Windjana Gorge in the Kimberley Western Australia

Windjana Gorge Western Australia

Windjana Gorge was gazetted as a national park in November 1971 because of the need to protect and preserve its natural attractions and to offer facilities to its many visitors.

The park covers over 2000 hetares including Lilimillura Police Station Ruins and is situated 145 kilometres east of Derby and 150 kilometres north west of FItzroy Crossing.

The main attraction of Windjana is the scenic gorge carved by the Lennard River, through the Napier Range, which exposes the ancient reef system, regarded by geologists as a classic feature of world geology.

The Lennard River runs through the gorge in wet weather, but during the dry season it forms pools surrounded by trees and shrubs.

The deep, moist soils of the riverbank support the tall broad-leaved leichardt tree, native figs and the paper-barked cadjeputs. These trees also provide shelter from the hot sun for many waterbirds, a colony of fruit bats and a large group of corellas. Freshwater crocodiles can often be seen in the pools.

The walls of Windjana Gorge rise abruptly from the wide alluvial floodplain of the Lennard River, reaching about 100 metres high in some places. The 3.5-kilometre long gorge cuts through the limestone of the Napier Range; part of an ancient barrier reef, which can also be seen at Geikie Gorge and Tunnel Creek National Parks.

Things To Do

A short walk of about 500 metres takes you to Bandingan Rock. As you make your way you will be able to see a fossil nautoloid, a type of prehistoric crustacean embedded in the limestone wall.

Green-tree ants build their nests in the canopies of the River Figs and Archer Fish wait along the river bank for insects on which they prey.

In the pool around Bandingan Rock, there is a resident population of over 70 Freshwater Crocodiles. These animals do bite so swimming is not recommended, but if you choose to, do so at your own risk.

Continuing through the gorge you will pass a colony of Fruit Bats or Black Flying Foxes noisily roosting in the tres along the river banks. Passing the "classic face" you will eventually come to the end of the gorge opening onto the savannah plains, about 3.5 kilometres from the entrance.

The gorge is an ideal place for photography, birdwatching, walking or relaxing, particularly in the late afternoon when the gorge walls are reflected in the water. To return, you will need to retrace your steps.

The "Savannah Walk" takes you close to the southern side of the Napier Range and is also an alternative path from the Quiet Campground to the gorge.

Things You Need To Know

Where is Windjana Gorge Western Australia?
150 kilometres from Fitzroy Crossing and 145 kilometres from Derby.

Travelling time to Windjana Gorge Western Australia
Three hours from Fitzroy Crossing and two hours from Derby.

The road to Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek
Fairfields Leopold Downs Road to Windjana Gorge/Tunnel Creek

Getting to Tunnel Creek National Park
Access to the park is via unsealed roads, approximately 35 kilometres southeast of Windjana Gorge National Park or 90 kilometres from Fitzroy Crossing. Tunnel Creek National Park is a day use area only, with facilities limited to toilets and an information shelter. No overnight camping is permitted and access is limited to the dry season only. © source | courtesy of australiasnorthwest.com

What to do at Windjana Gorge Western Australia
Camping, sightseeing, walking, photography, nature observation.

Gorge Walk - a 7 km return walk takes you along the full length of the gorge and back. It runs along the course of the Lennard River, which becomes a series of pools in the dry season. It allows you a close look at the gorges resident fruit bats, corellas and freshwater crocodiles. :

Facilities at Windjana Gorge Western Australia
Camping (toilets and water).

Best season
May to September. May be inaccessible during the wet season.
(Information supplied by the Department Environment & Conservation)
© source | courtesy of www.derbytourism.com.au

About the Kimberley
• The Kimberley in Australia is one of the last true wilderness areas on Earth, with rustic unique outback landscapes and landmarks billions of years in the making. Covering app 423,000 square kilometres in north Western Australia and with a population of less than 40,000 people, it’s here you’ll encounter some of the most extraordinary outback adventuresand folks in Australia. Discover ancient gorge country with hikes and trekking a must in planning your Kimberley vacation to enormous cattle stations, pristine coastline and sandy beaches, to one of the oldest cultures on the planet and the world’s only horizontal waterfalls.

Self drive along the Gibb River Road from Broome or Darwin is a Australia four wheel drive hire camper or wagon. The Gibb River Road was initially constructed as a beef road to transport cattle from the surrounding stations to the ports of Derby and Wyndham.It spans some six-hundred and seventy kilometres from Derby to the junction of the Great Northern Highway between Wyndham and Kununurra.