A minimum of 10 days is suggested for a Darwin to Broome road trip on the Gibb River Road in a 4wd camper. Now this is a short time so sightseeing in Litchfield, Kakadu, Mataranka and Katherine will be greatly reduced. A high clearance well equipped 4WD Hilux Inoes, Prado or Triton is suggested as proven rugged vehicles. Itineraries from Darwin to Broome via the Gibb River Road covers approximately a minimum 2,200+ km of Top End highways and rugged Kimberley dirt tracks. A high clearance (say 228 to 250 ml) 4WD vehicle allowed by the supplier for off-road travel for gazetted unsealed approved roads with and recovery gear is a must to be included and essential. Talk now with the local expert special's at https://www.australia4wdrentals.com since 2002.
Distances
Darwin to Katherine - 332klm (Darwin to Kununurra (via Victoria Highway / Great Northern Highway) approximately 850 km)
Katherine to Kununurra - 518 kilometers on the the Victoria Highway
Kununurra to Derby (Gibb River Road) - 660 km (primarily unsealed dirt/shale with some sealed sections and side-trip)
Derby to Broome - 221 km (sealed bitumen highway)
Total Route Distance Darwin to Broome - 1750km
If you add Bungle Bungles, most of Kimberley Stations, gorges and Mitchell Plateau all 21 to 28 days onwards.
Suggested anticipated travel days for Darwin to Broome on the Gibb River Road
Non Stop - not much sightseeing
Day 1: Darwin - Pickup your 4wd camper and sightsee around Darwin so much to see https://tropicaldarwin.com/
Day 2: Darwin to Katherine - 332klm (Stop at Adelaide River township)
Day 3: Katherine to Kununurra - 514 to 518 kilometers (319 to 322 miles) (Stop at Timber Creek township)
Kununurra to the start of the Gibb River Road
Distance: The distance from Kununurra to the eastern start/turnoff of the Gibb River Road (at the Great Northern Highway intersection) is about 51 kilometers
Driving Time: taking roughly 1 hour to drive
Gibb River Road
Day 4: Kununurra to Drysdale River Station
https://www.drysdaleriver.com.au/
Distance: 353 km (via Gibb River Road / Kalumburu Road)
Driving Time: Around 5 hours and 10 minutes to over 9 hours depending on road conditions and vehicle type (typically a 4WD is required).
Day 5: Drysdale River Station to Mt Barnett roadhouse
Distance: The drive from Drysdale River Station to Mt Barnett Roadhouse is approximately 167 kilometers and takes about 2 hours and 34 minutes of driving time under normal conditions. Drysdale River Station driving via the Kalumburu Road down to the Gibb River Road
Distance: The driving distance from Mt Barnett Roadhouse to the Manning Gorge campground and parking area is 7 km (about a 12-minute drive).
https://www.mtbarnettroadhouse.com.au/
Day 6: Mt Barnett roadhouse via Imintji to Windjana Gorge
Distance: The driving distance from Mt Barnett Roadhouse to Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) Campground is 202 km, taking approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes of driving time via the Derby-Gibb River Road.
On the way: The drive from Imintji Community Store and Campground (Tel +61 8 9191 7227) to Mt Barnett Roadhouse (the gateway to Manning Gorge Campground) is approximately 78.3 km along the unsealed Gibb River Road, taking about 1 hour to 2 hours depending on corrugated road conditions.
Shops near windjana gorge campground: There are no shops or grocery stores directly inside Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) Campground, so you need to stock up at nearby remote roadhouses and community stores along the Gibb River Road or in larger regional hubs
Day 7: Windjana Gorge to Derby
Distance: The driving distance between Windjana Gorge National Park and Derby is approximately 145 km to 155 km (about 91 miles), taking roughly 2 to 3 hours depending on the corrugated road section and general road conditions.
Windjana Gorge National Park to the sealed section part of the Gibb River Road going towards Derby.
Distance: Or if you look at it from Windjana Gorge National Park to the end of the sealed section of the Gibb River Road (heading towards Derby) is approximately (generalizing) 49 to 58 kilometres.
Breakdown of the road: Windjana Gorge Access Road (Fairfield-Leopold Downs Rd): It is roughly 20 to 22 kilometres from the Windjana Gorge campground out to the main Gibb River Road junction.
Breakdown of the road: The Gibb River Road Junction to the Bitumen: The turnoff for Windjana Gorge sits at approximately Kilometer 124 of the Gibb River Road (measured from Derby). Depending on the grading season and recent WA Main Roads works, the unsealed gravel begins between Kilometer 70 and Kilometer 79. This means you will drive roughly 25 to 38 kilometres on the unsealed main road before hitting the bitumen.
Day 8: Derby to Broome
Distance: The road distance from Derby to Broome in Western Australia is 222 km to 224 km, and the straight-line (aerial) distance is about 164 km to 166 km. Takes about 2 hours 38 minutes to 3 hours via the Great Northern Highway.
Day 9: Next two days travel around Broome and see all the sights
Day 10: Last travel around Broome sightseeing and dropoff your 4wd camper and catch your flight out.
Note: Estimated and general kilometre descriptions