Derby is a small town that's located in the far North of Western Australia. It's not that far from Broome, only about 220 km to the north-east, but it's very different.

The town can claim to have the highest tides of any Australian port. 11 m (36 feet) of tidal difference means there is an enormous amount of water rushing in and out every 6 hours. It is a "must see". Go and visit the Derby Wharf, the famous jetty where you can watch the tides rushing in and out of the King Sound. It's also the place to be for the sunset. Every evening a stream of four wheel drives arrives here to claim a spot along the rail. Tourists unfold their camping chairs, set up their eskies and bait their handlines, joining the locals in what's probably been a ritual since the jetty was built in 1885. I've never seen anybody catch a fish here... but that doesn't matter. It's the place to be for sunset

For many travellers, Derby is the beginning/end of their Gibb River Road adventure. Even travellers who don't intend to drive the whole length of the Gibb River Road often stop over in Derby. They then travel along the first, well maintained section of the Gibb River Road before turning right, cutting across to the highway and visiting the Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek national parks on the way.