We Nearly did the Gibb River Road!

Sometimes the best laid plans can just go ‘poof‘ up in smoke or in our case down from a cloud.

We travelled over 6000 km to finally tick off another bucket list item; The iconic Gibb River Road (GRR) in the heart of the Kimberley, Western Australia.  We were prepped and pumped, ready for the challenge.

And then Mother Nature opened up its heavens. Initially we thought it would be a light shower and over in a few days as this is typically ‘the dry season’. After reading social media posts, checking daily weather reports and forecasts, receiving daily warning notifications we realised that this was going to be a significant event.

Our hearts sank when ten days ago, Main Roads WA closed the entire GRR 5 km past the Pentecost River all the way to the west. The section of the road was now closed. The Flood Watch Warning advised those on the  GRR to leave now, however if they choose to remain, move to higher ground and ensure they had supplies for at least five days. Again we were hopeful that it would pass, but the rain from the west just kept coming. Roads were now dangerous due to the rainfall, river levels were rising and the Barnett River was now impassable and for those on the GRR that chose to stay it meant staying put until it reopens. Anyone’s guess when that would be.

We were in Kununurra when it all began unfolding and although the GRR was closed we were able to travel to EL Questro where we remained for six days. As each day passed we rejigged our itinerary, initially moving dates forward using credit days we had banked and then shortening or skipping our planned stays along the GRR until due to prior bookings on the west coast it became clear that we would have to do a ‘raincheck’ on the GRR. 

Today the rain stopped and the sun is shining. We leave El Questro tomorrow and head to Derby along the Northern HWY. Fingers crossed the Fitzroy River crossing is still open when we arrive! Our new plan, #15 is to access the western end of the GRR in the next week or so so we can at least visit some of the gorges. If that is not a go, we will go to plan #16. Which we haven’t planned yet!

Still hopeful!