Pentecost River is one of those bucket-list campsites that people talk about when they talk about the Gibb River Road. For us, there was one last thing to do before we could camp there, and that was cross the Pentecost River itself.

It is a free camp with no facilities whatsoever, so you need to be fully self-contained. The drawcard is the location, the river, and the view, not amenities. The camp is on the eastern side of the river, roughly 40 km from El Questro.

Our Experience

Reaching the Pentecost River crossing is one of those iconic Gibb River Road moments. As we pulled up to the river, our first thought was, “That’s a lot wider than we expected.” The crossing is around 100 metres long, and because the river is tidal, the depth can vary throughout the day.

Before attempting the crossing, we checked the tide and waited while another vehicle drove through first. Watching them make it safely to the other side gave us a little more confidence. With an audience of waiting travellers looking on, it was then our turn. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and before long we were on the eastern side of the Pentecost River looking for a campsite.

We arrived around midday and were surprised by just how busy the campground already was. The access track is easy enough to find, generally following the riverbank, although it can be sandy and dusty in places. If the campground is busy, turning around could become difficult, particularly if vehicles are parked around the turning area at the end of the track.

We drove quite a way along the river before finding a vacant spot. In the end we managed to secure a great riverside campsite with uninterrupted views across the Pentecost River, making the extra drive worthwhile.

Although we didn’t see any crocodiles during our stay, we also didn’t see anyone brave enough to go swimming. A few people were trying their luck fishing from the riverbank, although we couldn’t tell whether they were having much success.

One of the highlights was watching the sun set over the river. With the surrounding ranges reflected in the water, it was easy to see why this has become one of the Gibb River Road’s most popular free camps.

As expected, there were mosquitoes, flies and the usual assortment of insects around camp. They weren’t overwhelming during our visit, but insect repellent was definitely worthwhile.

Despite the campground being busy, it was surprisingly peaceful. Like any free camp, your experience will largely depend on your neighbours, but everyone during our stay was respectful, making for a quiet and enjoyable evening.

Some Pics

Some Videos

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Thanks for reading Pentecost River – Freecamp. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

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