From east to west and back again

Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek

Turning left off the Gibb River Road and heading south we arrived at Windjana Gorge. Julia and her family came here for extended stays (three months in 1972) in the 1970s while her father studied the geology of the Gorge. He was the main advocate for creating the National Park that covers the site now. We found the soak that they used to water behind the ruins of the Lillamalura (so tiny I can't even google it to check the spelling) police station. The Gorge is the Napier Range, an amazing feature in the flat landscape. A blade of rock a hundred km long and a few hundred metres wide protruding into the savannah.

Max and Laura with a freshwater crocodile ("freshie" as opposed to saltie). There have only been 16 or so nips from these cool reptiles - and none fatal! They are basically shy, and you have to annoy them to get bitten.

Windjana Gorge.

The tunnel used by a famous hero/villain Aboriginal tracker who turned from working with the police to joining the aboriginal resistance. He led a group which fought a gun battle from natural ramparts outside this cave, and the group escaped from a secret exit!

Walking with crocs.

A 360 million year old nautiloid. The range was an ancient reef in an inland sea (gee, I hope I have that right!)

Julia sorting in the camper trailer.

The soak used by the Geology parties back in the 1970's.

At the amazing tunnel creek. It is a 600m tunnel that you can walk/wade through under the range. Nippy water.

Tunnel creek.

Mornington Wilderness Park and Bell Gorge

Speed blogging - our third catch up post! We booked our car in a for service at 7am in Broome. While waiting, Tony is trying to catch the blog up with our travels.

The Mornington Wilderness Park is about 90km south of the Gibb River Road. It was a 300,000Ha cattle station which was purchased by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and de-stocked. We saw the effect of this along Annie Creek 10m from our campgroud where Julia saw rare purple crowned fairy wrens (I believe that is worth bragging rights!. The campsite and park were fantastic. Unfortunately a rouge dingo has become too familiar with campers (I think it will be "removed" soon). We looked after our food and shoes, but she got into our warm gear bag and ate our feather sleeping bag. The tent is scattered with feathers every time we use it.

A mighty Boab tree. I think the nearest relatives of this tree are in South Africa.

Tinsel the dingo comes for a night visit. We certainly did not feed her - unless down feathers count.

Sir John Gorge on the Fitzroy River.

Laura opening gates on the road.

Canoeing in Dimond Gorge. We limited our travels because of un-seasonal blustery winds which were funneled into the Gorge walls.

Playing in the cliffs on the side of the Gorge.

A metre wide pocket of rock carved out by this giant pebble. Every year the river floods in the wet season, and there was plenty of evidence of ice smooth rocks and debris high in the trees near the river.

Laura airborne.

After three great nights in Mornington we drove through to Windjana Gorge via Bell Gorge.

Julia and Laura under the falls. The water was freezing - but you can't not swim!

Above the falls at Bell Gorge.

Mt Elizabeth Station and Manning Gorges GRR

The second in a quick few blogs. We have just emerged back onto the "grid".

After El Questro we drove West across the famed Pentacost River (a gentle crossing bu August!) and a few hundred kms to Mt Elizabeth Station which has two gorges to visit with some excellent Aboriginal art.

The Pentacost River crossing.

Classic red dirt.

The Gorge on the station.

Filling up @2.50 a litre at Mt Barnett Roadhouse (the next Roadhouse only sells diesel!).

The kids in a pull along ferry that is used on the walk to Upper Manning Gorge.

Laura under the falls at Upper Manning Gorge.

The gorge from the top of the falls.

Laura, making a splash.

El Questro - Gibb River Road

We made it across the Gibb River Road. A rough dirt road that runs 500km from Kununurra to Derby. A number of large (300K Ha) cattle stations run camp sites (and resorts!). The first and most famous is El Questro where we stayed for four nights. The private campsite had a long swimming hole - which was great - until we learned it was 100m on the wrong side of the line they deem safe from Salties. Ooops.