Bunuba Country sits within the heart of the Kimberley, a region famed for its stunning geography and breathtaking environments. A visit to the Kimberley is an immersion into unique and stunning landscapes, a natural environment unlike any other on earth. But to travel the Kimberley does require some attention and planning as you venture further from urban centres and services. With a bit of preparedness, you can ensure a safe visit that is unforgettable for all the right reasons.
There is a lot of information available online that can help inform the planning of your visit to Bunuba Country. Parks and Wildlife WA keeps up to date information on each of the Bunuba Parks on webpages for Miluwindi Conservation Park, as well as Bandilngan, Dimalurru and Danggu National Parks. These sites have visiting information as well as Park Alerts and contact information for each of the Parks.
Main Roads WA has a live Travel Map that provides up to date information about road closures and conditions. Emergency WA has a similar live map providing real-time information on state-wide warnings, incidents and hazards.
Local Tourist Centres also provide local travel updates as well as offering a wealth of knowledge about other tourism and local experiences. Tourist Centres of Fitzroy Crossing, Derby, Broome and Kununurra are all worth consulting on your travels through the Kimberley.
As you travel through the Kimberley it is good to keep in mind the rugged nature of the landscape, the climatic extremes and the vast distances that will be travelled. To ensure a safe experience, some things worth considering include:
- It can be a good couple of hundred kilometres between towns and services. Fuel up where you can and ensure that you have sufficient fuel for your journey
- Always carry food and lots of water – the heats here can be extreme
- Make sure your car is fit for the environment and preferably 4WD
- Tires, and spares need to be in good condition, and you should carry tool kit, puncture repair kit and high-lift jack
- Try and travel during daylight hours, there can be a lot of cattle and native animals on the road
- Carry up-to-date detailed maps, stay on the marked track and follow all signed information. There can be hefty fines for travelling on closed roads
- Check forecasts and road conditions before departing
- Be aware that mobile coverage is very limited outside of town centres. For most of the Kimberley only Telstra phones will get reception, though there are a small handful of communities that are Optus supported
- Advise someone of your travel itinerary
- Be aware of the very high heats that we experience in the north-west. Always carry lots of water and be sun smart – hat, cover your limbs, plenty of sunscreen and stay out of the sun in the middle of the day
- The terrain can be quite rugged so sturdy footwear should be worn for all hikes
- Be croc and snake wise and treat the areas you visit and their inhabitants with respect
- Don’t swim in any waterways unless it is signed safe to do so
- Carry a full First Aid kit
With a little bit of common sense, your trip through the Kimberley should be incident free. If you just take the time to prepare yourself, then you should be able to put your concerns aside and dedicate yourself to enjoying one of the most beautiful parts of the world.