The Kimberley really has 3 seasons: The Wet Season or "The Wet" (December - April), The Dry Season or "The Dry" (April - September) and "The Buildup" (October and November)."
The Dry is the ideal time to visit, with six months of blue skies, when you can get cool nights of 15 degrees Celsius in May and June, with blue skies and 30 degree days by 8 am for most of the dry. Take in the amazing ancient scenery, experience great fishing and wildlife spotting, especially for bird-watching and during August for the Humpback whale migration period.
The Buildup has hot days of 40 degrees Celsius on a daily basis for a month or more, can get humid, and people look forward to an afternoon thunderstorm, which have some of the highest cloud formations on the planet and produce spectacular lightning displays. These are especially prevalent in the north at Kununurra and Wyndham and are a great site to see but be prepared for the heat.
The tropical wet season rain cools the buildup temperatures and cyclonic activity produces some heavy rains, especially in coastal areas. "Set in Weather," during the wet season, when clouds set in on the ranges for days, and the temperature cools the land is welcomed by locals.
These seasons have a large impact on visitor numbers, tours, travel accommodation in the region, with most visitors arriving in the Dry season. During the Wet, the Gibb River Road is closed and various areas can be flooded. Some providers, especially in areas such as the Gibb River Rd close completely. You can often find prices at the resorts in Broome may halve from the first day in November. Some tours may still operate out of Broome and Kununurra. Although the buildup period between the end of the dry and the first rains of the wet can be a cost-effective time to visit, at this time, the land seems covered with dust, some streams have ceased running entirely, and the heat and humidity are stifling.
Roads and air travel have improved dramatically in the rest of the Kimberley and the wet season will become more popular with travellers as the "Green Season," to see the Kimberley in its glory, green and with waterfalls flowing in January February and March.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Kimberley (Western Australia)
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Kimberley (Western Australia) - updated May 2024
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Kimberley (Western Australia) Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
