Walking in the Mitchell River National Park
Walking is the best way to explore this area and see the falls up close in all their splendour. Trails are well defined, although care needs to be taken due to the uneven surfaces, water crossings, cliffs and gorges you will encounter. Wear sturdy footwear. Walk with at least two other people and carry plenty of water (four litres per person per day). Use sunscreen and a hat. Walking is more pleasant during the morning and late afternoon when it is cooler.

Little Mertens Falls

Walks in Mitchell River National Park

Punamii-unpuu (Mitchell Falls)
The 8.6-kilometre-return walk to Punamii-unpuu from the camping area will be the highlight of your stay. Take your bathers, camera and lunch and enjoy the stunning scenic values this trail has to offer. Allow 2.5 hours each way. Take care near the cliff edges and water crossings, and supervise children very closely. Wunambal people know the falls as a powerful place for their Wandjina-Wunggurr law and one of the main homes for the Wunggurr serpent. They ask visitors to show respect, approach the area quietly, and stop for a moment to think about where they are.

Aunauyu (Surveyors Pool)
This is an easy to moderate one-kilometre-return walk to small falls and a pool. The pool is surrounded by white bluffs of King Leopold sandstone. Aunauyu is also an important place for the Wunggurr. The big white rocks found there are said to be the eggs of the snake.
© source and courtesy of http://parkstay.dpaw.wa.gov.au/

Travelling time:
1-2 days from Derby, Fitzroy Crossing or Kununurra.The plateau is 350 kilometres north east of Derby and 270 kilometres north west of Wyndham by air. Vehicle access is via the Mitchell Plateau track (4WD only) from the Kalumburu Road, 172 kilometres north of the Gibb River Road junction. The track may have washouts and corrugations so drive with extreme care. Tracks north of the airstrip are rough while track north of Anuauyu (Surveryors Pool) are very rough and may be impassable. Tracks and raods may be closed during the wet season (November to April seasonal conditions apply). © source | courtesy of www.derbytourism.com.au

Things To Do:
Little Mertens Falls

Walking, nature obseravation, scenic helicopter flights. Visitor activities such as guided walks are held periodically: check with the ranger.

Waterfalls and plunge pools in the Mitchell River National Park
The track to Mitchell Falls ends at Mertens Creek and the adjacent Mitchell Falls Camping Area. From here you can walk to Mertons Falls, Mertons Gorge and Mitchell Falls or take a scenic flight to these attractions from the campground. The other main attraction in the park, Surveyors Pool, lies further north.

Fan palm forests in the Mitchell River National Park
The plateau is one of the most scenic and biologically important areas of the State. The fan palm is a conspicuous feature of the vegetation of some parts of the plateau, an elevated laterite-capped plain. This is one of few places in WA where palms are a dominant feature.

Rainforest jewels in the Mitchell River National Park
Patches of rainforest grow around the margins of the plateau. Open woodlands of grey box, white gum and other trees grow around the valleys and creeks, while pandanus and paperbarks fringe the watercourses. Up to 50 mammal species, 220 bird species and 86 kinds of reptiles and amphibians may occur in the area, including the saltwater crocodile.

Access to the Mitchell River National Park
The park is accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicles only. Caravans are not permitted due to road conditions, but off-road camper trailers are allowed. The track to the park is maintained on an irregular basis only and may have wash-outs and corrugations. Drive with extreme care. Tracks north of the Mitchell Plateau airfield are rough while the tracks north of Surveyors Pool are very rough and may be impassable. Tracks and roads may be closed during the wet season.

Mitchell Falls Campground
Mitchell River National Park lies in a remote part of the Kimberley and contains majestic waterfalls, Aboriginal rock art and sites of cultural significance to the Wunambal people. It is accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicles only.

There are camping areas with toilets at Munurru (King Edward River Crossing) and at Punamii-unpuu. It is advisable to boil or treat water taken from creeks before drinking. Do not leave food or rubbish unattended where animals can scavenge. Please take your rubbish with you as there is no rubbish collection facility. Collect firewood only from the designated firewood collection zones. Use fuel stoves wherever possible and use firewood sparingly, as dead wood is an important ecological resource. Camp fees are now applicable and collected by Department of Environment & Conservation (DEC) at the King Edward River campground on the road to Mitchell River National Park. These fees will be collected on behalf of the Kandiwal Aboriginal Corporation. Entry fees will be applicable at Mitchell River National Park.

Separated into a generator area and an quiet area. Sites are rather well spaced out with every site a fireplace. There are toilets but no showers we saw.

The helicopter pad and it's reservation booking office is on the perimeter of the camping area. Flights can be arranged there if there is availability.

• Caravans are not permitted due to the road conditions, however off-road camper trailers are allowed.
• Fire rings are provided but collecting wood in the national park is not allowed.
• Limited wood is provided for cooking.
• Please do not bring your own wood as it can spread weed seed and plant disease that can kill native flora.
• Light fires only in fireplaces provided.
• Preferably use your own portable gas or fuel stove. Sealed vault pit toilets are provided.
• Water is available from a stream.
• Water should be boiled before use.
• Freshwater crocodiles are sometimes found in waterways.
• There is a 24-hour self-registration station available.
• Best time to visit: April to mid October.
• Bookings do not apply at this campground.
• It operates on a first come - first served basis.
• Please contact the campground during peak holiday season for availability.
• Holders of Recreation Fishing licences may enter a park at no charge if they are entering for the purpose of their licence - licence to be shown on request.

© source and courtesy of http://parkstay.dpaw.wa.gov.au/

Kalumburu Turn off to Mount Barnett
Where is it? Mt Barnett Roadhouse to Kalumburu is 107.5 klm estimated time 4-6 hours careful driving depending on road conditiond (graded or not and how soon after the wet season). Access to the park is achieved by 4WD only along the Mitchell Plateau Track from the Kalumburu Road. Going to Mitchell Falls allow for overnight camping with no facilities at all there.
Where is it? 578 kilometres from Derby and 458 kilometres from Kununurra.

Mount Barnett Roadhouse
About Mount Barnett Roadhouse in the Kimberley's in Western Australia
• Address: Derby Gibb River Rd, Derby WA 6728, Australia
Phone: +61 8 9191 7007
16' 43'00.2 S
125'55'39.2' E
Mount Barnett Roadhouse is opposite the Kupungarri Community. Mount Barnett Roadhouse is approximatley. 307 klm north of Derby, 400 klm from Kununurra. Turn-off is on the left hand side of the road when travelling north. Mount Barnett Roadhouse fuel supplies (both diesel and unleaded), Hot snacks, ice-creams, telephone, drinking water, ice, toilets, showers, laundry, small store and take-away and general stores, tyre repairs, Camp & entrance fees are payable here to access the 7km long track leading to the Manning Gorge camp site. Barnett River Gorge/Manning Falls and the campsite - gorge and campsite are accessible via this track located 10 metres to the north of the roadhouse. Upon payment of fee ask for a mud map of the hike/walk to the Upper Manning Gorge where one can engulf themselves in the sights and swim below pristine cooling waterfalls in a large rock pool (be careful when swiming after drinking and eating), maybe you can choise a outback bush campsite alongside the sandy edges of one of the swimming holes.

Contact Information: Phone:(08)9191 7007
Imintji Roadhouse to Mt. Barnett Roadhouse is approx. 78 klm - 86.2 klm (6klm from Station Creek)
Mt Barnett Roadhouse to Kununurra is approx. 400 klm estimated time 10-12 hours careful driving
Mt. Barnett Roadhouse to El Questro Station is approx. 337 klm
Mt. Barnett Roadhouse to Derby is approx.307 klm