It’s easy to take the Great Northern and Victoria Highways to drive from Wyndham to Kununurra in the far north of Western Australia, but where’s the fun in that? If you take into account all the amazing things you’ll see if you take the back roads, including saltwater crocodiles, you’ll be kicking yourself.
Wyndham is the Kimberley’s oldest town. From the lookout at the Bastion, you can see the five rivers that flow into the Cambridge Gulf; the Pentecost, Durack, King, Forrest and Ord. Philip Parker King was the first European who sailed into the gulf in 1819. It was named after the Duke of Cambridge. It wasn’t until 1879 that explorer John Forrest realised the grazing potential of the area. Soon the Duracks were on their way from Queensland with cattle and horses.
The discovery of gold in Halls Creek in 1885 led Wyndham to be established as a port and trading post. Business was booming, but it didn’t last long and by 1912 there was little money left in the local economy. In 1913, the WA government began construction of the Wyndham Meatworks. This became the town’s mainstay until it closed in 1985. The town has since seen a decline in business with tourism now playing a part in the local economy.
After exploring the town, drive past the “Big Croc”. Hard to miss, and thankfully they don’t get as big as this concrete version. Take the bitumen 34km south from Wyndham to “The Grotto”, a popular and safe swimming hole, especially during the warmer months.
The walk down is via 140 rock steps. Waiting below is a beautiful gorge, a few degrees cooler and very refreshing. A couple of old ropes hang from the melaleucas as evidence of the great times had in this ancient waterhole. In the wet season, a waterfall pounds the rocks below.
Backtracking 2km along the highway leads to a turn off onto The Old Halls Creek Track. Constructed by convicts during the Halls Creek gold rush, the remnants of the old cobblestones can still be seen lining some sections of the track. This 4WD track is only 23km long, but well worth tackling with a couple of detours thrown in that’ll add to the adventure.
The first is Alligator Hole (more commonly known now as Crocodile Hole), a saltwater crocodile habitat where you can find these massive creatures lying on the banks basking in the sun. This is a day-use area only and swimming is NOT an option. The second detour is Mugs Lagoon that offers fantastic scenery, especially of the water lilies covering the water. This isn’t a safe swimming hole either.
Upon reaching the T-junction with Parry Creek Road, hang a left and drop into the Parry Creek Farm for a cuppa and scones. They also provide accommodation and camping options as well as a café and restaurant that operate from April to September. The resort is a haven for twitchers as the birdlife is plentiful. Keep an eye out for the resident salties in the resort lagoon.
Back out onto the Old Halls Creek Road, head west for approximately 6km before turning right onto the track. You’ll head out towards Marlgu Lagoon, part of the RAMSAR listed Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve. You’ll see remnants of the Old Telegraph Station built in 1914. This station helped aid ships coming into Wyndham. During World War One naval intelligence intercepted radio traffic.
At Marlgu Lagoon you’ll find a raised walkway and bird hide. This is the perfect way to view some of the 180 species of birdlife recorded within the reserve and any saltwater crocodiles that may be laying around. Swimming is not permitted in any of the lagoons.
From here, it’s a challenging 7km drive that loops back onto the Parry Creek Road. There are deep sections of bulldust to contend with as you track across the Ord River flood plain. Once on the main dirt road, the driving is easy.
Parry Creek Road is a picturesque back road that runs beside the Ord River as it nears Kununurra. It’s prime cattle country and you’ll often come across herds grazing beside the road, so care is needed. There are a few free camping options along the Ord River. There are also a couple of springs worth visiting. Black Rock Springs and Middle Springs are nice, especially early in the dry season when the waterfalls may still be flowing.
The final obstacle to reaching Kununurra is the famed Ivanhoe Crossing.
Once across, it’s approximately 11km to the Visitor Information Centre in Kununurra. For places to camp, visit our Parks Search.
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