West Kimberley: Windjana, Tunnel Creek and Geikie

A three-day dry-season loop through an ancient Devonian reef: boabs and tides at Derby, two gorges on the Napier Range, then Geikie Gorge by boat from Fitzroy Crossing.

Distance: 337 km (209 mi)
Driving: 3 h 40 min
Suggested days: 3
Stops: 8
States: Western Australia
Updated: April 26, 2026

At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 337 km (209 mi) with 8 stops, from Derby to Danggu (Geikie) Gorge. About 3 h 40 min of driving in total.

More road trips in Western Australia

Route description

Day 1: begin in Derby, the gateway to the west Kimberley, and see the jetty at King Sound, where tides exceed 10 m; stay away from the water's edge because of crocodiles. Visit the Prison Boab Tree just south of town. Then drive roughly 140 km to Windjana Gorge via the Derby Highway and Gibb River Road, partly unsealed, 2 to 3 hours. Check conditions with Main Roads WA.

Day 2 morning: walk the 3.5 km Windjana Gorge, cut by the Lennard River through a 375-million-year-old reef; limestone walls rise on both sides and freshwater crocodiles rest on the sand. Do not swim in the river. The gorge is open only in the dry season, about April to November. The campground nearby is basic, so bring water, food and a sun hat.

Day 2 afternoon: drive about 35 km on gravel to Tunnel Creek, where you wade through a 750 m tunnel carved by the creek; bring a torch, sturdy water shoes and a change of clothes. It was a hideout of Bunuba leader Jandamarra. Then continue by road to Fitzroy Crossing, about 100 km, partly unsealed, ending on the sealed Great Northern Highway; allow 2 hours.

Day 3: spend the morning at Danggu (Geikie) Gorge National Park, about 20 km from Fitzroy Crossing, where dry-season boat tours show freshwater crocodiles beneath white limestone walls. Check opening status first; flooding can close it. Afterwards you can drive back to Derby, about 260 km on the sealed highway, or continue east to Halls Creek. Fuel up in Fitzroy Crossing.

Stop-by-stop itinerary

In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.

1

Derby
Western Australia
Start
2

Derby Jetty and King Sound tides
ViewsDerby, Western Australia
King Sound has some of the largest tides in Australia, over 10 m, so the water at the jetty rises and falls dramatically within hours. Sunsets over the mudflats and mangroves are good, but stay out of the water: crocodiles live here.
3 km
3

Prison Boab Tree
HistoryDerby, Western Australia
A 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.
10 km
4

Windjana Gorge (Bandilngan)
NatureFitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
The Lennard River has cut a 3.5 km gorge through a 375-million-year-old Devonian reef, with limestone walls up to about 30 m high. Dozens of freshwater crocodiles bask on the sandbanks. Open in the dry season only, roughly April to November; keep your distance from the water.
171 km
5

Windjana Gorge Campground
CampingFitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
A national park campground near the mouth of Windjana Gorge, the usual base for Windjana and Tunnel Creek on the Gibb River Road side. Camp only in the dry season, bring water and supplies, and keep clear of the river's crocodiles after dark.
0 km
6

Tunnel Creek
NatureFitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
A creek has carved a tunnel about 750 m long through the Napier Range. You wade in the dark, so bring a torch and sturdy sandals. It was a hideout of the Bunuba leader Jandamarra, killed outside the entrance in 1897.
32 km
7

Fitzroy Crossing
Western Australia
94 km
8

Danggu (Geikie) Gorge
NatureFitzroy Crossing, Western Australia
White 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.
26 km

Suggested stages and overnight stops

3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.

Day 1: Derby → Windjana Gorge (Bandilngan) · 184 km · 2 h 01 minOn the way: Derby Jetty and King Sound tides, Prison Boab Tree.
Day 2: Windjana Gorge (Bandilngan) → Tunnel Creek · 32 km · 0 h 21 minOn the way: Windjana Gorge Campground.
Day 3: Tunnel Creek → Danggu (Geikie) Gorge · 120 km · 1 h 18 minOn the way: Fitzroy Crossing.

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–September. Hot in October–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 West Kimberley: Windjana, Tunnel Creek and Geikie?

3-day road trip of about 337 km (209 mi) with 8 stops, from Derby to Danggu (Geikie) Gorge. About 3 h 40 min of driving in total.

How many days do you need for West Kimberley: Windjana, Tunnel Creek and Geikie?

We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 40 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

Where does West Kimberley: Windjana, Tunnel Creek and Geikie start and end?

It starts in Derby and ends in Danggu (Geikie) Gorge.

Which states does West Kimberley: Windjana, Tunnel Creek and Geikie pass through?

Western Australia.

When is the best time for West Kimberley: Windjana, Tunnel Creek and Geikie?

No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–September. Hot in October–May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)