Fitzroy Crossing is located in the remote regions of the far north-east of Western Australia, in the rugged western Kimberley region. It is 2504 kilometres from Perth, and 395 kilometres east of Broome, the largest town in the region. Surrounded by some of the best pastoral country in W.A., having been settled on the vast floodplains of the Fitzroy River, cattle production is the major industry in the local area. Tourism though is a growing sector of the local economy, with tourists using the town as base for their explorations of the Kimberley area. The town therefore has become the hub and main service centre for the cattle and tourist industries. Tourists are attracted to the area to explore the remote and rugged Kimberley Ranges, the Geikie Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge and enroute to the Purnululu National Park, otherwise known as the Bungle Bungle Ranges, which lies to the east, approximately 400 kilometres, as the crow flies.
The current site of Fitzroy Crossing township was settled approximately 4 kilometres up river from its original location, where the first crossing was established, as it was the shortest and safest crossing of the mighty Fitzroy River. Today, the town is only small, with approximately 1500 people, with roughly 60% being indigenous. There are some of the remnants of the old town of the 1890’s, which will give you an insight as to the conditions pioneers experienced, with some of the original buildings still standing. The Crossing Inn, the original Post Office (now the CALM Rangers Office), the Police Station, and upstream, the pioneer cemetery!! The original causeway crossing of the river can still be seen, but this was made defunct when the all weather bridge was opened in 1974. To see these locations and other attractions in the area, visit the Fitzroy Tourist Bureau on Flynn Drive, open seven days a week.
For your information.
At times of flooding, the Fitzroy River has risen as much as 10 metres, and flooded to a width of 15 kilometres.
Geikie Gorge National Park (3136 hectares) is located 18 kilometres north-east of town, contains 350 million year old fossilized Devonian reef, 14 kilometres long. Exposed by the river erosion, can only be seen during the dry season, April to September.
Tunnel Creek National Park (91 hectares) is located 112 kilometres from town, and is a 750 metres tunnel cut through the ancient fossilized reef by Tunnel Creek. The tunnel is 15 metres wide and 12 metres high, and home to many interesting wildlife species!! The tunnel is Western Australia’s oldest cave system, and can be walked the 750 metres through the Napier Range.
Windjana Gorge National Park (2000 hectares) is located 150 kilometres north of Fitzroy Crossing. It is a beautiful gorge, cut by the Lennard River through the limestone Napier Range. The gorge runs for 3.5 kilometres and reaches depths of 100 metres. The river has exposed the ancient reef system and is regarded as a classic feature of the world’s geology. During the wet the river flows through the gorge, but during the dry season the river leaves only pools.
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