Gibb River Road

The Gibb River Road is a former cattle route that stretches almost 700 kilometres through The Kimberley between the Western Australian town of Derby and the Kununurra and Wyndham junction of the Great Northern Highway. It was originally developed in the 1950s.cite web|url=http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=85&ContentID=69528|title=Stock route cuts a picturesque trail : thewest.com.au|publisher=The West Australian|accessdate=2008-04-27|last=|first=]

The majority of the road is unsealed and is only suitable for 4WD vehicles. In 2006, it was included in an article about five great international road trips in The Guardian. [cite web
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2006/apr/01/fivebest.canada.australia
title=Road Trips | Travel | The Guardian
publisher=The Guardian
accessdate=2008-04-27
last=
first=] It features geological formations, aboriginal and pastoral history, natural scenery, as well as rare fauna and flora. Attractions along the Gibb River Road include Windjana Gorge National Park, Tunnel Creek National Park, the El Questro Wilderness Park, Lennard Gorge, Bell Gorge, as well as the King Leopold Conservation Park.

The road is often closed due to flooding during the wet season, which is typically November through March, although delayed openings have been known to happen, frustrating the tourism industrycite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2006/04/13/1615480.htm
title=Road opening delay frustrates locals - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|publisher=www.abc.net.au|accessdate=2008-04-27|last=|first=] as well as locals who rely on the road.

References