Top 5 Underrated East-Kimberley Destinations

I just got back from spending 8 days in Kununurra, exploring the East-Kimberley with some of my local friends.

And what a place it is.

If you like 4WDing, fishing, camping, boating, then the Kimberley is the best place in the world for you.

A lot of the places we visited were absolutely amazing, but didn’t receive any attention online. So I wanted to write an article highlighting the top 5 underrated East-Kimberley destinations.

Let’s get straight into it! Feel free to watch our adventure through the East-Kimberley here.

1. Lake Kununurra

This place is the most under-appreciated place in the East-Kimberley. Every one talks about Lake Argyle - and granted it’s amazing - but I think Lake Kununurra is better.

Just a few minutes out of Kununurra, this place flys under the radar because it’s not very far from civilisation.

However, trust me when I say - this place is spectacular.

When to Visit Lake Kununurra

The best time to visit here is sunset, so you can watch the golden sun bounce off of the cliff faces.

Although I was here in the Dry season and it was gorgeous, apparently the Wet season is even better because it is filled with amazing waterfalls.

How to Visit Lake Kununurra

The best way to witness this stunning scenery is by boat. There are tourist charters that are available, or you can even canoe the lake.

If you have a 4WD I think there are some tracks that you can use to get into the side of the river. But please be careful about trespassing onto private property.

2. Marlgu Billabong

There is a really good chance you haven’t even heard of this place, and you’ll thank me later.

Marlgu Billabong is on the floodplains between Kununurra and Wyndham. It’s a fairly large billabong with over 160 species of birds, and it is full other wildlife… Put it this way, I wouldn’t dip my toes in the water here.

We saw some big salt water crocs here. There is a great bird hide here that you can sit in and watch the crocodiles.

Honestly I could have spent hours at this billabong just soaking up the wildlife.

When to Visit Marlgu Billabong

You can only get to this billabong in the Dry season, because in the Wet season the floodplains are too wet for cars to drive on.

If you can get here early or late in the day, because that is when the wildlife is most active.

How to Visit Marlgu Billabong

It’s probably wise to have a 4WD or at least AWD car to get to Marlgu. There are dirt tracks to get here, so it would also be smart to take a spare tyre.

Otherwise if you want to take a guided tour, we would highly recommend HOT Tours.

3. Emma Gorge

Now this place is gorgeous - it probably isn’t the most underrated place in the Kimberley, but I am still going to put it on my list because it’s that good.

Emma Gorge is a spectacular hike up a gorge, with a couple of waterholes you can swim in at the top.

It’s actually quite a challenging walk, that takes you over some gnarly rocks. So I would highly recommend having at least an average level of fitness.

There are fresh water crocs in the swimming pools at the top, they are safe to swim with as long as you don’t harrass them.

I actually enjoyed swimming in the bottom rock hole, because it had such crystal clear water filled with gorgeous fish life.

When to Visit Emma Gorge

Emma Gorge can be visited at anytime of the year, but there will be a much bigger waterfall in the Wet season.

I cannot recommend highly enough - starting this walk early in the morning! It can get really bloody hot and it’s a reasonable walk, so walking in the heat during the middle of the day can be really challenging.

How to Visit Emma Gorge

Located at the beginning / end of the Gibb River road, it’s actually quite easy to drive to Emma Gorge even in a 2WD drive.

There is a small water crossing about 50 metres before the carpark of Emma Gorge, and you probably need a 4WD to cross it. Otherwise if you’re in a 2WD you can find a car park on the side of the road and walk the rest of the journey.

There is a park entry fee, which you are supposed to pay (you can probably get away without paying) - but I think it’s good to pay as it funds the maintenance of facilities at Emma Gorge. So don’t be a tight ass!

4. Five Rivers Lookout

This is one of the best places to take in the East-Kimberley river systems.

From this one lookout, you can see 5 major rivers that run through the area. The lookout is several hundred metres high and overlooks the historic town of Wyndham.

This is certainly an under appreciated place in the East-Kimberley.

When to Visit Five Rivers Lookout

There is no right or wrong time to visit this place. I can imagine that it would be even better at sunrise or sunset, but most places are like that in the Kimberley.

It makes a perfect picnic spot, with shaded tables and toilet facilities.

How to Visit Five Rivers Lookout

This place is super easy to get to, with sealed roads the entire way - so it’s 2WD friendly, which is really nice in the Kimberley.

Tips for Traveling in the Kimberley

The Kimberley isn’t renowned for being the easiest place to travel in the world.

The roads are tough and there’s not a whole lot of phone reception to call for help.

When we travel, we recommend you carry a UHF radio to keep in contact with other travelers.

We have been trying out some handheld UHFs from Oricom and really enjoying them.

The other travelling tools we have been loving are from Dirt Roads. We’ve been using their 4WD hat holder, folding antenna mount, LED car mirror, rearview mirror phone mount and reusable car dehumidifier . These products won’t save your life, but they certainly add some creature comfort into your life on the road.