Ashleigh & Luke

Route guide · Northern Territory and Western Australia

Darwin to Broome in a 2WD campervan: the drive, Lake Argyle and Broome

After Kakadu, our Great Lap turned west into Western Australia. In Ron, our 2WD Renault Master campervan, that meant the sealed highways, because the famous Kimberley roads are 4WD country. We crossed the border at Kununurra, stopped at Lake Argyle, drove about 19 hours in total to Broome and spent a few days there in the first week of August 2026. This guide is the drive in the order we did it, plus the 4WD places other travellers rave about, so you can plan which ones are realistic. Where we quote official advice, it's in its own box with the date we checked it, so you can tell it apart from our own experience.

Key points

  • Yes, you can drive Darwin to Broome in a 2WD, on the sealed highways via Kununurra. We did.
  • Most of the Kimberley's big names are 4WD only. The Gibb River Road, Purnululu (the Bungle Bungles) and Mitchell Falls are all high-clearance 4WD country.
  • There's a quarantine checkpoint at the border. Eat or ditch your fresh fruit and veg and honey before Kununurra, and declare anything you're not sure about.
  • WA is 90 minutes behind the NT. The quarantine staff even reminded us.
  • Fuel was never a problem for us, and phone signal was much like the Stuart Highway: mostly at the roadhouses.
  • Lake Argyle is the stop to make. It was our one real stop between the border and Broome, and an epic caravan park.
  • Broome is hot and the sea is murky. Croc warning signs are up at Town Beach. Swim at patrolled beaches, and in stinger season wear a stinger suit.
  • Broome's caravan parks fill up. We stayed at the Seventh-day Adventist Church overflow park, which is first come, first served, so arrive early.
  • Check the tides. We got Coconut Well wrong, and there was no water to swim in.

Can you drive Darwin to Broome in a 2WD?

Yes, on the highways. As we said in our Broome video, there's not a lot for a 2WD between the border and Broome: the Kimberley and the Bungle Bungles look incredible, but they're 4WD access only (see it in our video). Here's how the places on and off the route stack up (official pages checked 4 November 2026):

Road or placeIn a 2WD?What the official page says, and what we found
Victoria Highway and Great Northern Highway, via KununurraYesThe sealed way round, and the way we went. The Victoria Highway takes you over the border to Kununurra, then the Great Northern Highway goes on towards Broome (Main Roads WA: Western Australian State Routes (PDF)).
Lake ArgyleYesWe drove Ron in and stayed at the caravan park.
Mirima National Park, KununurraYesParks WA puts it 2 km north of Kununurra, signposted via Barrington Avenue. We didn't go.
Gibb River RoadNoMain Roads WA recommends a high-clearance 4WD, and says caravans and motorhomes aren't recommended on its unsealed sections.
Purnululu (the Bungle Bungles)NoParks WA says access is for high-clearance 4WDs only, on the 53 km unsealed Spring Creek Track.
Mitchell FallsNoParks WA says you need a fully equipped 4WD, plus a visitor pass bought before you arrive.
Broome to Cape Leveque Road (Dampier Peninsula)Main road, yesFully sealed, according to the Broome Visitor Centre, but some unsealed roads and tracks need a 4WD. We didn't go.
Coconut Well, north of BroomeOnly to the startWe parked where the 4WD track starts and looked from there (see it in our video).
Driving on Cable BeachNoNormally 4WD only, north of the rocks, but the Broome Visitor Centre says there's currently no vehicle access there during redevelopment works. We parked and walked.

How long, when, and our route

From the NT border to Broome took us about 19 hours of driving in total, with one proper stop, at Lake Argyle, then two days of driving from there (see it in our video). We were in Broome in the first week of August 2026, in the dry season. In Broome it was 26°C in the morning with highs of 28°C. It felt really hot, with no breeze unless we were on the scooters.

Our route:

  1. From Kakadu to Katherine, where we restocked. It's a long drive, and WikiCamps found us rest areas and camps along the way.
  2. West on the Victoria Highway to the WA border and the quarantine checkpoint near Kununurra.
  3. Lake Argyle, just over the border, at the caravan park.
  4. Two days of driving on the Great Northern Highway to Broome, at free camps we found on WikiCamps.
  5. Broome for a few days, then south to Karijini.

Katherine is in our Adelaide to Darwin guide, along with the road train and fuel tips that apply here too.

Crossing into WA: quarantine and the time change

Just like Tasmania, we checked what we could and couldn't take into WA before we got there. At the quarantine checkpoint near Kununurra, the officers did a quick search of the van and we were on our way. The staff were really friendly, and they even warned us about the time difference.

  • Run your fridge down. Plan your last shop so you're not throwing food away at the border.
  • Put your clocks back. WA is 90 minutes behind the NT, so you get an extra hour and a half of daylight on the day you cross.
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). WA's NT border checkpoint is at Kununurra on the Victoria Highway and runs 24 hours. You must declare quarantine risk material. Only a short list of fresh fruit and veg is permitted, such as pineapple, carrots, corn on the cob with the husk removed and some peeled items. Hard-frozen fruit and veg is permitted, with exceptions such as grapes. Honey is prohibited unless it's certified, and raw crustaceans aren't permitted unless they meet specific import requirements. Phone Quarantine WA on (08) 9334 1800 for advice. The list changes, so check it before you go (DPIRD: what can I bring into WA?, DPIRD: what can I bring into WA? (FAQs)).

Lake Argyle and Kununurra

Lake Argyle was our one good stop between the border and Broome. We stayed at the caravan park, and it was an epic one for us to be in (see it in our video). We didn't talk to camera there, so the video only has the shots.

  • The infinity pool. We swam in it, and it was very cold. We joked that they keep it cold to keep people moving, because it's so popular. You can't stay in long, and it's much smaller than it looks in the photos.
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). The Lake Argyle resort calls it Australia's second-largest freshwater lake, with an estimated 35,000 freshwater crocodiles in the Ord River. It has camping and caravan sites, a 35 m infinity pool, and lake cruises from 2 hours up to a 3.5-hour sunset cruise (Lake Argyle resort and caravan park, Lake Argyle: infinity pool). The resort is 35 km off the Victoria Highway on a sealed road, it's open all year, and it recommends booking well ahead from April to September (Lake Argyle: about the property).
Popular with other travellers: a Lake Argyle cruise. We didn't do one, but the cruises on the Kimberley Durack come up again and again from other travellers. The resort runs a 2-hour highlights cruise, a 3-hour lunch cruise and a 3.5-hour sunset cruise. In a 2WD: yes, the cruises leave from the resort, which is on a sealed road. See the resort's own page, Lake Argyle resort and caravan park (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Keep River National Park, just before the border. On the NT side, 3 km east of the border off the Victoria Highway, with striped sandstone often compared to the Bungle Bungles, and Aboriginal rock art. In a 2WD: roads in the park are unsealed, so check road conditions first. When we checked, the park and the information centre were open, but most walks and both campgrounds were closed for the wet season until June 2027. It needs an NT Parks Visitor Pass. See NT.GOV.AU: Keep River National Park (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Mirima National Park, Kununurra. We didn't go. Parks WA puts Mirima 2 km north of Kununurra, signposted via Barrington Avenue and Hidden Valley. It's known for its layered sandstone, which glows at sunrise and sunset, and there are several short walk trails. Avoid the heat of the day and carry plenty of water. Kununurra has a crocodile control zone. In a 2WD: yes, it's on the edge of town. See Parks WA: Mirima National Park (checked 4 November 2026).

The Kimberley 4WD roads we skipped

These are the places that make the Kimberley famous. In a 2WD like Ron, they weren't an option for us, but here's what the official pages say, so you can decide for your own vehicle.

Popular with other travellers: the Gibb River Road, 4WD only. Main Roads WA says the Gibb is often closed in the wet season (December to April) and is typically open in the dry, from May to November. About 470 km between the Lennard River and the Pentecost River is unsealed, corrugated and rocky. In a 2WD: no. It recommends a high-clearance 4WD and says caravans and motorhomes aren't recommended on the unsealed sections. The Pentecost River crossing has crocodiles. Side tracks to the gorges can close even when the Gibb is open, so check Parks WA alerts as well. See Main Roads WA: Gibb River Road (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Purnululu (the Bungle Bungles), high-clearance 4WD only. Parks WA puts the park 304 km from Kununurra and 160 km from Halls Creek. You reach it on the 53 km unsealed Spring Creek Track, which takes 1.5 to 3 hours and is for high-clearance 4WDs and single-axle high-clearance trailers only. The park generally closes in the wet season, between November and April. There's no fuel in the park, so carry enough for at least 300 km, and allow at least two nights. It's also a drone-free area. In a 2WD: no. See Parks WA: Purnululu National Park (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Mitchell Falls, 4WD only. In a 2WD: no. Parks WA says you need a fully equipped 4WD, and you must buy an Uunguu Visitor Pass online before you arrive, because there's no internet or phone signal on Country. Saltwater crocodiles live in the area. Scenic flights leave from the campground. See Parks WA: Mitchell River National Park (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Danggu Geikie Gorge. Parks WA says the park is open with limited facilities after record flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie in December 2022 and January 2023. Freshwater crocs live in the gorge. Check before you plan a detour. In a 2WD: check current access with Parks WA. See Parks WA: Danggu Geikie Gorge National Park (checked 4 November 2026).

The long drive to Broome

After Lake Argyle, we drove for two days, and we were quite glad to be somewhere again by the time we got to Broome (see it in our video).

  • Free camps. We stayed at free camps we found on WikiCamps. Decide how far you want to drive each day, then look for somewhere in range, so you're parked up before dark.
  • Fuel. It was never a problem for us, but check the list below and fill up when you can.
  • Phone signal. Like the Stuart Highway, it was mostly at the roadhouses, so download maps and let someone know your plans before you set off.
  • Check the roads. Before you set off, check the NT Road Report on the NT side and the Main Roads WA Travel Map in WA, especially in the wet season.
  • Road trains. They're everywhere up here. Our tips are in the Stuart Highway guide.
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). On the NT side, Victoria River Roadhouse is 194 km west of Katherine (Visit Katherine: Timber Creek and Victoria River), and BP Timber Creek, further west, is listed as open 24 hours (BP Timber Creek). In WA, Australia's North West lists fuel at Kununurra (several stations, including a 24/7 independent), then on the Great Northern Highway at Doon Doon Roadhouse, Warmun Roadhouse, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Willare Bridge Roadhouse and Roebuck Plains Roadhouse, about 35 km from Broome. It warns that fuel availability and opening hours can change, so confirm locally (Australia's North West: fuel stops).

Broome: Town Beach, Chinatown and Cable Beach

We stayed at the Broome Seventh-day Adventist Church Overflow Caravan Park, about a half-hour walk from the centre of Broome. The one right on Town Beach was fully booked, and it was expensive anyway (see it in our video).

  • Arrive early. It's first come, first served, so get there early in the day.
  • It's a tight squeeze. The sites are close together.
  • Lovely new facilities. The amenities were new and really nice.
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). The overflow park is at 13 Palmer Road and opened in June 2023. It doesn't take bookings: you queue out the front, and it's first in, first served. The office is open 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5pm. It has 28 powered sites and 4 tent sites, hot showers and washing machines, pets are allowed on a leash, and caravans won't fit on the unpowered sites. Check current rates with the park (Broome Seventh-day Adventist Church: Overflow Caravan Park).
  • E-scooters. There are hire e-scooters around Broome that you unlock with an app, and helmets come with them. They're great for quick trips, but we rode them for over 160 minutes on the first day and our legs ached all night. There's no suspension, so you feel every bump (see it in our video).
  • Town Beach and the jetty. The sea is an insane turquoise blue, but it's murky, so you can't see what's in it. One sign said "crocodile attacks can still happen here" and another warned about strong currents, so we didn't swim. A sign at the jetty explains it was the main place for Broome's imports and exports until around the 1890s, before a deep-water port was built. The jetty was later demolished and rebuilt for fishing boats (see it in our video).
  • Chinatown. Pretty heritage buildings that have kept their character, independent shops, cafés and pearl shops, and a memorial to Broome's hard hat divers. We cooled down with smoothies. There's a shopping centre for the chain shops (see it in our video).
  • Matso's Brewery. Ash's favourite alcoholic ginger beer is brewed here, so this was a must. We got the last walk-in table on the veranda, and had chicken wings and potato gems (see it in our video).
  • The red-dirt beach by the mangroves. Down the road from Matso's, the red dirt meets the sea. We found hundreds of hermit crabs and, less nicely, half a dead shark. Keep your eyes on the water: there could be crocs. And the path we followed down turned out to be a drain (see it in our video).
  • Sunset at Cable Beach. We almost missed it after losing a microphone, but made it just in time. There's a beach bar, there was a fire show, and the camels walked along the beach at sunset. We went back for a second sunset with the camels before we left (see it in our video, see it in our video).
Our favourite: sunset with the camels at Cable Beach. We raced there on the scooters and made it in the nick of time, and it was well worth it. Watching the camels walk along the beach is the iconic thing to do, so we went back on our last evening to see the sunset properly.
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). The Broome Visitor Centre says Cable Beach is 22 km long, and camel rides run in the morning, in the afternoon and at sunset. North of the rocks is normally where 4WDs drive on the beach, at 15 km/h, but during the current redevelopment works there's no vehicle access there, and you reach the camels on foot from the Surf Club. Tides change quickly (Broome Visitor Centre: highlights of Broome).

Broome: the coast, Coconut Well and Sun Pictures

  • Kabbarli Lookout (Entrance Point). On our second morning we took Ron instead of the scooters and drove to Kabbarli Lookout and the beach at Entrance Point, just out of town. The road in has changed because of port works, so follow the signs. The water was clear and as warm as a swimming pool. We climbed over jagged rocks, found a tiny natural window, and the tide came in over the path we'd walked along (see it in our video).
  • Drones. You can't fly over the centre of Broome, because the airport is right there, as in Darwin, and there are other restricted zones too. We think there are military zones around here too, so be careful where you fly. Your drone app should warn you (see it in our video).
  • Coconut Well. Known for little rock pools you can swim or float in when the tides are right. From our quick Google, the high tide needs to reach around 9 m to fill the lagoon and the pools, and that wasn't happening while we were there. Past the car park, it's a 4WD track. We flew the drone to see if the walk was worth it, and it wasn't, that day. Check the tide times before you go (see it in our video).
  • Sun Pictures. A historic outdoor cinema near Chinatown. We went on 4 August and watched Toy Story. You can buy popcorn and sweets there, or bring your own, which is what we did, from the supermarket down the road (see it in our video).
  • Life admin. Broome was a good place to stop and get things done: we did the washing and fitted in a haircut.
  • Town Beach Night Market. Lots of Asian food. We had a Thai combination of everything. It was smaller than we expected compared with the Darwin markets, but still really cool (see it in our video).
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). The Broome Visitor Centre publishes tide times (Broome Visitor Centre: tides). Check them before you plan Coconut Well, the dinosaur footprints or a walk round the rocks, because the tide comes in fast. The Kimberley Ports Authority says access to Entrance Point is now via a road behind the Sorghum Shed, with signs to follow (Kimberley Ports Authority: Port of Broome projects).
Broome: our first stop in Western Australia. Town Beach, Chinatown, Matso's, Cable Beach camels, Coconut Well, Sun Pictures and the night market. Watch on YouTube
Popular with other travellers: the Dampier Peninsula and Cape Leveque. We didn't go. The Broome Visitor Centre says the Broome to Cape Leveque Road is fully sealed, so you can reach parts of the peninsula in a 2WD, including Beagle Bay, about 128 km north of Broome. Some unsealed roads and tracks need a 4WD. Many communities are on private leases, so call ahead or book before you visit. The northern tip around Kooljaman is private Native Title land and isn't open to visitors. Fuel supplies can be limited. In a 2WD: the main road, yes; some side tracks, no. See Broome Visitor Centre: Dampier Peninsula (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point. Some real dinosaur footprints can be reached on foot from Gantheaume Point, but only when the tide is below 2.16 m and in daylight. The rocks are slippery, the beach isn't patrolled by lifeguards, and the Traditional Owners ask everyone to stay on the designated paths. In a 2WD: yes, to Gantheaume Point, then on foot. See Broome Visitor Centre: dinosaur footprints (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Staircase to the Moon. When the full moon rises over the exposed tidal flats of Roebuck Bay. The Broome Visitor Centre says it happens 2 to 3 days a month between March and October and publishes the dates. Town Beach is a good place to watch it. In a 2WD: yes, it's in town. See Broome Visitor Centre: Staircase to the Moon dates (checked 4 November 2026).
Popular with other travellers: Willie Creek Pearl Farm. Broome's pearling history comes up on most lists, and this working pearl farm north of town is the one people tour. In a 2WD: no. The farm recommends a 4WD, because the roads are unsealed, corrugated and sandy in places, and the route changes with the tides. If you're in a 2WD, it runs air-conditioned coaches from Broome accommodation. See Willie Creek Pearl Farm: farm tour (checked 4 November 2026).

Crocs, stingers and the wet season

  • Our rule of thumb. If nobody else is swimming, don't. It won't save you from everything, but it made us stop and think.
  • Crocs live in WA too. We saw the warning signs at Town Beach and kept an eye on the water by the mangroves.
  • Plan around the wet. The Gibb, Purnululu and the gorge tracks close in the wet season, so the dry season is when this drive makes sense.
Official advice (checked 4 November 2026). The Shire of Broome says stinger season runs from November to May. Wear a full-length lycra suit or wetsuit, don't swim during beach closures, and carry vinegar (Shire of Broome: stinger safety). It recommends swimming only at patrolled beaches, between the red and yellow flags. Cable Beach has a lifeguard service every day from April to October, 9am to 4.30pm (Shire of Broome: beach safety). Parks WA says crocs are common, crocs move around and crocs are deadly, and that a missing sign doesn't mean there are no crocs (Parks WA: Mirima National Park). Check road conditions on the Main Roads WA Travel Map before you drive.

FAQs

Can you drive from Darwin to Broome in a 2WD?

Yes. We did it in our 2WD van on the sealed highways, via Katherine, the Victoria Highway, Kununurra and the Great Northern Highway. The Gibb River Road, Purnululu (the Bungle Bungles) and Mitchell Falls are high-clearance 4WD country.

How long does it take to drive from the NT border to Broome?

It took us about 19 hours of driving in total, with a stop at Lake Argyle and then two days of driving to Broome. Plan where you'll stop each night so you're parked up before dark.

Can you do the Gibb River Road in a 2WD?

We didn't. Main Roads WA recommends a high-clearance 4WD and says caravans and motorhomes aren't recommended on its unsealed sections. About 470 km is unsealed, and it's often closed in the wet season, from December to April.

Can you see the Bungle Bungles in a 2WD?

Not by road. Parks WA says Purnululu is reached on the 53 km unsealed Spring Creek Track, which is for high-clearance 4WDs only, and the park generally closes from November to April.

What can't you take into WA from the NT?

The WA quarantine checkpoint at Kununurra runs 24 hours. Most fresh fruit and vegetables aren't allowed, apart from a short permitted list, and honey is prohibited unless it's certified. Declare anything you're unsure about. Our van got a quick search and we were on our way.

Is fuel a problem between Katherine and Broome?

It never was for us. There are roadhouses and towns along the Victoria and Great Northern Highways, including Victoria River, Timber Creek, Kununurra, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing. Fuel hours can change, so fill up when you can. Phone signal was mostly at the roadhouses.

Where did you stay in Broome?

At the Broome Seventh-day Adventist Church Overflow Caravan Park. It doesn't take bookings and is first come, first served, so arrive early. It's a tight squeeze, but the facilities are lovely and new.

Is Lake Argyle worth a stop?

For us, yes. It was our one real stop between the border and Broome, and the caravan park was epic. We swam in the infinity pool, which was very cold and smaller than it looks in photos. It's just over the border into WA.

Can you swim at Cable Beach and Town Beach in Broome?

We didn't swim at Town Beach: the water was murky and there were croc and strong current warning signs. The Shire of Broome says Cable Beach has lifeguards every day from April to October, and stinger season runs from November to May.

Sources

Our own experience comes from our drive in the 2026 dry season and the videos linked above. Official information was checked on 4 November 2026. Road and park closures change, especially around the wet season, so check the official pages before you go.

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