Mitchell Falls is one of the must-visit spots in Western Australia, but many people still ask what is Mitchell Falls? Simply, it’s a four-tiered waterfall on the remote Mitchell Plateau in the North Kimberley, known to Traditional Owners as Punamii-unpuu, and it’s the single image most people picture when they think of this part of Western Australia.
It’s also one of the hardest natural landmarks in Australia to reach on your own terms. This is exactly why so many travellers choose to see it from the deck of a Kimberley cruise instead of behind the wheel of a 4WD.
Wondering where Mitchell Falls is and how to get there? We’ve flown guests over Punamii-unpuu for more than 15 years, and it never gets old watching people see those emerald pools for the first time. This is our comprehensive guide on its full story — the geology, the culture, and the fairly awkward logistics of getting there.
Quick answer
What is Mitchell Falls?
If you’ve only seen a single photo and want to know what Mitchell Falls actually is, it’s a spectacular four-tiered waterfall carved through ancient sandstone by the Mitchell River, on the elevated Mitchell Plateau in Western Australia’s far north.
To the Wunambal Gaambera people, the Traditional Owners of this Country, it’s known as Punamii-unpuu, and it carries deep cultural and spiritual significance — not just scenic value.
The falls sit within Mitchell River National Park, a landscape of layered red sandstone, fan palms, and gorges that feels almost prehistoric. Along the walking track and around nearby rock shelters, you’ll find Gwion Gwion (sometimes called Bradshaw) figures and Wandjina paintings, which are among the oldest and most significant rock art traditions anywhere. Seeing Mitchell Falls properly means understanding it as a cultural site first and a photo opportunity second.
Uunguu Visitor Pass
Because Mitchell Falls sits on Wunambal Gaambera Country, independent visitors need an Uunguu Visitor Pass before they arrive, purchased through the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation. This is something cruise and tour operators typically handle as part of the itinerary.
Where is Mitchell Falls?
Mitchell Falls is located on the Mitchell Plateau within Mitchell River National Park, in the far north of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It’s closer to Kalumburu than to any town most travellers will have heard of, and well off the beaten path from both Broome and Kununurra.
There’s no easy way to simply drive past it on a normal WA road trip. Reaching the falls means committing to the Mitchell Plateau specifically, which is one reason it stays high on so many bucket lists rather than being ticked off casually. If you’re mapping out a broader trip, our guide to things to do in the Kimberley puts it in context alongside the region’s other landmarks.
The walk to Mitchell Falls
For those who do reach the trailhead, the Punamii-unpuu walking track is an 8.6km return hike, and Parks and Wildlife Service WA rates it moderate to difficult, allowing four to six hours round trip. It’s rough underfoot in places, with sections close to cliff edges, so proper footwear and a decent level of fitness are recommended.
Most independent hikers walk in and take a scenic helicopter flight back to the campground, which cuts the return leg out entirely and gives you an aerial view of the falls as a bonus. It’s a wonderful way to understand what Mitchell Falls looks like from every angle in a single day.
Can you swim at Mitchell Falls?
Yes, swimming is permitted in the pools above the falls and at Surveyors Pool, where generations of Kimberley travellers have cooled off after the hike. Swimming is not permitted at the base of the falls due to the possible presence of saltwater crocodiles.
Swimming permitted
Pools above the falls · Surveyors Pool
Not permitted
The base of the falls — saltwater crocodiles may be present
Freshwater crocodiles are present throughout the park as well, though considerably less dangerous. As with anywhere in the Kimberley, don’t assume a pool is safe just because there’s no warning sign.
How to see Mitchell Falls: every access option compared
How you see Mitchell Falls depends on your time, budget, and appetite for rough roads. Here’s how the main options stack up.
Self-drive 4WD
You’ll need a fully equipped, high-clearance 4WD and several days up your sleeve. The Kalumburu Road and Mitchell Plateau Track are unsealed, badly corrugated in parts, and open only during the dry season (typically May to November), though the exact opening date varies each year depending on rainfall. It’s a proper adventure, but not a relaxing one, and it’s not suited to travellers who’d rather not spend days behind the wheel on outback roads.
Helicopter day trips from Kununurra
Scenic flight operators run day trips out of Kununurra, Drysdale River Station, and other Gibb River Road stops, landing near the falls for a shorter walk before flying back out. It’s a standalone excursion, though, rather than part of a broader Kimberley trip.
Mitchell Falls tours from Broome
Several land-based operators run Mitchell Falls tours from Broome as part of a longer Mitchell Falls tour package, usually combining the 4WD drive-in with a helicopter flight-out. These suit travellers who want the outback road-trip experience with someone else doing the navigating.
Mitchell Falls cruise excursion
For many of our guests — particularly seniors, solo travellers, and couples who’d rather not camp or drive corrugated tracks — a Mitchell Falls cruise excursion is the most comfortable way to do it. You stay aboard Reef Prince in air-conditioned comfort, and the helicopter excursion to Punamii-unpuu is arranged as part of your itinerary alongside other Kimberley highlights, such as King George Falls tours. There’s no need for packing a swag, no permits to sort out yourself, and no long drive at the end of a big day.
If you’re weighing up a cruise against a land tour, our guide to choosing the best Kimberley cruise walks through how each compares in terms of comfort, itinerary flexibility, and value.
After a smaller, more personal group size rather than a big-ship crowd? Our Kimberley small group tours page is worth a look, as is our dedicated page for Kimberley tours for seniors.
Best time to visit Mitchell Falls
Mitchell Falls only really “exists” during the dry season, roughly May through November, when the Kalumburu Road and Mitchell Plateau Track are open. Outside that window, the falls may be running at wet-season volume, but nobody can drive in to see them, and helicopter access becomes the only option.
PEAK
Because helicopter access extends well beyond what self-drivers can manage, a cruise or scenic flight is often the only realistic way to see Mitchell Falls at the very start or end of the season. For a broader look at timing your whole trip, see our guide to the best time to cruise the Kimberley coast.
The wider Mitchell Plateau
Mitchell Falls doesn’t sit in isolation. Mitchell Plateau is an elevated, laterite-capped landscape home to rare fan palm forests and some of the highest concentrations of Wandjina and Gwion Gwion rock art in the Kimberley, worth knowing about in its own right, not just as the road you take to reach the falls.
Is it worth going to Mitchell Falls?
Once you understand the sandstone formation, the cultural weight of Punamii-unpuu, and the sheer remoteness of getting there, it’s easy to see why travellers with a real interest in the Kimberley choose to visit Mitchell Falls. It’s a different experience from most other Australian waterfalls, and one that photographs like nowhere else.
Whether it’s “worth it” for you really comes down to how you get there. A gruelling multi-day 4WD trip suits a particular kind of traveller. For everyone else, seeing it as part of a Kimberley cruise means you get the scenic moments without the discomfort that would otherwise come with it. If you’re budgeting for the wider trip, our breakdown of Kimberley cruise costs is a good next stop.
Seeing Mitchell Falls with Kimberley Expeditions
We’ve been running Kimberley cruises out of Broome and Darwin aboard Reef Prince for more than 15 years, with a small, family-feel operation rather than a big-ship crowd. Guests join a Mitchell Falls helicopter excursion as part of the itinerary, and focus on the falls rather than the logistics.
If a Mitchell Falls tour built into a broader Kimberley itinerary sounds like your kind of trip, have a look at our Kimberley luxury cruises or get in touch to talk through dates. Ready to book? You can check availability here.
We understand you may prefer to talk to us
See Punamii-unpuu without the 4WD
Ask us which departures include the Mitchell Falls helicopter excursion, and we’ll talk you through the dates.
Mon–Fri 8.30am–5pm AWST · info@kimberleyexpeditions.com.au