Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek

Carved through the ancient Devonian reef of the Napier Range, Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek offer two of the Kimberley’s most dramatic and accessible encounters with the region’s raw geology and wildlife. These adjacent national parks – just 35 km apart – are best tackled together on a day trip from Fitzroy Crossing or Derby, forming a rugged loop that reveals fossilised coral, freshwater crocodiles, and a cave that once sheltered a legendary Indigenous outlaw.

Highlights & What to See

• Windjana Gorge – Walk the 3.5 km gorge trail along the Lennard River, where sheer limestone walls rise 100 metres and freshwater crocodiles laze on sandbanks. Look for roosting fruit bats and, in winter, waterbirds. The best light is early morning.
• Tunnel Creek – Wade and scramble through a 750-metre-long water-worn tunnel inside the Napier Range. Bring sturdy shoes and a torch; the creek is waist-deep in places. At the far end, a hidden pool opens to a pocket of rainforest. This was the hideout of Jandamarra, the Bunuba warrior.
• Fossilised Reef – Both sites expose the 350-million-year-old limestone of the Devonian Reef, with visible coral and shell fossils embedded in the rock.
• Freshwater Crocodiles – Unlike their saltwater cousins, these shy reptiles are harmless if left alone. You’ll see them basking on the banks at Windjana.
• Birdwatching – Corellas, finches, kites and the occasional wedge-tailed eagle soar above the gorge; listen for the echoing calls of rainbow bee-eaters.

Suggested Time to Spend

Allow a full day to appreciate both parks. Start at Windjana Gorge in the early morning (2–3 hours for the walk and photography), then drive the 35 km to Tunnel Creek (1.5–2 hours for the cave exploration). If you’re self-driving from Derby or Fitzroy Crossing, plan to leave by 7 am to avoid the midday heat and to catch the best wildlife activity. The road is unsealed but well-maintained in the dry season (April–October); a 4WD is recommended after rain.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Fitzroy Crossing – Gateway town with the famous Geikie Gorge (now Darngku), offering boat tours through a similar Devonian reef landscape.
• Derby – Historic port town with the Boab Prison Tree and the longest horizontal falls staircase in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Broome – The pearling hub 400 km west, with Cable Beach sunsets, dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point, and a vibrant multicultural food scene.
• Gibb River Road – The iconic outback route that connects the Kimberley’s gorges and cattle stations; Windjana and Tunnel Creek are a short detour from its western end.
• King Leopold Ranges – Rugged mountain landscapes and Bell Gorge, a spectacular swimming hole with cascading waterfalls, about 2.5 hours north.

Please check official sources for current details.