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Tunnel Creek, Tunnel Creek NP, Kimberley Tunnel Creek, Tunnel Creek NP, Kimberley

Bush Walk  in North West

  • Less than 1 hour
  • 2 km
    • Bush Walk Class 5

      Extreme trail with very rough surface, and may have very steep hills, arduous rock hopping or rock scrambling. Limited or no directional signage. For very experienced bushwalkers with navigation and emergency first aid skills, and high level of fitness.

Tunnel Creek is a very popular walk with a bit of adventure thrown in for good measure. The 2 kilometre return walk goes through a naturally formed tunnel carved over millions of years by fast flowing wet-season water.

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Tunnel Creek National Park, is famous as a hideout used late last century by the Aboriginal leader Jandamarra. He was killed outside its entrance in 1897.

The walk goes through a naturally formed tunnel carved over millions of years by fast flowing wet-season water.  To do the walk you need a good powerful torch, bathers and sneakers or reef shoes to wade through pools that can be up to waist deep in places.

The trail is about 2km return and you need to be surefooted to negotiate rocky uneven surfaces. In the dark, your torch may light up small bats roosting on cave walls and glowing freshwater crocodile eyes. It can be a little unnerving for some.

Take your time reading the excellent interpretive signage near the entrance of Tunnel Creek. If you lose your nerve, hang around the spectacular cave entrance and ponder the exploits of outlaw indigenous leader, Jandamarra, who hid around here from the police troopers during the 1890s. Some of the interpretive signage tells the Jandamarra story in vivid detail.

Day trips to Tunnel Creek operate from Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Broome and usually include a visit to Windjana Gorge. Fees apply to visit the national park.

You need a four-wheel-drive to access the park, which is generally inaccessible during the wet season.

Tunnel Creek is a day use area, with facilities limited to toilets, picnic tables and an information shelter. You are welcome to camp at nearby Windjana Gorge National Park (camping fees apply).

Broome Parks and Wildlife Office

(08) 9195 5500

Derby Visitor Centre

(08) 9191 0999

National Parks

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Be trail ready for Tunnel Creek, Tunnel Creek NP, Kimberley

Here is everything you need to know before visiting this trail.

Time / Duration

up to 1 hour

Length

2km return

Trail Start

Tunnel Creek, 2200km (30 hours) north of Perth, 282km (5.5 hours) east of Derby

Get directions

Trail End

Bush Walk

Class 5

Extreme trail with very rough surface, and may have very steep hills, arduous rock hopping or rock scrambling. Limited or no directional signage. For very experienced bushwalkers with navigation and emergency first aid skills, and high level of fitness.

Visit Trail Tips for further information.

Additional information

Very dark and water crossings. Water height varies from knee to over head height.

What To Pack

Facilities

  • Car Park
  • Coach Parking
  • Interpretive Centre
  • Public Toilet
  • Shaded Area
  • Sheltered Area

Best time of year

May to October. The dry season in the Kimberley

Fees

National Park Fees apply

Trail Access

Air, Drive or Bus to Broome, Road 4WD to trail

More tips for being Trail Ready
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Aboriginal Culture

This trail is part of the Aboriginal Culture badge.

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1 trail goers have rated Tunnel Creek, Tunnel Creek NP, Kimberley as 5 out of 5!

We love to hear from people who've been on our Western Australian trails, so it would be most appreciated it if you wanted to leave a review.

Carolyn Port

Reviewed 28 Jul 2021, 11:16am

Awesome walk! Totally different from other gorge walks in the Kimberley region. It is a simple 200m walk then a climb over big boulders into the cave area followed by nearly 1km inside the cave/tunnel though water 90% of the time (early July). Cave formations were beautiful and included two small waterfall.s. The hike was mainly in knee to waist deep water but one 10m section was about 2m deep. I highly recommend taking camera gear, snacks etc in a 'dry pack' preferably of the backpack kind ( it doubles as a floaty in deep water) . Out the other end of the tunnel is a simple creek walk. Remember to take a torch! Head torches work best when swimming. Phone torches are not strong enough to be able to see all the beautiful cave formations!

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