As you drive along the A1 highway from Broome to Darwin, after passing through Kununurra, the highway takes you through the gorge-country of Judbarra / Gregory national park.
We were greeted with a road sign for ‘Nawulbinbin Rock Art Trailhead’ and decided to take a spontaneous rest stop after hours on the road after crossing the border into the Northern Territory. Our expectations were low as we were just looking for a sandwich and a stretch but quickly decided we’d complete a short hike.
Here we encountered some of the most striking landscapes of our journey. It was like a tropical oasis after the bare, semi-arid terrain that we had grown accustomed to. Palm trees hung above us, providing some shelter from the hot sun. A pleasant botanical scent washed through with the warm breeze. Sandstone escarpments stood proud, embellished with greenery.
Some practical things to note: The free roadside camping sites and roadside hikes boost its accessibility to those not wanting to venture too far in, whilst retaining the feel of being remote. However, for those wanting more of an adventure you can explore further into the national park.
THE IVY TRAIL 