We thought we’d already had our fair share of problems on the Gibb River Road. Our caravan power system had been playing up for days, we’d cut our trip short and we were now heading towards Kununurra to get things sorted.
After leaving Mt Elizabeth Station, we were hoping for a fairly straightforward drive. We’d already missed out on exploring places we really wanted to see, and by this stage we were both getting a bit tired of dealing with one problem after another.
But the Gibb wasn’t quite finished with us yet.
Before we reached the famous Pentecost River crossing, we’d have another unexpected problem, an unplanned overnight stay at Ellenbrae Station and a decision to make about continuing without a spare tyre.
Leaving Mt Elizabeth Station
We’d only spent one night at Mt Elizabeth Station, which was nowhere near enough time to explore everything we’d wanted to see. But with our caravan power problems continuing, we knew we needed to get to Kununurra rather than spend any more nights off-grid than necessary.
We packed up and continued along the Gibb, hoping the rest of the drive would be relatively uneventful.
As we travelled, we passed several other vehicles and caravans stopped beside the road with flat tyres. There must have been seven or eight of them, and we remember thinking how lucky we’d been to avoid a puncture ourselves.
We probably shouldn’t have said that!
Our First Flat Tyre on the Gibb River Road
Not long after passing all those vehicles, we noticed something wasn’t right on our tyre pressure monitor.
One of the Patrol’s tyres had dropped to just 5 PSI.
After congratulating ourselves on not getting a flat tyre, we’d managed to get one ourselves.
We pulled over, and Kev started getting everything organised to change the tyre. Unfortunately, our bottle jack couldn’t lift the Patrol high enough to get the wheel changed.
Then a bloke from a passing tag-along tour stopped to help.
He had another bottle jack, and with the extra equipment, Kev was able to get the Patrol lifted high enough to change the wheel.
We were very grateful for the help. It’s one of the things we love about travelling around Australia. When something goes wrong, there’s often someone willing to lend a hand.
The Tyre Was Beyond Repair
Initially, we hoped the damaged tyre might be repairable, but that wasn’t going to be the case.
We suspected a rock had penetrated far enough to damage the tyre’s internal structure, and there were also two bulges in the sidewall.
The tyre was beyond repair.
We now had the spare fitted to the Patrol, but that meant we no longer had another spare available if something happened to one of the remaining tyres.
Given how many other vehicles we’d just seen with punctures, that wasn’t a particularly comforting thought.
An Unexpected Night at Ellenbrae Station
With the flat tyre sorted, we made our way to Ellenbrae Station, where we ended up staying the night.
Ellenbrae is a lovely little oasis surrounded by all that Kimberley red dirt. It’s also well known for its homemade scones, which we’d heard plenty about before arriving.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try them. But I did grab a shot of the recipe to share.
By the time we arrived, we were tired, frustrated and fairly well over everything that had been happening. We really just wanted to stop for the night.
The campground itself was pretty basic. To us, it felt more like a dusty paddock than anything else, but at that point we were simply glad to have somewhere to park the caravan.
Plus, we’d met some lovely people back when when we were leaving Silent Grove and they had caught up with us at Ellenbrae. We watched the sunset, enjoyed a few drinks a few laughs, swapped a few stories, and Kev talked footy with Phil (a Cats supporter).
We’d already paid $55 for our overnight stay, and then we had to decide what to do about replacing the Patrol’s tyre.
A $730 Decision: Replace the Tyre or Keep Going?
We found out that a replacement tyre would cost $675.
Unfortunately, the particular tyre we needed wasn’t in stock, which meant we’d have to stay at Ellenbrae for another night while waiting for it to arrive the next day.
That would have added another $55 in camping fees, bringing the additional cost of replacing the tyre to $730.
So we had a decision to make.
We could stay another night, pay for the replacement tyre and continue with a spare. Or we could take our chances and drive to Kununurra without one.
We knew it was a risk, particularly after seeing so many other vehicles with flat tyres earlier that day. But we’d already had enough setbacks, and we were keen to get to Kununurra and finally sort out the caravan power problems.
In the end, we decided to run the gauntlet.
It wasn’t a decision we made lightly, and it’s certainly not one we’d make for anyone else. Everyone has to weigh up the risks and decide what’s right for their own circumstances.
All we could do was hope we wouldn’t need another spare before reaching town.
Driving Towards the Pentecost River Crossing
The following day, we continued along the Gibb towards Kununurra.
The Pentecost River crossing was one of the places we’d been looking forward to experiencing. It’s probably one of the most recognisable sections of the Gibb River Road, with the Cockburn Ranges providing that familiar Kimberley backdrop.
We’d read plenty of stories about the crossing before our trip, including accounts of fairly deep water, so we weren’t entirely sure what to expect.
Fortunately, we had a beautiful sunny day for it.
And when we arrived, the water was considerably shallower than we’d anticipated.
What Was the Pentecost River Crossing Like?
During our June 2026 crossing, the water was only around the bottom of the Patrol’s mudguard.
That was much shallower than some of the accounts we’d been reading beforehand, although it still felt a little nerve-racking as we approached.
The crossing itself was quite bumpy. There were plenty of rocks under the water, so it certainly wasn’t a smooth drive across.
But apart from that, it was fairly uneventful.
And after everything we’d been through over the previous few days, uneventful was exactly what we wanted!
We made it across without any problems and continued towards Kununurra.
How Deep Is the Pentecost River Crossing?
One of the most important things to understand about the Pentecost River crossing is that the water depth can change considerably.
Our experience in June 2026 was of relatively shallow water, but that doesn’t mean it will be the same when you visit. Conditions depend on rainfall, river levels and the time of year, and the crossing can become impassable.
It’s also crocodile country, so this isn’t somewhere to get out and walk through the water to check the depth.
Before attempting the crossing, check the latest Gibb River Road conditions through Main Roads WA and make sure the crossing is suitable for your vehicle and caravan.
We can only tell you what it was like on the day we crossed, and for us, the rocks and uneven surface were more noticeable than the water depth.
Not Again! Now We Had a Leaking Water Tank
We’d made it across the Pentecost River without any problems, or so we thought.
When we stopped on the other side, I noticed water leaking from underneath the caravan. After everything else we’d dealt with on the Gibb, this was about the last thing we needed!
About ten minutes before reaching the Pentecost, I’d heard a fairly solid thunk from underneath the van. At the time, I didn’t know what had caused it, but looking back, I suspect a rock had flicked up and hit the tap on one of our water tanks.
Of all the things underneath our caravan, that tap was about the only exposed fitting a rock could have hit. And here’s the frustrating part: if that was when the damage happened, we were actually driving on a stretch of bitumen, not the dirt road!
I don’t believe the Pentecost River crossing caused the leak. We’d heard that noise before we reached the river, although we can’t say for certain that’s what damaged the tap.
So there we were, on the other side of one of the Gibb River Road’s most famous crossings, with a caravan power system that wasn’t behaving, no spare tyre for the Patrol and now water leaking from underneath the van. To top it all off, we had to abandon our plans to stay at one of the free camps we’d been most looking forward to.
Honestly, what next?
One Last Stop Near El Questro
Once we’d made it across the Pentecost River, we stopped on the other side to inflate our tyres.
We also took the obligatory photo at the El Questro sign.
We weren’t stopping to explore El Questro this time, which was another disappointment. Under different circumstances, we’d have loved to spend more time exploring this part of the Kimberley.
But getting to Kununurra had become our priority, and we weren’t about to push our luck any further.
With the tyres inflated, we continued towards town.
Watch Our Gibb River Road Adventure
If you’re wondering what it’s really like travelling the Gibb River Road with a caravan, this episode shows that things don’t always go according to plan.
You’ll see our flat tyre drama, the unexpected stop at Ellenbrae Station, the Pentecost River crossing and our arrival in Kununurra.
It’s also a good look at the actual conditions we encountered during our June 2026 crossing, rather than relying on descriptions from other people’s trips.
What Our Flat Tyre Taught Us
One of the biggest lessons from our flat tyre was something we hadn’t expected: our bottle jack couldn’t lift the Patrol high enough to change the wheel.
We had a spare tyre and the equipment we thought we needed, but when it came time to use it, the jack wasn’t up to the job, due to the uneven road where we had stopped.
Fortunately, someone stopped to help us.
It’s a reminder to check your tyre-changing equipment before heading into remote areas, particularly with a fully loaded 4WD towing a caravan. Having a spare is only part of the equation. You also need to be able to fit it if something goes wrong.
And while we chose to continue without a spare, we were very aware of the risk we were taking.
Finally Finishing The Gibb and Reaching Kununurra
After all the power problems, the flat tyre and our unplanned night at Ellenbrae, we finally made it to Kununurra.
What a relief!
We’d started the Gibb River Road with plans to spend two or three weeks exploring its gorges, station stays and remote campgrounds. Instead, we’d had to cut our time short because of the caravan power system, and the flat tyre had added one final complication.
It was disappointing, especially because there were so many places we’d wanted to visit but simply couldn’t.
Still, we’d managed to experience some wonderful parts of the Gibb, including Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Bell Gorge, Galvans Gorge, Manning Gorge and the Pentecost River crossing.
And we’d certainly collected a few stories along the way!
Once we arrived in Kununurra, one of the first jobs was giving the Patrol and caravan a much-needed wash.
After all those kilometres of Kimberley red dirt, they definitely needed it.
As for the caravan power problems, we still had to get to the bottom of those. But at least we’d made it to Kununurra, and for the moment, that was enough.
With years of experience travelling Australia in a caravan, I’m passionate about helping others embark on their own unforgettable adventures. From off-grid camping tips to expert advice on planning the ultimate big lap of Australia, I share stories, practical hacks, and inspiration to make your journey stress-free and exciting. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or just starting out, join me as I explore the beauty of Australia, one road at a time!
