9 Days Broome-Broome via Gibb River Road, Mornington... & Bungle Bungles?

by Sue
(Sydney)

My husband and I are planning a trip arriving in Broome on Saturday afternoon, staying 1 night.
Sunday-Thursday we plan to drive to the Gibb River Road (with 4WD).

We plan to see the gorges and stay at Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary (as have a friend who will be staying there too) - would also love to see the Bungle Bungles as don't want to come all this way and miss out - but would we be making our trip not enjoyable by trying to fit this in? Would we be trying to do too much?
Thursday-Sunday: relax in Broome before flying home on Sunday.
Thank you for any tips!
Sue

Re: Broome-Broome via Gibb River Road and Bungle Bungles

Hi Sue,
I'm afraid what you are planning there is a bit unrealistic. Yes, that is way too much to do over a four night drive.

To see the Gibb River Road and the Bungles you could drive all the way around, up the Gibb River Road, back down the highway.

Did you download the free guide? Look at the chapter, "How much time should you take?" For the Gibb River Road, if you do want to see the main gorges and stop at Mornington, you would need at least 3 nights, and that's pushing it.

To drive back along the highway and stop into the Bungles, you'd need another 3.

The other option is to drive to Mornington, backtrack (skipping Manning Gorge which is further up), drive to the Bungles, and backtrack again. The idea of backtracking does not appeal to me, but this option may be faster, probably five nights.

That would still be very rushed trips. I don't think, what you get to see and do would justify the expense of the drive. You would be spending nearly all of your time in the car.

I totally understand that you don't want to miss out on anything after making the long way up here, but the only way to fit the Bungles in as well is to cut short your time in Broome.

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9 Days Broome-Broome via Gibb River Road, Mornington... & Bungle Bungles?

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Thanks
by: Sue

Thank you so much for answering that � a huge help and I'm sure my husband would agree! However, I didn't know how far those distances really were. Yes, I have downloaded the free guide � it's a great starter for me, thanks.

In your opinion � which would be best - Bungle Bungles and miss Cable Beach (ie just fly into Broome and stay a night, perhaps have a quick swim at Cable then get on the road for our camping adventure) or Cable Beach and miss Bungle Bungles? I guess we could make sure we were back in enough time to Broome on the last night to see the stairways to the moon!!

If the former, would we be fitting in too much to do this in 6 nights/7 days?

Thanks � hopefully that is my last question for you!!

Sue

It's difficult to give advice on that
by: Birgit

Hi Sue,

Well, this is a very personal decision.

I don't understand the fuss over Cable Beach. I love the beaches on the Dampier Peninsula, at Middle Lagoon and at Cape Leveque. But Cable Beach? Does nothing for me.

To me it's a nobrainer, but that does not mean that you will look at it the same way!

The way I see it you can have fabulous beaches anywhere in the world. The Bungles are unique. Nothing compares to them. And you still do get to see Cable Beach and get to say "been there, done that" :-).

But then again, I have come across people who weren't all that impressed by the Bungles. Very rare, totally incomprehensible to me, but it does happen.

So I am reluctant to tell you one or the other is better, because I just don't know you at all.

You should be able to fit in the Gibb River Road and the Bungles in 6-7 nights. You'll wish you had more and you'll be driving a lot, but you can do it.

Trip Advice
by: HireAcampertrailer.com

Hi Sue

What a lovely trip you are planning!

Our hire campers spend 90% of their hire life in the Kimberleys, and FYI the average time for our clients to traverse the GRR for all its beautiful offerings and Purnulu NP/Bungles from the West side (Broome) return is 14 nights.

(Throw in an extra week for the Mitchell Plateau, Kalumbaru and Theda)

Have fun!!!

HireACampertrailer.com

by: Sue

I was hoping you would say what you said! Although I can't really say as haven't seen Cable Beach, I think I would agree with you. To the Bungle Bungles we come! I have been to Ayres Rock before and it blew my mind � so hopefully I will also enjoy the Bungle Bungles. My husband and I do lots of beach holidays near home so I think it's time for the outback. Don't worry, I won't blame you if we don't enjoy it � I know everyone is different � but I just needed your valuable advice. Have just bought, downloaded and printed your book so all ready to go!

Thanks again for all your help - I can't tell you how helpful it is :-).

Cheers,
Sue