Route Reviews: Darwin Broome Road Trip Planner

You’re on the way driving Darwin Broome, finished a “remote “trip from Broome to Darwin; whether you plan to move, in this route, you’ll get lonely if ready!

Before writing this article, I didn’t believe any traveler who wanna drive this road because it’s a quiet route heard from residents of Australia. And, somebody who is planning a trip around North Australia but not sure what thing to do & places to be. If you research the route to complete through Darwin to Broome, you’re in the right place!

What about taking A flight to Broome from Darwin?

This type of flight should be snapped, which needs to stop at Perth first, then wait for another domestic flight to Broome, which means that’s a high cost for your trip.

You can check the newest price from Darwin to Broome / Broome to Darwin if you can’t move by drive. Unfortunately, no flight non-stop can pick you up to Broome from Darwin.

The lowest price average from USD 377 per adult, so don’t forget to make changes to your date selection.

This price is too high, so rather than take a self-drive, should it be easy, otherwise the flight to Perth round back to Darwin? Heaven No!

Route Review: 1,800 km Long Way Drive Route!

My friend arrived in Darwin as her first stop in her gap year; she felt wet and sticky every time after rain. She said the weather made her uncomfortable and found a cherry-picking job in Tasmania & flight away. Unfortunately, she got no car so she couldn’t move to the new town nearby. Only Darwin City airport & bus system can cover her.

Before You Leave Darwin

If you are ready to move out of Darwin when stopping, make sure your car is complete with car service maintenance & full fuel. B you only find the cheaper car service before entering the city. Also, the route & accommodation must be ready otherwise you don’t know how long you should stay in your seat.

Show you the route map, Darwin Broome:

Darwin to Broome drive route map Australia
Drive from Darwin & Katherine (Click pic to see full size)

This route from Darwin to Broome takes over 20 hours and 1871 km total distance for self-drive. In my experience, you can separate three days to moving, that average 7 hours driving. >>Get navigation.

Best Attractions on midway Darwin & Broome

In this section, what I recommend best attractions that fit your camping trip with a camper van are these:

  1. Litchfield National Park
  2. Kununurra
  3. Lake Argyle
  4. Purnululu National Park
  5. Wolfe Creek Crater

Click the link forward to read the details of each attraction.

Darwin Broome Road Trip Itinerary Suggestion

I’ve assembled three itineraries for your trip planner, plans which drive 6-8 hrs in a day. Do not get too tired; almost going, usually, stop & take a snap is good. Check them out:

3 Days Fastest drive route

Day 1 – Start from Darwin

Katherine Landmark NT Australia
Katherine NT Australia

You are driving 602 km in 7 hrs; stay over in Timber Creek. >>Get navigation.

I suggest you start this route early before there is no mobile service.

There is only one way to head back to Katherine when you leave Darwin. This town would be a transfer point link north & west if you came from Katherine. You can take a break & have lunch, then get Timber Creek before evening. In addition, there’s nothing special on the side of the highway.

But there are famous Litchfield National Park & Kakadu National Park; skip them if you have already been there. If you were to stay in Darwin & before leaving Darwin city, you should be there actually.

That’s simple. When you reach Timber Creek, what’s the best accommodation for you?

I found 3 Wirib Store & Tourism ParkTimber Creek HotelBig Horse Creek Campground.

Best stay over in Timber Creek

We are just backpackers so we couldn’t spend over a hundred stay in a hotel. Still, the camping ground Wirib Store Tourist Park is next it should be fine, we order the cabin two single beds room just AUD 70 & we two persons share it paid $35 only that’s cheap! And the room is good & clean, and only you must have noticed the mosquitos when you’re outside.

Why do we stay in an indoor cabin? Here are two reasons we think:

First, we saw lots of aboriginals stay outside of Timber Creek Hotel. At the same time, we reach there, plus the reception reminds us to beware of them if they try close to us in the park. Call the manager, so we don’t leave our wagon outside the parking site, even link powered.

Second, there are many crocodiles near the river, and some people try to go there. Still, you don’t know when they’ll appear near you when you suddenly see the crocodiles on the ground of the camping area. What will you do? Call the police, LOL. So we didn’t consider Big Horse Creek Campground near the river of Crocodiles although it’s free accommodation.

Finally, we’d like a good night in Timber Creek; there’s no bother & scare all safe. You drive your campervan stay here. It should be fine.

Day 2 – Moving Day to Fitzroy Crossing

Driving 874 km in 9 hrs 37 mins, stay over in Fitzroy Crossing. >>Get navigation.

Or you are driving 584 km in 6 hrs 40 min stay over in Halls Creek, that should be closer. >>Get navigation.

Once you pass the Northern Territory/Western Australia border, no matter where you stay, it will change the time zone.

About Border WA/NT
Check point of Border of WA Australia
Border of NT/WA

When we reach the border of Western Australia, the path checkpoint is serious for the processing. The first time the checking officer asked me, “Do you bring any fruits or veggies? “I must check your rear compartment by the policy, “we opened to let him fit. Unfortunately, he found our bananas & potato, which we used for our next lunch & dinner.

“Sorry, bro, these are violent; our policy of border check, I must take them away. “Because we don’t know they do it seriously according to their policy. I understood later that they prevent any fruits fly entering the WA harm the local agricultural property. So we finally got no fine ticket but lost food materials.

So these are route reviews:

>>Get navigation.

Every time I suggest you start this route early before there is no mobile service.

It Changed The Timezone at that moment.

I didn’t notice this because I had just left the border checkpoint & through Purnululu; while we crossed the border at 11:43 am, it changed the time to 9:43, that’s mean I got two more hours & my partner asked me, “Would you want to keep forward? “, “Yea, I’m alright. I can do that well! “I said, more 2 hours for moving, so ignore Halls Creek & go to Fitzroy Crossing.

When we got there, I drove 9 hours the whole day! I feel tired when I get out of my car, but I think chilled out when I think about going again tomorrow. That’s alright!

If you still decide to stay in Halls Creek, you can stay in Halls Creek Caravan Park, Kimberley Hotel, or Halls Creek Motel.

>>Get Halls Creek navigation.

So what about Fitzroy Crossing this town?

I met a friend working at an IGA supermarket in the center of Fitzroy Crossing; this supermarket is the only store that supplies everything.

She was on staff & we contacted each other on Facebook. She said, “This is too boring. I wanna be out of there after six months! “there’s nothing special I could be, but it doesn’t matter. So that night, we stayed at Tanunda Caravan Park. The wagon parked on the powered site, so we fed mosquitoes again.

Suppose you consider a lodge or cabin to avoid the flies & mosquitoes. In that case, you can check the Fitzroy River Lodge Fitzroy Crossing.

Day 3 – Get to Broome

Broome China Town WA Australia
China Town in Broome

Driving 397 km in 4 hrs 14 mins, you have reached Broome! >>Get navigation.

About Broome

When we see the minutes left, one hour less, I feel excited because we have almost finished this part of the road trip !! I drove 4 hours to Broome from Fitzroy Crossing because it took 9 hours to go last time.

It’s a unique & strange tree at the side of the highway which I missed.

Special tree on the roadside near Broome WA Australia
Unique tree on the roadside near Broome

After this tree (That was my impression), turn left & keep going, then get the sea smell, the Broome, a town located along the bay. It’s the simple route as this pic.

Gantheaume Point in Broome WA Australia
Gantheaume Point in Broome

We checked in at Kimberley Klub Hostel; this backpacker registered under the YHA membership & provided the lowest price for backpackers. What excellent facilities, including a swimming pool, big public kitchen, expansive open lobby & great decoration designed, made me feel like the resort village! Check that in more detail via YHA.

Next time, I’ll write more articles and talk about the attractions & things to do in the Broome.

6-Days (or more) drive itinerary

In this road trip plan, I add Purnululu National Park & Wolfe Creek Crater, which gives you a great escape outback.

Day 1 – Start from Darwin

You are driving 602 km in 7 hr; stay over in Timber Creek. >>Get navigation.

Day 2 – Moving Day to Bungle Bungles

Driving 477 km in 5 hrs 31 mins, rest in Kununurra, stay over in Bungle Bungles Caravan Park.

>>Get navigation.

Once you pass the Northern Territory/Western Australia border, it will change the time zone.

Day 3 – Day tour at Purnululu National Park

Drive to Echidna Chasm & The Bungle Bungles as a journey. Back & stay over in Bungle Bungles Caravan Park. >>Get navigation.

Day 4 – Go to Wolfe Creek Crater

Leave Purnululu, drive 261 km in 6 hrs 14 mins, rest in Halls Creek, loading fuel & food. Then go to Wolfe Creek Crater, take outback camping, and stay in Wolfe Creek Crater National Park. >>Get navigation.

Day 5 – Moving Day to Fitzroy Crossing

Driving 408 km in 7 hrs 43 mins, stay over in Fitzroy Crossing. >>Get navigation.

Day 6 – Get to Broome

Driving 397 km in 4 hrs 14 mins, you have reached Broome! >>Get navigation.

Broome Darwin Road Trip Itinerary Suggestion

I’ve assembled three itineraries for your trip planner, plans which drive 6-8 hrs in a day. Do not get too tired; almost going, usually, stop & take a snap is good. Check them out:

3 Days Fastest drive route

You just finished everything there & prepared to move across the border to WA, right?

So let’s go back to Darwin from Broome:

Drive from Broome to Darwin Australia
Drive from Broome to Darwin (Click pic to see full size)

Only one part of you drive to Halls Creek & stay because you need to reach the Timezone; otherwise, you got to go in shortened hours on the third day.

So that’s an excellent three days of us; I’ll post more photos & share more experiences here. It’s not boring this way between Darwin & Broome.

There’re still lots of places you can be.

Day 1 – Start from Broome

Driving 686 km in 7 hrs 20 min, stay over in Halls Creek. >>Get navigation.

Day 2 – Moving Day to Timber Creek

Driving 584 km in 6 hrs 42 mins, stay over in Timber Creek. >>Get navigation.

Once you pass the Northern Territory/Western Australia border, it will change the time zone.

Day 3 – Get to Darwin

Driving 603 km in 7 hrs 2 mins, you have reached Darwin! >>Get navigation.

7-Days (or more) drive itinerary

I add Purnululu National Park & Wolfe Creek Crater to this trip plan, giving you a great escape outback.

Day 1 – Start from Broome

Driving 397 km in 4 hrs 16 min, stay over in Fitzroy Crossing. >>Get navigation.

Day 2 – Go to Halls Creek

Driving 291 km in 3 hrs 8 min, stay over in Halls Creek. >>Get navigation. This day for fuel loading, prepare for tomorrow’s Wolfe trip.

Day 3 – Go to Wolfe Creek Crater

Drive 152 km in 5 hrs 4 mins, visit Wolfe Creek Crater, take outback camping, and stay over in Wolfe Creek Crater National Park. >>Get navigation.

Day 4 – Moving Day to Bungle Bungles

Driving 261 km in 6 hrs 14 mins, rest in Halls Creek, stay over in Bungle Bungles Caravan Park. >>Get navigation.

Day 5 – Day tour at Purnululu National Park

Drive to Echidna Chasm & The Bungle Bungles as a journey. Back & stay over in Bungle Bungles Caravan Park. >>Get navigation.

Day 6 – Go to Timber Creek

Leave Purnululu, drive 477 km in 5 hrs 32 mins, rest in Kununurra, stay over in Timber Creek. >>Get navigation. Once you pass the Northern Territory/Western Australia border, it will change the Timezone.

Day 7 – Get to Darwin

Driving 603 km in 7 hrs 2 mins, you have reached Darwin! >>Get navigation.

Darwin Broome Attractions Highlight

If you want to check more details about the attraction, read this section.

Purnululu National Park Highlight:

I’ve noticed other attractions where the highway looks unique; the first is The Bungle Bungles, and the second is Echidna Chasm. These places in Purnululu National Park formed naturally.

The Bungle Bungles

The surface textures look like Kings Canyon.

The Bungle Bungle WA Australia
The Bungle Bungles WA Australia

Echidna Chasm

It’s a narrow track till the end. Would you want to try to squeeze it, LOL?

Echidna Chasm WA Australia
Echidna Chasm WA Australia

How to go to Echidna Chasm & The Bungle Bungles?

So How to go there? Here’s the route, only you need to turn off at The Bungle Bungles Turn Off nearby Old River.

Kununurra to Bungle Bungles drive route map Australia
Kununurra to Bungle Bungles drive route map
Bungle Bungles drive route map Australia
Bungle Bungles drive route map

Click the images to start the route on the Google Map

We didn’t go there through this national park because of our budget. I felt it looked like Kings Canyon, so we ignored them, but still interested in squeeze track Echidna Chasm; what a vast & special place!

But if you want to go there, you need one more night’s stay at Bungle Bungles Station Stay or BushCamp Halls Creek & Wilderness Lodge. Mainly their great campings area provides good facilities & cabins even lodges.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy this road trip, and you already know the best route between Darwin and Broome. Now, get your belongings ready, get food and a map, turn on your car engine and start it! 

By the way, besides the Darwin Broome trip planner, I recommend these route planners for your next road trip:

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