Lennard Gorge:

This is one of the little known and less visited Kimberley gorges. The 8 km long access road is strictly four wheel drive only and will take you to a parking bay. You used to be able to drive a bit further, but the road is now so rough that you are better off walking the last bit.

Once you get to the end of the track the walk gets rather challenging. There is no marked path, you have to find your own way (this might get easier later in the Dry season). If you head towards the right you will eventually get to a ledge overlooking the gorge and the falls.

If you stick more to the left you can get to the top of the falls where it is possible to access the water for a swim.

Bell Gorge

Is the most famous Kimberley gorge. It is also supposed to be the most beautiful.

A short walk along the pretty Bell Creek leads from the car park down to the gorge. It's easy until you get to the last bit, where you first have to cross the creek on slippery rocks, and then scramble down the steep rock wall leading to the water edge.

Once you get there everything is just perfect.

The waterfalls are cascading down the perfectly U-shaped cliffs, into a deep pool perfect for swimming, with large flat rocks along the side, perfect to sit down, sun bathe, have a picnic or just enjoy the beauty.

Adcock Gorge

The walk is very short and takes you along and across a shady lily pond. You also have to climb over a few boulders.

When you get there you find a beautiful deep green pool with a small waterfall, ferns and grassy edges. There shouldn't be too many other people here this gorge is normally quite.

Galvans Gorge

To get to Galvans Gorge you leave your vehicle in the car park which is right at the side of the main road and walk in the last 1km.  Because of the ease of accessing this gorge from the Gibb river road this gorge is always busy.

This is one of the smaller Gorges on the Gibb, similar in size to Adcock Gorge, but the pool is more than big enough to swim a few laps.

The falls are big enough to sit underneath and get a back massage.

Manning Gorge

If you are early in the season the falls might be still flowing strong, cascading over the full didth of the rocks.

The track starts from the campground, and you are given two options. You can swim across the pool and float your stuff across. Or you walk around, Cris-crossing the deep creek several times, of course on slippery rocks, treacherous logs, mud etc.  Great entertainment for observers watching others try to do it.

After that the walk is fairly easy, though open and sunny. But the scenery is beautiful.

The gorge itself is huge. It has several pools to swim through and rocks to climb up and over. You can also get to the top of the waterfall.

There are several different spots to choose from to spread out your towel and picnic hamper, so it should still be ok even if you are not totally by yourself like we were.

Barnett River Gorges

The gorges itself is not that spectacular, compared to other Kimberley gorges.

Bungle Bungles:

What to do: Walking (access to gorges is only along creekbeds; climbing the domes is not permitted), photography , camping, nature observation.

Walks:

Echidna Chasm: Easy to moderate, 2km, 1 – 2 hours return walk through a narrow chasm with some large boulders to be scrambled over.

This one is easier and shorter then Mini Palms. Initially you walk through a palm filled gorge, but that soon becomes narrower and narrower, and then narrower still.

Every now and then you have to climb over boulders blocking the way, or duck under some that didn't quite make it to the floor and are stuck above you, where you hope they'll stay until you're gone...

In the end you find yourself in a gap that's less than a metre wide, with walls so tall that it's nearly completely dark at the bottom.

Try to schedule this walk around midday. Then you will see the walls above you glow in striking colours, changing with the angle of the sun.

Mini Palms:  5km, 3 hours return walk to a scenic amphitheatre with many young palms. Easy at the start but progressively more difficult.

This hike takes you over loose rocks in a riverbed into a narrow, boulder strewn gorge filled with Livistona Palms. The further you go the steeper the track becomes.

You will have to squeeze through and clamber over boulders. It's a fun walk and not too hard because there are stairs for the steepest parts.

You eventually reach a viewing platform overlooking a palm filled valley surrounded by 150m high cliffs.

At the end of the valley is a cave. Tempting to look at but the climb to get down has been closed to protect the mini palms that cover the floor.

Walanginjdji lookout: easy 500m, 30 minute return walk with panaromic views of the western side of the Bungle bungles. Best at sunset.

The northern part of the Bungle Bungles has its own sunset lookout, too. The Walanginjdji Sunset Lookout is close to the Visitor Centre. A few minutes of walking will take you to an area with several seats, so you can enjoy wine and cheese while you watch the western escarpment catch fire.

Frog Hole Walk: we are no longer allowed to enter the Frog hole and hence this walk is now off limits to all but the local land owners.

Mini Palm Walks: In the last two wet seasons there has been a large amount of erosion in the valley where the Mini Palms are located and majority of the palms have now been washed away. CALM has now blocked off access to the valley and your only view of the remaining palms if from a platform on top of the ridge. So this walk is now not as rewarding as it used to be and the walk has very little shelter combined with walking on loose river bed rocks makes it a fairly tiring walk for a very minimal reward.

Cathedral Gorge: 3km, 1- 2 hours return walk from the Piccaninny Gorge car park to a spectacular gorge.  Mostly easy but there are some short difficult sections.

This is the most famous of all the Bungle Bungles walks, You should allow at least one hour so you can spend some time enjoying and absorbing the atmosphere of the place.

Cathedral Gorge is a huge natural amphitheatre. The rock ledges on the left invite you to sit down, and watch, and observe, and feel mesmerized.
The acoustics are fascinating (if there aren't too many people around).

Early in the season there is a pool in the middle of the theatre, and if you look up you will see shrubs dangling from the towering walls.

Enjoy a relaxing rest and reflect on the beauty that time, elements and Mother Nature took in creating this amazing place..

Domes Walk: Easy 1km circuit walks amongst the domes beginning from the Piccaninny Gorge Carpark.

The Domes Walk is connected to the Cathedral Gorge Walk. It's like a couple of side tracks. What you will see is more of the scenery that you also encounter on your way to Cathedral Gorge: sandstone beehives, creek beds, gaps and crevices, evidence of wet season waterfalls and of weathering.

Sunset Lookout:

Not far from the start of the Piccaninny Creek Walk is a turn off to the right which takes you to a lookout. Even if you really don't have the time to walk along Piccaninny Creek, maybe you can make time for the lookout?  It takes about half an hour to 45 minutes to get there.

Mitchell Plateau

This walk can be done in full (return) or only one way and utilizing the Helitaxi service for the return leg.

The walk starts at campsite. At the beginning of the walk is a stand with many leaflets with info about the diverse plant and animal life, even species lists for the serious nature and bird lover.

There is also info about the Aboriginal owners of the area, and about the rock art that you will see on the way.

There is also walk track description with trek notes. Everything you could possibly ask for.

Your hike begins with the crossing of the pretty Mertens Creek. (This is a great place to relax and soak in the evening while cooling off.)

From here it's about 15 minutes to get to Little Mertens Falls/Mertens Falls

Little Mertens Falls isn't little at all! It drops quite a way, so be careful near the edge of loose rocks.

You can walk across the top of the falls to the other side. There are many rock ledges, pools and rapids, shady spots to sit down and just listen to the water, natural spas to cool down and relax and refresh for an hour or two.

The most intriguing feature of Mertens Falls can be found underneath.

If you stay on the right side of it and just follow the main track you will, soon after climbing down a small rock face, see a path to your left.
Follow it and it will take you to a cave underneath the falls. It’s amazing.

On the cliff face here you will find some beautiful ancient Bradshaw paintings. Further in the walls are covered with delicate rock ferns. The dripping moisture has given the rocks are lovely pattern and texture.

All the while the falls are thundering from above. It's easy to see why this place was of spiritual significance to the creators of the rock art.

Once you leave Mertens Falls behind and continue your way towards Mitchell Falls the path leads you through a shady patch of rainforest. When it opens up again you soon hear the creek to your left as there are more rapids.

If you leave the path and climb over the rock slabs down to the creek you find another irresistible swimming pool. And if you look up you see another big rock slab covered in Bradshaws.

On a hot day this spot is irresistible for a swim on the way in and back. It's a lovely spot and just  so peaceful.

Big Mertens Falls/Mertens Gorge

The next stop is the Big Mertens Falls/Mertens Gorge as it's now called. The falls are huge but not as big as the Mitchell Falls.

If you walk along the top of the falls to the far right you get the best view of them. But be extremely careful here, it's a long way down.

The gorge below is narrow and dramatic, and impossible to capture in a good photo this is because of the lack of light that enters the bottom.

To get to Mitchell Falls you need to make your way across the top of Mertens Gorge and continue on the other side.

The walk gets more difficut now. It's very rocky terrain, big boulders to climb over, clumps of spiky spinifex, loose gravel.  It's easy to slip.

The Mitchell Falls are just around the corner now.

We didn't even realise what we were looking at when we first saw them, because you approach them from the top.
There was this amazing view along the Mitchell River and a thundering noise.

If you climb up on the big rock slabs on the right you get to see what's on the other side. WOW.

This fall has to been seen to be believed you will be spell bound by the magnitude of the view.

Ant this is only the top tier of the four tiered Mitchell Falls.

The path continues around the left and you cross the Mitchell River not far from the top of the falls. So early in the season the crossing is an adventure in itself. It's wide, it's deep, and the current is quite something so this shouldn’t be treated lightly.

On the other side there are no arrows or rock cairns anywhere (so you could get lost. Just make your way over the top of the rocks and you can't miss the helipad. On the other side of the helicopter landing area you will pick up some arrows again.

From here the path is much better marked, because all the non bush walkers that use the helicopter to get here need to be able to find their way to the official photo lookout.

At this lookout be prepared to stand in line a bit to get to take your photos.

Before you get to the photo lookout there is a path branching off to your left. If you have some energy left follow it.

It will take you to the bottom of the falls. It's not easy to get down there. Maybe it is easier later in the season, Early in the season you will need to fight your way through a wet season's worth of growth.

There are many rock cairns which makes navigation easier. The path itself goes pretty much straight down. (ie. Steep decent use low gear...)

Once you reach the bottom you will have to follow the river back up until you get to the bottom of the Mitchell Falls.

This is a lot closer to the Mitchell Falls down here than you are at the lookout. You can even feel the spray drift and the noise and there won't be many people down here.

If you were tempted to go for a swim here. Sorry to disappoint you. This is not allowed because this is a sacred place.

And ……….. Don’t be too disappointed It's salt water ….. which means saltwater crocodile country.

A straight walk in should take about three hours to get in, but this is with no stop for any swims. So you can enjoy the return trip with all the rest and swim stops you want. The return trip can be done at a more leisurely pace.

This walk is the biggest walk in the Kimberley if you wish to do the return trip.

But if you feel the whole return trip would be a bit much you can always walk just one way and use the helicopter for the way back. That's actually what most people do. Just don't restrict yourself to only the helicopter flight and the Mitchell Falls photo lookout. That would be not do the area any justice and should be treated as a Criminal offence.

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