Ivanhoe Crossing — Attraction in Kununurra

Ivanhoe Crossing, a historic concrete causeway over the Ord River, is a well-known landmark in Kununurra. Once a key river crossing before modern bridges were built, it now serves as a popular spot for fishing, sightseeing, and recreation. Tourists come here to admire the flowing water, cast a line for barramundi, or test their four-wheel drives against the river’s currents.

But for Miriwoong people, the Traditional Owners of this land, Ivanhoe Crossing is much more than just a scenic location—it is a place tied to Country, culture, and history that stretches back for tens of thousands of years.

Before the road, before the dam, before colonisation, the Ord River was a lifeline. It provided food, water, and medicine; it connected people to songlines and creation stories. The riverbanks were places of ceremony, storytelling, and gathering. But like so much of the East Kimberley, this place was transformed by colonial expansion, agriculture, and infrastructure projects that disregarded Aboriginal ownership of the land.

When the Ord River Irrigation Scheme was introduced, the river was dammed and controlled, changing the natural flow of water that Miriwoong people had relied on for millennia. Areas that had been hunting and fishing grounds became flooded or inaccessible, and sacred sites disappeared beneath the water. The land that had always sustained Miriwoong people was repurposed to serve the needs of settlers, cutting off Aboriginal communities from their own resources.

Even today, while tourists and locals enjoy fishing and boating at Ivanhoe Crossing, Aboriginal people face restricted access to traditional lands and waterways. The river, once an open and shared resource, is now managed in ways that often exclude or limit First Nations people’s connection to their Country.

For Miriwoong people, Ivanhoe Crossing is a reminder of resilience—a place that still holds deep meaning, even after so much change. The Ord River continues to flow, and Miriwoong culture and language remain strong despite the impact of colonisation. But to truly honour this place, we must ask: who tells its story? Who decides how this land and water are used? And how can we ensure that the voices of Miriwoong people are not just heard, but respected and prioritised?

The river remembers, even when...

This is a really iconic river crossing and a well-known tourist attraction located on the Ord River, about 10 minutes north of Kununurra. The Crossing is actually a concrete causeway that was once part of the main road between Kununurra and Wyndham. It has beautiful views of the Ord River and is a popular location for photography and fishing especially for Barramundi. It is also well known to be saltwater crocodile country, so swimming is strictly prohibited. The crossing's usability depends on the water level of the Ord River so during the wet season, the water level is often too high and the crossing becomes impassable...

Ivanhoe crossing is a place you must visit just to say you have seen it. The amount of water flowing over the top varies at times. It is great to see the Pelicans and other birds lining up for their turn to swim against the flow while watching the overflow closely to dive underwater to catch the fish they see come over. If you are game enough to drive across please make sure you engage 4WD and the water is only deep enough to flow under...