Willare Bridge Roadhouse
37 reviews
#8 of 12 Specialty Lodging in Derby
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Lot 64 Great Northern Hwy Lot 64, Derby, Western Australia 6728 Australia
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#8 of 12 Speciality lodging in Derby
Location
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Situated 200 meters form the banks of the iconic Fitzroy River, Willare Bridge Roadhouse is the ideal location to prepare for you journey on the Gibb River Road. Apart from offering a wide selection of local freerange Yeeda Beef and Blue Bush Lamb conveniently cryovaced, the restaurant makes fresh sandwiches, rolls and salads and has an impressive menu. The Roadhouse also offers accommodation in the form of modern demountable units (dongas) with Air Conditioning and ensuites and has a Caravan Park with full facilities including camp kitchen and laundry. The building that is now Willare Bridge Roadhouse was originally commissioned as part of the Blue Streak (missile) program. A British medium-range ballistic missile program that was test launched from Woomera, South Australia. The building was located on Anna Plains Station and used to track the progress of the missiles during test flights. With the cancellation of the project in the late 1960's the building was sold at auction and delivered to it's current location where it was initially used to house the bridge construction crews building the bridges that crossed the Fitzroy, Yeeda and Minni rivers, now known as Willare Bridge and Minni Bridge.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Pool
Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Location
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Contact
Lot 64 Great Northern Hwy Lot 64, Derby, Western Australia 6728 Australia
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Sounds as though they grabbed the old donga's we lived in when doing the Willare road project in 1985!!!!. What a shame people are finding the stay unpleasant. Better off camping on the river bank if that's your thing. A good spot that's generally looked after by council if I remember correctly. Only fresh water crocs so not too dangerous. Much nicer! Roadhouse owners TAKE NOTE!!!! What the **** are you doing? Next time me and my old truckie mates go through that's exactly what we will do if things don't improve. ps. had to pick a date for this site review, not correct....
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
1 Helpful vote
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With the current accomodation standards at Willare Road House, I’d suggest you’d be better off camping or driving to your next destination. We were travelling as a unit of two families and stayed in the family and double rooms. We are local to the Kimberley area and are very familiar with the standard of accommodation in the area and this is significantly below par. The ‘donga’ accommodation for which you pay anywhere from $90 to $120 a night, is significantly run down with no signs of upkeep / ongoing maintenance and of most concern is that they are un-clean to the point of being unhygienic, not just untidy. The rooms had sagging ceilings, peeled paint, swollen and torn laminate flooring, damaged smoke alarms and terrible odours. The beds are uncomfortable and noisy and are clearly in need of repair, with the bed frame in our room being held together by zip ties. There was used soap left in the bathroom, stains / smears on the floors and food scraps throughout - obvious signs that the rooms were not cleaned at all or adequately cleaned. We raised our concerns with the staff, who facilitated a room move, but the standards unfortunately did not improve across rooms. In addition to the disappointing rooms, the overall facilities are significantly poor. The pool has significantly damaged / uneven layered tiling surrounding it, which is a serious hazard and accident waiting to happen and there is no shade over the pool which makes the pool hotter then the conditions outside, not ideal when you’re looking to cool off in the Kimberley. There is no BBQ facilities or any other type of facility which would make this place more appealing then camping on the roadside - Air Conditioning is it’s only real sell point. The roadhouse has invested money into doing up their Cafe area, which looks lovely but doesn’t run during the wet season and given the hygiene concerns of the accommodation, I would query the cleanliness of their other facilities. It would appear that the owners are unfortunately taking advantage of the limited options in the area, by charging an excessive amount for accommodation which in any other area would be considered unfit and there doesn’t appear to be any signs that they are seeking to renovate / resolve this in the future.…
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
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Service
1 Helpful vote
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I've stayed here previously in a tent because it was convenient. OK but overpriced at $32 for one person in a pop up two man tent! This time I paid for a room (which is actually a "donga" or demountable trailer type structure containing multiple rooms so I knew it would be basic) and had the worst night of my life. Firstly they gave me the key and off I set. The aircon didn't work so I headed back. In car, out of car each way to open and close gates. The SECOND room I was given also had an aircon that didn't work. I twigged something was wrong and established that they had removed the fuses for the entire block so no one could use it during the day. Got that fixed and set myself up in my room. To say it was basic, run down and not the cleanest is an understatement. There was someone's old food in the fridge, patches of damp on the walls and brown water stains in the bathroom. I can deal with that however as i'm used to staying at all sorts of remote places. What I couldn't deal with however was the stench.The room smelt of damp, when the bathroom door was open there was a smell like an open drain in a third world country and then occasionally this wiff came from the neighbour's bathroom which smelt like a male urinal. I made the mistake of thinking that things would change when the aircon was on the pump air in and out however it seemed to only get worse in the evening. I was gagging when I needed to open the bathroom door. It got so bad that I couldn't sleep so I ended up in my car. A room here is $90 for a single and $120 for a double. Another point to note is that the mattress was about 20 years old or so it felt. Also, the time before I stayed (in a tent), the shared bathrooms have brown water and a sign on the door that they need to be flushed with a bucket as the water pressure isn't great. This is not a struggling establishment. The owner owns a huge cattle station and the abbatoirs up the road so it's a multi million dollar business. There is no excuse for it to be of this standard. Further down the road to Broome you can find Roebuck roadhouse which is of exemplar standard; clean and great food. It shows that things can be done well out here.…
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Date of stay: October 2019
Location
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Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Camp in a tent as it doesn't stink
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1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We stopped in on the way to Broome expecting something dusty and rustic and were very pleased with the place. They now have a modern coffee shop to the back area of the main roadhouse which is fantastic. We got some coffees and sat and enjoyed the nice facilities and friendly service. Thanks Willare we shall be back and probably stay overnight next time.
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Date of stay: September 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Helpful
This place is so pieceful and relaxing with plenty of shadey spots in the camp ground and a gorgeous pool. Staff were so lovely and friendly and were a great help. Food was amazing with a fridge full of local beef to buy for our trip. New coffee shop that has recently added is awesome and coffee was delicious. Toilets and showers a little pindan stained but are cleaned regularly. Prices are good for where it is. Definitely recommend stopping in.
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Date of stay: June 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
Rooms
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LOCATION
AustraliaWestern AustraliaKimberley RegionDerby
NUMBER OF ROOMS
60
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Willare Bridge Roadhouse
Which popular attractions are close to Willare Bridge Roadhouse?
Nearby attractions include Bindoon Museum (7.3 km) and Carty Reserve (6.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Willare Bridge Roadhouse?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include a pool, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Willare Bridge Roadhouse?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Willare Bridge Roadhouse?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Willare Bridge Roadhouse?
Yes, guests have access to a pool and a fitness centre during their stay.
Are pets allowed at Willare Bridge Roadhouse?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.