Wyndham is the historic town of the region and was settled in the mid 1800's to service the Halls Creek gold fields and the outlying cattle stations. The Wyndham Port was first established in the 1880's and to this day provides a vital link in the export of live cattle, sugar from the Kununurra sugar mill and serves as a shipping facility to the numerous mining ventures in the region. The Port also caters for the numerous tourism vessels that ply the Kimberley coast or offer fishing charters to remote parts of the region. The boom days for Wyndham were during the operating years of the Wyndham Meatworks which employed around 500 workers. Today with a population of about 800 Wyndham still offers town services that cater to the locals as well as numerous tourism related places of interest.
Wyndham Accommodation
On the way to Wyndham and on the edge of a billabong, Parry Creek Farm Tourist Resort is an ideal place to stay. Accessing Parry Creek Farm via Parry Creek Road from Kununurra will require a 4WD vehicle however, if you are travelling along the Great Northern Highway to Wyndham, you can take it steady and arrive at Parry Creek Farm & Tourist Resort via 2WD. For that ‘station-stay’ feel, why not head out to Digger’s Rest Station. Found near the junction of the King River Road and the Karunjie Track, a 4WD vehicle is a necessity to access this Station that is surrounded by spectacular scenery.
Wyndham Attractions
On the way into Wyndham, you will be driving alongside the spectacular Cockburn Range. A photographer’s delight, the Cockburn is especially colourful in early morning or early evening light. If you are feeling like a bit of a ‘hike’ call in to The Grotto, found on the left hand side of the Great Northern Highway, just past the Gibb River Road turnoff. Walk the 140 steps down into the Grotto and if you are lucky – you may be able to swim in the waters below (subject to wet season rains). Just 15 kilometres from Wyndham, turn right and visit the wetlands of Marglu Billabong and the Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve. A haven for birdlife in particular, be on the lookout for Brolga’s, Jabirus and maybe even a rare Gouldian Finch! On the way in, you can take a look from Telegraph Hill.
At the entrance to the town centre, get out your camera for a photo of the Big Croc. You should also take a drive up the Bastion (Five Rivers Lookout) to see where the King, Pentecost, Ord, Durack and Forrest Rivers all meet in the Gulf. A trip to Wyndham would also not be complete without calling in to the Wyndham Crocodile Park & Zoological Gardens. To see the crocs in action, contact the Kununurra Visitor Centre for details on open, close and feeding times! Other places of interest include the Afghan Cemetery, Drovers Memorial, The Gut, Koolama Wreck site, Pioneer Cemetery and Three Mile Valley.
If you are heading out along the King River Road (on the way to Digger’s Rest Station), you will be driving past the Moochalabra Dam and can also stop to climb into the Prison Tree!
More Wyndham Information
For further information on arrival in Wyndham, visit the Wyndham Tourist Information Centre.
