Should we attempt the Pentecost River Crossing?

Truck crossing the Pentecost River

We are planning a road trip to Kununurra next year. We won't be doing the entire GRR on this trip given the vehicle we will be in, however we were hoping to go as far as Home Valley Station for a few nights.

Whilst we have a 4WD it is not a full fledged 4WD � it is a Toyota Kluger (it doesn't have a low box or clearance as high as full fledged 4WD - although it's clearance is higher than 2WDs).

My concern is crossing the Pentecost River. We intend visiting late in the season � mid August.

I know you can't guarantee if we will be able to cross the river without issue, however I am interested in your opinion as to whether we should attempt it.

I am interested if anybody else has attempted in a similar vehicle.
Thanks,
Bethy

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Should we attempt the Pentecost River Crossing?

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Crossing the Pentecost
by: Birgit

Here is a page about the road into the Bungles. Check the first comment. The commenter says he took his Kluger all through the Kimberley.
I know of another guy who took his along the Gibb River Road and even up to Kalumburu.

People have taken 2WDs across the Pentecost and along the whole Gibb.
There is another reader thread on my other website somewhere, it mentions some backpackers doing the lot in a VW camper.

Nothing is impossible.
BUT!!!
Plenty of those softroaders and crossover wannabe 4 wheel drives DO get into trouble every year!

I have no opinion as to whether you should attempt it or not. I write about this in both my guides. The less suited your car is to this terrain, the more it depends on the driver. Your skill, your judgement, your common sense. And that means it's your judgement call. Not knowing you I can't say what you should do.

I can tell you what I would do. If I was in your situation, I'd go. Of course I wouldn't just barrel into the crossing and hope for the best. I'd talk to people who have just come across, I'd pull up and watch others going across, just to be sure that there aren't any holes or big rocks that weren't there last year.

But I've been driving in this country for many years, I do it all the time. I'd take a 2WD, just to see what happens :-)

If you go, take it easy. You don't have much ground clearance in that thing. The slower you go, the less risk that something bad happens.

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Submitted by: Birgit

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Here is a page about <a href="http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/i-survived-the-road-into-the-bungle-bungle.html">the road into the Bungles</a>. Check the first comment. The commenter says he took his Kluger all through the Kimberley. I know of another guy who took his along the Gibb River Road and even up to Kalumburu. <a href="http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/gibb-river-road-by-sports-car.html">People have taken 2WDs across the Pentecost and along the whole Gibb.</a> There is another reader thread on my other website somewhere, it mentions some backpackers doing the lot in a VW camper. Nothing is impossible. BUT!!! Plenty of those softroaders and crossover wannabe 4 wheel drives DO get into trouble every year! I have no opinion as to whether you should attempt it or not. I write about this in both my guides. The less suited your car is to this terrain, the more it depends on the driver. Your skill, your judgement, your common sense. And that means it's your judgement call. Not knowing you I can't say what you should do. I can tell you what I would do. If I was in your situation, I'd go. Of course I wouldn't just barrel into the crossing and hope for the best. I'd talk to people who have just come across, I'd pull up and watch others going across, just to be sure that there aren't any holes or big rocks that weren't there last year. But I've been driving in this country for many years, I do it all the time. I'd take a 2WD, just to see what happens :-) If you go, take it easy. You don't have much ground clearance in that thing. The slower you go, the less risk that something bad happens.

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Take it easy
by: Nelly

I agree with Birgit; pull up and watch some other cars go through, you will then see how deep the water is. Personally, I think that if you take it easy then you should be fine. We watched an old Falcon go through with no problems.

We went through last year in June and were dissapointed that the river was not as deep as we anticipated. We were in a 100series and the water only came up to the step (if that). I made my poor husband drive through 3 times so I could take photos!!

Although it changes every year and it could be deeper...I'd say that by August you will breeze it in.

The riverbed is very rocky, so if you decide to go through take it slow.

Pentecost River
by: dave

Easy, my son an I have done it in an old Commodore ute 2 wheel drive.

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Should we attempt the Pentecost River Crossing?

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Should we attempt the Pentecost River Crossing?