Hot in September–May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
