Cheap Broome Car Hire Roads, seasons and hiring in the Kimberley
Menu
Guides Locations Vehicles Distances Seasons Check dates

Home / Locations

Campervan Hire in Darwin: Wet Season and Kimberley Runs

Darwin is the northern bookend of the Stuart Highway and the usual start of a westbound run into the Kimberley. Both shape what you can book and when you travel.

The depot at Winnellie

The Darwin campervan depot is at 15 Cousin Street in Winnellie, an industrial suburb a short drive from the airport and city centre. It is not walkable from most accommodation, so arrange a lift.

Winnellie also holds several vehicle servicing businesses, a practical last stop before leaving.

    The wet season rewrites the map

    Between November and April the Top End receives the bulk of its rain. Unsealed access tracks turn to mud and some waterfalls and gorges close for the season.

    • Ask which park roads are open on your dates, not in general
    • Do not assume a track is open because it was last week
    • Carry more water than you think the day requires
    Note

    A vehicle collected in the dry season may face different restrictions in the wet, so confirm current road conditions with the operator before leaving town.

    East into Kakadu and south to Katherine

    The Arnhem Highway east and the Stuart Highway south are sealed and generally unrestricted. Kakadu's sealed roads stay open, but the unsealed tracks to falls and plunge pools do not.

      Roads out of Darwin and their surface
      DirectionRoadNotes
      East Arnhem HighwaySealed, open year round
      South Stuart HighwaySealed to Katherine and beyond
      South-east Kakadu tracksUnsealed, seasonal closures
      West Victoria HighwaySealed toward Kununurra

      West into the Kimberley

      The run toward Broome crosses into Western Australia on the Victoria Highway, then joins the Great Northern Highway. It is a long drive with few towns, and the Gibb River Road is another matter, needing a four-wheel-drive camper and a route the agreement permits.

      Vehicle classes at this depot follow what the branch stocks, so confirm the type you want when you enquire rather than assuming a campervan or 4WD is on hand.

      • Confirm the vehicle is permitted on any unsealed section you plan
      • Check fuel spacing before each leg and fill up whenever you can
      • Tell someone your intended route and arrival day

      Questions about hiring here

      Can I drive to Kakadu in the wet season?

      The sealed roads usually stay open, but unsealed tracks and some swimming areas close. Check conditions on the day rather than planning from a guidebook.

      Is the Gibb River Road allowed?

      Only in a vehicle the rental agreement permits on unsealed roads. Many hires exclude it, so ask before you commit to that route.

      How far is Broome from Darwin?

      It is a multi-day drive, not a single stint. Plan overnight stops and confirm fuel points before you leave.

      Other places

      Campervan Hire Adelaide: Starting From Bowden Collecting a campervan at Bowden, the run north to the Flinders Ranges, and why the wine regions make such an easy first night. Campervan Hire in Alice Springs: Desert Routes and Heat Collecting a campervan in Alice Springs, desert driving conditions, and what to confirm before heading to Uluru or the West MacDonnells. Campervan Hire Brisbane: Woolloongabba Departures Collecting a campervan at Woolloongabba, the two coastal motorways north and south, and when the hinterland beats both of them. Campervan Hire in Cairns: Depot, Routes and Timing Collecting a campervan in Cairns, the only depot holding passenger cars, plus wet season timing and one-way planning for the east coast. Campervan Hire in Exmouth: Ningaloo Access and Logistics Collecting a campervan in Exmouth, getting into Cape Range, and the fuel, water and heat planning a remote Ningaloo trip demands. Campervan Hire Hobart: Cambridge and Bass Strait Collecting a campervan at Cambridge near the airport, the Bass Strait ferry at Devonport, and choosing between the east and west coasts. Campervan Hire Melbourne: Picking Up in Ringwood Collecting a campervan at Ringwood, crossing the city to the Great Ocean Road, and why trams and hook turns make central driving a poor idea. Campervan Hire in Perth: Coast Runs North and South Collecting a campervan in Bentley, the distances involved in heading north up the WA coast, and planning the south-west loop instead. Campervan Hire Sydney: Pick Up at Caringbah Collecting a campervan at Caringbah, getting out of the Sydney basin before the peak, and choosing between the south coast and the Hunter.