Mount Barnett is a cattle station in the middle of the Gibb River Road, and a roadhouse that every rider on that road ends up in, whether by plan or by thirst. It sits roughly halfway along the Kimberley's famous 660-kilometre track between Derby and Kununurra, and the Aboriginal-managed station runs the store, the campground and the fuel pumps that let you carry on in either direction.
The reason people stop is mostly practical. This is one of the few places along the road with fuel and cold drinks, and the shop sells basic supplies, ice and a meal, and is also where you pay camping and access fees for the nearby gorges. Manning Gorge is the big draw, with a campground a short ride off the main road and a walk of about an hour from there to a series of deep waterholes and a waterfall. The route involves crossing a wide pool, and walkers often float their packs over on air mattresses; riders should take that into account before they plan to carry cameras or valuables. Bring sturdy shoes and a hat, because the sun is fierce.
The road itself is the character of the place. The surface is mostly gravel and red dirt here, corrugated in places and graded by the shire at the start of each dry season, so conditions vary a lot from year to year and from week to week. After rain, even a short one, it becomes slick and dangerous. The Kimberley's wet season, from about November to April, closes sections of the route, and travel is sensible only from roughly May to October. Dust follows every vehicle, so keep a good gap from trucks and caravans.
Around the roadhouse the country is red earth, boab trees, and grey rocky hills, with the Barnett River winding between pools, and birdlife: kites, cockatoos, and in the evenings the croak of frogs. Dingoes sometimes slink around the campground. Be honest about your supplies: carry water, spare fuel if you can, and tell someone your plans. Prices here reflect how far everything has been trucked, so a cold drink comes dear, and nobody minds that you take your time.