Satellite map of Gibb River Road

Kimberley, Western Australia · Australia

Gibb River Road

Home Valley / Pentecost River to Great Northern Highway junction (near Kununurra)

Distance40.5 mi65 km
Drive time1 h 11 minon the road
DifficultyExperttightness 2 of 10
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The Kimberley’s legendary outback track, here on its iconic eastern run past the Pentecost River crossing beneath the Cockburn Range.

The Gibb River Road is a 660 km mostly-unsealed cattle route across the remote Kimberley between Derby and the Kununurra end, and its most photographed stretch is the eastern run past Home Valley and the Pentecost River crossing, with the red wall of the Cockburn Range looming over the floodplain. This section is corrugated red dirt with a wide, fast tidal river crossing that can hold saltwater crocodiles and rises quickly after rain. It is a true 4WD adventure rather than a sports-car road, rewarded with some of the most spectacular outback scenery in Australia. The road is generally only open and passable in the dry season. Mind the severe corrugations and bulldust, the croc-inhabited Pentecost crossing, and wet-season closures and flooding.

Scenery

ValleyGorgeMoorland

Best seasons

Winter

In these collections

Where it runs40.5 mi · point to point

Home Valley / Pentecost RiverStart · Kimberley, Western Australia
Great Northern Highway junction (near Kununurra)End · Kimberley, Western Australia

Character

Corners12bends
Tightness2of 10
Max gradient6%≈ 1-in-17
Climb294 mtotal ascent
Summit134.7 mhighest point of the line · 442 ft

Corners

busiest around mile 1
102030 mi

Elevation

under 4%4–8%over 8%5.4 – 134.7 m
summit · 134.7 m 50100 m 02041 mi

From the road

Points of interest3 stops

  • Pentecost River CrossingLandmark
    5.5 mi in
  • Cockburn Ranges LookoutViewpoint
    at the start
  • Home Valley StationFood and drink
    at the start

Hazards

  • Severe corrugations and bulldust
  • Tidal Pentecost crossing with saltwater crocodiles
  • Wet-season closures and flooding

Sources

Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked

Driving the Gibb River Road: quick answers

How long does it take to drive the Gibb River Road?
Gibb River Road runs 40.5 miles (65 km) and takes about 1 h 11 min to drive without stops.
How difficult is the Gibb River Road to drive?
We rate it expert: 12 corners, a maximum gradient of 6%, and a tightness of 2 out of 10.
When is the best time to drive the Gibb River Road?
Winter is best.
Is the Gibb River Road fully paved?
No, part of the route runs on gravel or unpaved surface. The Gibb River Road is a 660 km mostly-unsealed cattle route across the remote Kimberley between Derby and the Kununurra end, and its most photographed stretch is the eastern run past Home Valley and the Pentecost River crossing, with the red wall of the Cockburn Range looming over the floodplain.

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