If you haven’t heard of Mitchell Falls, you need to put it on your travel bucket list. Especially if you follow the Grey Nomads’ Guide to Caravanning in WA, you can truly make the most of a trip to WA’s best-kept secret. Here’s everything you need to know about Mitchell Falls and why it belongs on your dream caravan trip.
Remote Location Only Accessible by 4WD
Not every vehicle can make it all the way to Mitchell Falls. Located inside Mitchell River National Park, this remote destination is only accessible by 4WD. It’s over 3,000km from Perth, so you need about 35-40 hours at least if you’re driving straight there. Even so, it’s worth every minute of driving, and whether you cut through the outback or hug the coast, once you get to the falls near the most northern part of the state, you’ll see why.
Perfect Timing for Best Waterfall Flow
When planning a caravan trip to Mitchell Falls Camping Ground, keep in mind the wet and dry season. Water can dry up in this natural red rock masterpiece during April to August. Then the wet season from October to March delivers rainfall that makes these falls super impressive. Just like other waterfalls in the far north, the wet season rains supply the flow that diminishes throughout the dry season.
For the best waterfall views and overall experience, time your trip right. The last few months of the year give you a good mix of early rainfall to supplement the flow whilst ensuring safe admittance into the park and access to the trails.
Beautiful Flora and Fauna
As of 2020, the park covers over 1,150 square km of the Mitchell Plateau. Arguably the best trail for viewing Mitchell Falls is Punamii-Unpuu Trail, which gives you an amazing vantage point over the jaw-dropping gorge. For a multi-day adventure in your 4WD, head along Kalumburu and Gibbs River Roads.
There are also aerial tour options if you want to explore the falls from both the ground and the sky. It’s amazing to see the only place in mainland Australia where no native species have gone extinct. There are more than 220 birds, 86 amphibians and reptiles, and 50 mammal species that live in the park surrounding Mitchell Falls. Keep your eyes peeled for saltwater crocodiles, king brown snakes, rock wallabies, and flatback turtles, among many other Aussie animals.
History and Future Plans for Mitchell River Park
4WD off road caravans are a great way to see everything Mitchell Falls and Mitchell River Park have to offer. This truly is a slice of Australian history, with the Mitchell Plateau (Ngauwudu) wildlife and scenery remaining unchanged for nearly 50,000 years. The Wunambal people have called this land home for thousands of years. While there are plans for a massive Kimberley National Park nearby, changes to the park system have not been finalised. The area is protected, so you can rest assured your Mitchell Falls caravan travel plans can go ahead provided the weather holds out and the trail conditions are safe.
