The road is a former cattle route that stretches in an east–west direction almost 660 kilometres (410 mi) through the Kimberley between the towns of Derby and the Kununurra and Wyndham junction of the Great Northern Highway.

[1] Like its namesake river, which does not actually cross the road but runs nearby at 16°06.108′S 126°31.075′E / 16.101800°S 126.517917°E / -16.101800; 126.517917,[2] it is named after geologist and explorer Andrew Gibb Maitland.

The Gibb River Road has scenic views of geological formations and natural scenery, Aboriginal and pastoral history, as well as rare and unique fauna and flora.

An abattoir, freezing works, and airstrip were built on the station and the meat airfreighted twice a day to the coast before being shipped to the southern cities.

[Note 1] The Wilinggin portion of the claim, covering an area of more than 60,150 km2 (23,220 sq mi) along the Gibb River Road, was the first of the three to be determined for the Ngarinyin people, by litigation on 27 August 2004.