Kununurra to Lake Argyle, WA: Distance and day trips

The Kununurra to Lake Argyle drive is 69km long, and down sealed roads. It takes around 47 minutes, but you can book a Lake Argyle day tour from Kununurra instead.

Lake Argyle, a vast man-made lake that has turned mountain peaks into islands, is justifiably one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The Lake Argyle Resort is one of the best places to stay in the region, while Lake Argyle cruises are an excellent way to take in the sights around this man-made wonder.

How to get to Lake Argyle

But how do you get to Lake Argyle? After all, it’s in a really remote part of Australia, close to the border between Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Well, the nearest town is Kununurra. This regional hub is on the Victoria Highway, as National Highway 1 is known in these parts. It’s a sealed road, so the only challenge of getting to Kununurra is the distance from anywhere else. It’s 514km from Katherine to Kununurra and 1,044km from Broome to Kununurra.

When compared to those sort of distances, the drive from Kununurra to Lake Argyle is an absolute doddle. It’s a 70km drive, which should take most people around 47 minutes.

4 top Kununurra experiences to book

Take a cruise along the Ord River – including the spectacular Kimberley sunset.
Or go for the Ord River lunch cruise instead.
Dine in the outback – cooked in a camp oven at an atmospheric secret location.
Take a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles – and land for the Cathedral Gorge Walk.

Find the best Kununurra accommodation

The best Kununurra accommodation options are:

For a four star hotel with a bigger pool: Kimberley Grande Resort.
For family-friendly facilities: Discovery Parks Kununurra.
For solid quality at relatively cheap rates: Hotel Kununurra.
For luxurious apartments: Freshwater East Kimberley Apartments.

Is the Lake Argyle Road sealed?

The first half of that drive is along the Victoria Highway towards the Northern Territory, but the last 35km is along the Lake Argyle Road. If you don’t have a 4WD vehicle, don’t fret – the Lake Argyle Road is sealed.

Lake Argyle Village, once you reach it, is little more than a resort, caravan park and a little shop.

Lake Argyle day tours from Kununurra

However, if you don’t want to drive to Lake Argyle from Kununurra, you don’t have to. There are day tours that include free pick-up and drop-off at your Kununurra hotel.

These tours stop at the old Durack Homestead Museum before getting on the boat and taking in the lake’s wildlife and distinctive sights such as Zebra Rock.

The Kununurra to Lake Argyle day tours cost $240, and can be booked through Viator.

Swimming is at your own risk as freshwater crocodiles live in the lake.