Gibb River Road: concerned about river crossing in June !!
 

According to kimberleyaustralia.com, once skipped the oct-apr rainy season and assumed that since now the road is open, then everybody can drive a 4WD all the way even with no 4WD experience. I am one of those ! My major concern is river crossing and that the clearance might not be high enough !
Does anybody have experience on this road in the second half of june ? Water level "should" be already lowered !!??
It would be nice to know the road condition at this time, about one month to go now !! Can't wait !

Thanks a lot for any suggestions and comments

"Should" be fine. Check how your vehicle goes into 4WD and read a bit before hand. Aks the locals too.

Hi Fabio,
Didn't you have a 4wd for an Alice Springs - Darwin drive a couple of years ago?

Agree with AlanJG - if you're not familiar with them, do make sure you know how to make the change and have a few practice runs (at low speed) before you need it. And remember to disengage it when you're on the open road & want to speed up.

If you do go through water, make sure you tap your brakes out when you get through it. You probably know all this, but it's on my mind as I saw someone rear-ended yesterday by someone who didn't, and of course, his brakes didn't grab quickly enough & the poor sod in front couldn't get out of the way because we were all in a line of traffic.

Nice to see you're coming back. Must like the place, I guess ;) June will be fantastic in the Kimberleys.

Hey Fabio,

We only did the section of Gibb River Road from Derby to Windjana Gorge/Tunnel Creek and just wanted to mention that these two places are really worth a look and I'm not sure if they were on you agenda. We really enjoyed both places but loved our trek through Tunnel Creek and catching up with the friendly freshwater crocs at Windjana Gorge.

That section of road was pretty easy - bumpy - but easy.

I hope you'll have time to visit these areas.

My son is participating in the Gibb river bike ride in late May and they will be pushing bikes through all rivers except Pentecost-so that should apply to you with levels even lower.

thanks to all of you

Bokhara2 wow !! you still remember it !!?? unfortunately we had to skip that trip that time, but all the info are still stored safely and definitely on the list

stormbird, yes we won't miss those places !!

northie

yes Pentecost River is the one with crocs !! and the one which concerned me more, but now you are all right !! I will read deeper into the 4wd world !!!

Hi Fabio,
Yes, I thought it looked like a great trip & one I'd like to do myself. Didn't realize it didn't happen then.

If I recall correctly, you have a couple of children?

Pentecost will probably have "salties" but the other rivers may have "freshies".
Have a great trip.

Bokhara2

We could not leave for that trip, although definitely great !!! I love every cm of your country !! I would go there again and again..... in my next life I would love to live there !!

yes our children are now 15 and 9 !!

northie: thanks a lot !! I hope Pentecost will not be higher than 40cm ! and I will take pics of salties from INSIDE the car !!!

Fabio,
just thought I'd let you know that the area has had lots of unusual rain in the last days (possibly to make up for the very dry "wet" this year) so it pays to keep checking.

thanks northie !

still 4 weeks left to go offorad !

18-20 june Cape Leveque
Closed - Road is closed to all vehicles less than 11 tonnes gross mass (vehicle and load)
Road is closed to all vehicles in excess of 11 tonnes gross mass (vehicle and load)
Road is CLOSED to road trains at all times.Updated: 20/05/2010 12:41:09 AM

23 june Pentecost River Crossing westbound
Caution - water levels may change unexpectedly due to rain and tidal influences.Updated: 20/05/2010 12:41:09 AM

25 june Bungle Bungles
Closed - Due to heavy Rain on 10/4 park was closed for several days- Now Due to Open Thursday 15/04/2010Updated: 20/05/2010 12:41:09 AM

This last info looks obsolete. Hope the situation will improve by that time.

thanks again for the advice !!
fabio

23 june ...... eastbound, not westbound !

http://www.extraordinarytaxiride.com...urney-blog.php

This major promotion by Tourism Western Australia is going through the region as we speak.
And Reg and I will be doing Leg 10 ,The Gibb River Road next week, so good to read updated road info.
Hope you all go to there website and follow our taxi ride.Crazy eh?
Can't wait to do the 4wd section.

It is never too late !! Here is our video (just uploaded today) of our Pentecost River crossing ! I was very concerned for the water level and the late wet season in June 10, but at the end it was very easy, as you can see !! Thanks again for all your support !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LpiWG1ILoA

Fabio that was great to watch - what an adventure you had and hope we see you back here soon!

thanks stormbird !

I love your Country ! I hope you have not suffered from the floods in the last weeks. I was in Brisbane for the 2008 NYE fireworks along the river banks and it was very impressive to see the high water level on tv !

Great work Fabio - that's the kind of adventure we like!

Love the video! It reminded me of when we crossed the Pentecost. For some reason, I kept lifting my feet up in the 4WD....makes no sense, but seemed to at the time....