National parks in the west Kimberley region are set to welcome back visitors this week!

 

A number of the national parks in Western Australia’s Kimberley region will reopen this week for the first time since last year’s record-breaking flooding forced them to close.

The once-in-100-years flooding event caused extensive damage to facilities and infrastructure across the region’s national parks. However, locals, tour operators, and visitors now have reason to celebrate as these parks are set to reopen in time for the dry season!

On Wednesday 24th of April Dulundi/Silent Grove, Dalmanyi/Bell Gorge, Lennard Gorge, Bandilngan/Windjana Gorge, and Dimalurru/Tunnel Creek will reopen to visitors.

On Monday 29th of April the Walarra Mindi/Mt Hart site will also reopen to visitors.

 

Dimalurru/Tunnel Creek, off the Gibb River Road

National Park Recovery Efforts After Flooding

Record-breaking flooding occurred in the central Kimberley in January 2023 damaging homes and vital infrastructure including roads and bridges.

One of the region’s most popular parks Bandilngan/Windjana Gorge was badly affected by the floods – including damage to walking trails, visitor facilities, and ranger accommodation.

It will now reopen for camping and day use this year, though there have been some changes to the trails.

‘The Kimberley is a really unique environment, with rugged landscapes — people come to experience a remote experience,’ DBCA parks and visitor services regional leader Sarah Mullineux told the ABC.

‘We just ask people to stay to the trails and just be cautious while they’re visiting and tread lightly’, she said.

 

Windjana Gorge National Park

More Reopenings Later This Year

On the 1st of May, Purnululu National Park and campground will reopen, drawing visitors back to the East Kimberley, followed by the Mitchell River National Park in the west.

While the popular Danggu Geikie Gorge currently remains closed – it lost 37 hectares of land and all its infrastructure during the floods – there are hopes it could reopen later this year.

 

Aerial view of the Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park

 

Images thanks to Tourism Western Australia

We share news on topics relevant to our mission of getting people outdoors and protecting the environment. We choose carefully to cover the topics we reckon you’ll find interesting or need to know about, this means quirky stories as well as the hard-hitting ones. We're all human here, so occasionally you'll get our writers' opinions as well. We’re proud to follow our Editorial Standards in every article we publish.