The best camping near Windjana Gorge National Park

One of the most accessible gorges in the Kimberley, it’s hard to imagine that the steep-sided walls of Windjana Gorge (Bandiln͟gan) were once part of a huge ancient limestone reef covered by a shallow sea. Now home to the Lennard River, which carved the impressive gorge you can see today, Windjana Gorge sits between Derby and Fitzroy Crossing and the western end of the Gibb River Road. Best visited by 4WD, the park is also popular with campers, with the on-site Windjana Gorge Campground a popular base for both admiring (from a safe distance) the croc-filled pools in Windjana Gorge and exploring the nearby Tunnel Creek National Park (Dimalurru).

1. Reservations are essential for Windjana Gorge Campground, which is open from June to October each year (weather dependent). Bookings must be made via the national park website and can be made up to 180 days in advance. There is very limited phone signal in the park so you’ll need to pre-book your site before you arrive.
2. Outside of June to October, campsites may also be available, depending on the weather conditions and confirmation of the park opening and closing dates. If you’ve missed your shot for a campsite, it’s worth keeping an eye on the website—and the weather—to see if any extra dates are released for May and November.
3. The large Windjana Gorge Campground has both a quiet area (no generators allowed) and another area where generators are permitted during daytime hours only. Campers can’t reserve specific sites, just the quiet area or the generator-permitted area.

Windjana Gorge National Park is open during the Kimberley’s dry season—roughly between April and November each year, depending on the weather conditions. The Windjana Gorge Campground is only officially open from 1 June to 31 October, with dates outside that range subject to change as the park’s roads become inaccessible after heavy rain. The most popular time to visit Windjana Gorge is during the winter school holidays; however, it can be quite busy throughout the season, so it’s worth booking in advance to avoid disappointment.

• Windjana Gorge National Park is just over 140 metres northwest of Fitzroy Crossing and 140 km east of Derby. The park is accessible via an unsealed gravel road and high-clearance, low-gear 4WDs are recommended.
• The Lennard River is home to lots of freshwater crocodiles, so swimming, canoeing, or boating in the gorge and pools is not recommended.
• National park fees and camping fees apply to all visitors.
• There is no on-site drinking water, food, or fuel at the campground. Shade is also limited. Facilities include flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, and communal fire pits. Campers need to bringeverything else, including firewood.