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If you are looking for a Duncan Road Kimberley adventure that dishes out corrugations, croc-friendly waterholes and some of the most rewarding bush camps in the Kimberley, Duncan Road delivers in spades. Winding its way from the Victoria Highway in the Northern Territory to Halls Creek in Western Australia, this often forgotten back road has everything Unsealed 4X4 readers love: rough sections to test your rig, remote camps far from the crowds, and enough history and scenery to make you want to linger.
I gave myself four days to drive Duncan Road and could have easily stretched it into a week. The camps alone are worth slowing down for. Here is how it unfolded.
Dust, cattle and corrugations
Make no mistake. Duncan Road is no Sunday drive. It slices through massive cattle stations where mobs of brahman cattle drift across the road and long road trains thunder past in plumes of red dust. Between the Victoria Highway turn-off and Behn River, the track is rough as guts. Deep corrugations shake your fillings loose, washouts demand your attention, and the stony road is a tyre eater.
Moreover, the road plays border games, dipping into the NT, then back into WA, then into NT again. Along the way, the Buntine Highway branches off, leading east to Kalkarindji and Top Springs before looping back to the Victoria. For those who want to extend their trip, this detour offers more remote touring, as well as a connection to the story of the Wave Hill Walk-Off in 1966, a turning point in Australia’s fight for Aboriginal land rights led by Gurindji man Vincent Lingiari.
Behn River bliss
My first night’s camp was at Behn River on Rosewood Station, and it set the tone beautifully. This is not a roll-in and pitch camp. You need to call Rosewood on 08 9168 7376 for permission before leaving phone range. Once you are in, though, you are rewarded with one of the most peaceful riverbank camps you can imagine.
The campsite sits on smooth river stones, with kangaroos drinking nearby and corellas screeching away overhead. The Behn flows into Lake Argyle, which means the only crocs you will find here are freshies, perfectly safe if you keep your wits about you. Swimming in the clear water was the perfect antidote to a hot, dusty day behind the wheel.
No campfires are allowed, but you will not miss one when the Milky Way blazes across the Kimberley night sky. Furthermore, it is a place that feels both remote and welcoming, the kind of camp you remember long after the trip is done.
Ord River magic
Next stop was the heritage-listed Old Ord Homestead, where I camped on the rocky shelf of the Ord River. The plan was for a single night. I stayed two.
There is something about this spot that gets under your skin. The Ord is clear here, running cool and fresh with only freshwater crocodiles for company. Fishing, swimming, and doing very little at all quickly fill the day. The downside? No shade, and the Kimberley sun can bite hard. However, when the evening cools and the river mirrors the fading light, it is as good as camping gets.
This is the type of place you could lose track of time. I met another traveller here who had been camped a week and had no intention of moving on soon. Once you pull in, you will understand why.
Big views on the Antrim Plateau
Duncan Road does not just hug rivers. It also climbs. Crossing the Great Antrim Plateau delivers one of the finest lookouts in the Kimberley. From the escarpment edge, Mitchell Grass plains roll endlessly to the horizon, shifting colour with the light.
It is the sort of view that makes you cut the engine, step out, and just breathe it all in. No traffic noise, no towns, just silence broken by the wind. For me, this was one of those “this is why I drive the outback” moments.
Gorge life and Palm Springs
Not far from Old Halls Creek, you hit two gems in quick succession: Sawpit Gorge and Palm Springs. Sawpit is rugged and spectacular, a deep gorge cut by the Black Elvire River with space to camp right on the banks. It is not fancy, but it is pure Kimberley, and you will likely share it with only a handful of other travellers.
Palm Springs, just up the track, is entirely different. A natural swimming hole fringed with palms and pandanus keeps it topped with cool, clear water year-round. After days of corrugations, a dip here feels like winning the lottery.
Both of these spots demonstrate the remarkable variety that Duncan Road offers in a single drive, transitioning from dry, dusty plains to shady oases.
Chasing gold at Old Halls Creek
Old Halls Creek is where Western Australia’s first gold rush kicked off in 1885 when Charles Hall unearthed a 28-ounce nugget. The rush was short-lived. The goldfields around Kalgoorlie soon overshadowed it. Nevertheless, you can still walk among the remnants of the original town. The mud brick post office stands defiantly, a reminder of the boom and bust days.
If you want to linger, basic camping is available at The Lodge for $10 a night, complete with solar showers and toilets. Fossickers still poke around the hills and occasionally strike lucky. Even if gold is not your game, the history is worth soaking up.
Modern Halls Creek
By the time Duncan Road spits you out in Halls Creek, you will be ready for supplies. Fuel is available at the 24-hour BP pump or the Shell servo, while the well-stocked IGA has everything you need to restock the fridge.
Halls Creek is also a crossroads. Head north and you are on your way to Purnululu National Park or Kununurra. Swing west for Fitzroy Crossing and Derby. Or, if you are feeling bold, aim east and cross the Tanami to Alice Springs. Duncan Road might be behind you, but the adventures keep unfolding.
Duncan Road survival guide
- Vehicle: High clearance 4WD essential. Corrugations, washouts and sharp rocks are the norm.
- Tyres: Air down for comfort and control, and carry at least two spares.
- Supplies: Stock up before leaving the highway. There are no services between the start and Halls Creek.
- Comms: No mobile reception. A sat phone or HF radio is strongly recommended.
- Camping: Behn River requires permission. Ord River, Sawpit Gorge, and Palm Springs are open-access areas with no facilities.
- Wildlife: Only freshwater crocodiles, but always check before you swim.
Why drive Duncan Road Kimberley?
So why take on Duncan Road? Because it is the sort of track that reminds you what remote travel is all about. The driving is challenging enough to keep you engaged, the camps are unforgettable, and the mix of landscapes from Mitchell Grass plains to palm-lined springs is pure Kimberley.
It might not be the fastest way from the Victoria Highway to Halls Creek, but if you love outback tracks, rough edges, and nights camped by rivers with nothing but the stars for company, Duncan Road is a drive you will never regret.
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