Kimberley Outback Tours have now taken over the lease
Tucked away in Wunaamin Conservation Park (formerly the King Leopold Ranges), about 50km off the Gibb River Road, Mount Hart has a long and colourful history. It was once the centre of a cattle station, dating back to 1914, and for many years was a simple stop for travellers tackling the Gibb River Road. Today, Mount Hart has entered another chapter, with Colin and Mitzi from Kimberley Outback Tours now running the property and building on its potential as a base for exploring some of the West Kimberley’s most spectacular country.
The change reflects how Mount Hart itself has evolved. Rather than simply stopping here for the night, travellers can now base themselves at Mount Hart for several days and explore the surrounding country by 4WD, on foot or from the air. The lodge is surrounded by the rugged ranges of Wunaamin Conservation Park with hidden gorges, waterfalls, swimming holes and pockets of remnant rainforest scattered through the landscape.
Why stay at Mount Hart?
Part of the appeal is its remoteness. Turn off the Gibb River Road and follow the Mount Hart Road into the conservation park. By the time you arrive, the red dirt, rocky ranges and river country have left the main road well behind. Mount Hart has the feeling of an old outback station, but with considerably more comfort than the original cattlemen would have enjoyed. Its authentic old-world character has been combined with stylish accommodation, a bar and restaurant, and new Riverside Tents where guests can sleep under the stars and wake to the sounds of the bush.
One of the pleasures of staying here is that you don’t have to rush off each morning. Spend a day exploring the surrounding gorges, return for a swim, then settle in with a drink as the afternoon light hits the ranges.
What else is there to do at Mt. Hart?
Mount Hart isn’t just somewhere to sleep between drives along the Gibb River Road. There is plenty to explore in the country immediately surrounding the lodge, and the best way to experience it is to give yourself a couple of days rather than rushing through.
Explore the gorges and swimming holes. The country around Mount Hart is classic Kimberley: rugged sandstone ranges, remnant rainforest, rocky creek beds and clear pools. The surrounding ridges rise to around 300 metres, and there are numerous hidden gorges to discover within Wunaamin Conservation Park.
Bell Gorge / Dalmanyi is one of the region’s great attractions, but it is only one of many places to explore. The gorge bends and flows through a series of shady pools, many of which are suitable for swimming. Closer to the lodge, Parker’s Pool is another lovely spot to cool off, with clear water and small fish.
Go looking for wildlife. Mount Hart’s mix of river country, rainforest, rocky ranges and open woodland provides habitat for an extraordinary variety of Kimberley wildlife. Keep your eyes open around the lodge and accommodation areas, particularly for birds. Guests staying in the new Riverside Tents have reported Gouldian finches hopping around outside their tents – a particularly special sight given the spectacular colours of these Kimberley birds. But take note – many animals hide from the sun during the day and can be hard to spot. You’ll need a keen eye, patience and perhaps, even, some decent binoculars.
Take to the air. One of the biggest additions to Mount Hart is its helicopter experiences, opening up parts of the Kimberley that are inaccessible by road or on foot. Flights can take you over remote waterfalls and hidden gorges, giving you a perspective of the vast golden landscape that you simply can’t get from the ground.
There are also helicopter experiences to some of the Kimberley’s iconic destinations, including the Horizontal Falls and King Cascade, with opportunities to land and explore, swim and experience remote country along the way.
Mount Hart’s next chapter
Every old Kimberley station has stories attached to it, and Mount Hart is no exception.
I still remember sitting and listening to Taffy Abbotts back in the late ’90s as he told stories to guests, always ending with the line ‘Things Take Time In The Kimberley’.
What makes it particularly interesting now is watching the place change from a traditional Gibb River Road stopover into a destination in its own right. With the touring company Kimberley Outback Tours now running Mount Hart, the emphasis is firmly on adventure – using the property as a springboard into the surrounding wilderness, whether that’s by 4WD, on foot or from a helicopter.
If you’re travelling the Gibb River Road, don’t think of Mount Hart as simply somewhere to pull up for the night. Make the detour. Stay a couple of nights. Swim, explore, slow down and watch the Kimberley change colour around you. Mount Hart is worth the extra kilometres.
