Wyndham

Wyndham is a remote frontier town perched on the Cambridge Gulf in Western Australia's Kimberley region. With its dramatic red cliffs, steamy tropical climate, and a population that swells and shrinks with the wet season, Wyndham feels like the end of the road—indeed, it's the last port before the rugged north. This is a place where history meets raw nature: from the eerie ghost town of Wyndham Port to the ancient boab trees and the famous Five Rivers Lookout, you'll find a rugged charm that rewards the curious traveller.

Highlights & What to See

• Five Rivers Lookout – Perched on the Bastion Range, this viewpoint offers a breathtaking panorama where the Ord, Pentecost, Durack, King, and Forrest Rivers converge into the Cambridge Gulf. Best at sunset when the light turns the mudflats gold.
• Wyndham Port & Ghost Town – Wander the abandoned buildings and rusting machinery near the original port area, a haunting reminder of the town's early 20th-century boom as a meat export hub.
• Boab Prison Tree – A massive hollow boab tree, historically used as a holding cell for Indigenous prisoners en route to Derby. It's a sobering but important cultural site, located just south of town.
• Kimberley Historical Museum – Housed in a former hospital, this small museum packs in photos, artefacts, and stories of the region's pearling, pastoral, and wartime past.
• Molly Springs – A natural spring-fed pool set in a rocky cleft, perfect for a cooling dip on a hot day. Accessible via a short walk from the end of Molly Springs Road.
• Gibb River Road start – Wyndham marks the northern terminus of the legendary Gibb River Road, a 4WD adventure through the heart of the Kimberley. Stock up on supplies here before heading south.

Suggested Time to Spend

Two days is ample to explore Wyndham's key sights at a relaxed pace. Spend the first day visiting Five Rivers Lookout, the port ghost town, and the boab tree. On day two, take a dip at Molly Springs and browse the museum before heading out. Many travellers use Wyndham as a one-night stop to break up the drive between Kununurra and the Gibb River Road, but a longer stay lets you soak in the frontier atmosphere.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Kununurra – The region's main hub, 100 km south, with Lake Argyle, Ord River cruises, and the Argyle Diamond Mine (now closed to tourists).
• El Questro Wilderness Park – A million-acre station with hot springs, gorges, and luxury camping, about 110 km south-west on the Gibb River Road.
• Bungle Bungle Range (Purnululu National Park) – The iconic beehive-shaped domes, a 3–4 hour drive south via the Great Northern Highway and unsealed road.
• Mitchell Plateau & Mitchell Falls – Remote waterfall country accessible by 4WD and scenic flight, north-west of Wyndham.
• Cambridge Gulf & Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve – Birdwatching and wetland scenery near the coast, just east of town.

Please check official sources for current details.