Keep River Information and Photo Gallery

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Although Keep River National Park is entirely inside the NT, the entrance to the park is only three km from the Western Australia border. The park is best known for its striking rock formations, many of which can be seen from the few gravel roads in the park. Much less well known are the deep gorges, permanent waterholes and Aboriginal art sites that can only be visited on extended walks.

Our dry season walks begin with a walk around the northern end of the main massif. We then walk into one of the cooler gorges and set up a base camp from which we do a number of day walks.

Resting at a camp site On day walk from base camp
If it is particularly hot, one of our possible camp sites is in a cave where a creek passes through just below a large pool.
At cave camp, photo Karen Sheedy
Many of the walks involve some fairly steep climbs but the climbs are short and there is always time to stop for a rest or have a swim when we reach one of the waterholes.
Climbing on a day walk Resting in one of the gorges Plateau pool
We always spend time exploring the plateau on the top of the main massif with its many interesting rock formations and excellent views.
Plateau view stop Rock arch
Photo stop near sunset Rock pillars
Not only is the top of the plateau covered in interesting rock formations, there are a number of pools where we can stop for a swim.
Another rock arch Swim stop
Although there are not as many rock paintings as there are in Kakadu or in some parts of the Kimberley, the Aboriginal art at Keep is particularly interesting. It includes rock carvings, wax figures and paintings ranging from the distant past through to the time of the first contact with Europeans.
Rock carvings below paintings of fruit bats Man on horse, first contact with Europeans
When it is time to pack up and move on, we usually cross the top of the plateau and come down on the east side. Like the west, there are lovely gorges and a few deep waterholes -- if you know where to find them.
East side waterhole Walking through spinifex on rocky ground
The final part of our dry season walks take us across the plain and back to the gravel road where we left our vehicle. This often involves walking through thick grass, quite pretty in the morning and easier than it looks when the grass is dry as in the photos. (In the wet season, the roads are closed and we come in and out by helicopter.)
Walking through the grass early morning Walking through the grass, mid morning
Palm Valley, photo Karen Sheedy Finally, there are the sunsets. You get to relax and enjoy the sunset while your guide prepares another three course meal. Keep River sunset
There is far more to see than these few photos can show. Why not join us and experience the best that Keep River has to offer.
Click here to return to the general description of Keep River National Park.