Do I really need a 4WD for the Gibb River Road?

Four Wheel Drives At Creek Crossing On The Gibb River Road

Hey, I just have a really simple question. Is it possible to drive with a two wheel drive through the Gibb River Road or is it really necessary to have a four wheel drive?
Christian

Response To: Do I really need a 4WD for the Gibb River Road?

Hey, and I have a really simple answer: it depends :-).

It depends what you want to do, it depends on the time of the year, and it depends on the kind of 2WD. What you need most is clearance, not 4WD.

If you just want to be able to say that you did it in a two wheel drive then yes: during the dry season, once all the rivers a down, and once the road is graded, it's usually possible to get from one end of the Gibb River Road to the other in a two wheel drive.

Early in the season creek crossings can still be a problem, even when dry. It's not the 4WD you need, it's the high clearance to navigate the holes and rocks and bumps.

But I don't see the point in doing it. If you don't go and see places along the way—and without 4WD you can't—then the Gibb River Road is just a slower and more uncomfortable way to get from Broome/Derby to Kununurra/Wyndham.

The attraction of the drive is not the Gibb River Road itself, but the places, mainly the gorges and waterfalls, on the way. And to get to those you do need a four wheel drive. (With one exception: Galvans Gorge.)

The Gibb River Road itself is not much fun (very corrugated, dusty, and busy in the dry) and there isn't all that much to see. I'd recommend to use the highway to get from the west coast to the east Kimberley.

More info: GRR - What You Need To Know

Photo by Brogge

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