Plenty of places to stay

Sprawling across the northwest corner of Western Australia is one of the nation's most isolated landscapes – the sparsely populated Kimberley region. Home to a typical boom-or-bust cycle of scorching droughts and drenching rains, this expansive region also contains some spectacular natural sites – including the peculiar Bungle Bungle Range and the stunning Fitzroy River.

While the pearling town of Broome is the natural hub of Kimberley accommodation, there are plenty of other places to stay. Laidback Kununurra has only been in existence since the 1950s, however it's a convenient base from which to explore some of the region's best-known attractions, including the monumental man-made Lake Argyle, smaller Lake Kununurra and the curiously named Kelly's Knob – a 191-metre rock structure jutting out from the earth.

Campsites and Kununurra charm

Kununurra might be a small town but it hosts an impressive array of accommodation. Campsites and caravan parks abound, including the well-serviced Lake Argyle Caravan and Camping Park, perched on the edge of the one of the region's most popular sites. Self-contained apartments are an ideal option if you're looking to stay for an extended period of time, with welcome features such as air conditioning and wireless internet included.

For a step up in class, the Kununurra Country Club Resort not only offers a complimentary shuttle service from the nearby Kununurra Airport, it also plays host to the popular Kelly's Bar and Grill, whose gourmet produce include local barramundi and crocodile-based offerings. The equally opulent Kimberley Grande goes so far as to offer luxurious spa suites, ensuring the dust and dirt of the outback doesn't linger for long in their lavish surrounds.

Blue skies and open roads

Covering more than 420,000 square kilometres of seasonally-watered scrubland, the Kimberley is larger than most European countries. Tempting as it may be to simply pitch a tent by the side of the road, visitors to the Kimberley should be dissuaded from doing so by several factors, including the inescapable heat, the vast distances between towns and the ever-present threat of crocodiles lurking ominously in nearby creeks and rivers.

Many of the Kimberley's small towns provide a wide array of serviceable accommodation, making trips to Camballin, Derby and Wyndham a viable option if you're aiming to explore this expansive part of the world in depth. Many of the Kimberley's small towns offer basic rooms and cabins, ensuring a comfortable night's sleep before you hit the highway en route to Purnululu National Park and its famous Bungle Bungle Range, or the majestic ancient gorges of the Fitzroy River.