• Tuesday 26 January 2010

Along The Gibb River Road! Kimberley, Australia No visit down under is complete without venturing into the outback, the vast inhospitable central area that pushes almost all Australians to live on the continent’s coastal fringes. Many travellers the outback is Australia, and one of the region’s most exciting drives is along the remote Gibb River Road in the Kimberly region of Western Australia. From Derby, just north of Broome on the west coast, to Kununurra on the state border with the Northern Territory, the Gibb River Road takes about a week to traverse by car, allowing you time to stop and savour the wild and enchanting space that is the outback. Spend a night or two in an authentic canvas swag bed under the stars at traditional cattle stations, and see great waterfalls and rarely visited Aboriginal rock-art sites. When you’re leaving Derby the first place worth exploring is Windjana Gorge. Further east, through the King Leopold Range National Park, is the first of the homestays: Mount Hart. When the folk there talk to their neighbours it is likely they are describing people several hours away by car, yet the bond between them seem as strong as if they all lived on a housing estate. Everyone in this wilderness is a big character, and Mount Hart owner Taffy Abbots is one of the biggest. Back on the main track, the driver is exhilarating as you rattle over the bumps with not a care in the world, save for avoiding the odd dingo crossing the road or the occasional road train thundering past. After an over night stop at Drysdale River Station, on a branch track off the main road, it is worth spending a day or two continuing north up the track towards Kalukburu Road and the incredible Mitchell Plateau. Back on the Gibb River Road, it is a real last night treat to stop short of Kinunrra at El Questro Wilderness Park, an ecotourism station and brainchild of an English millionaire. PLease comment if anyone has done this journey,we would love to here what you have to say! Cathal Doorley :