More Kimberleys

Kimberley Panorama [click to enlarge]

Cockburn Ranges, view from Gibb River Road [click to enlarge]

First things first - Caroline has asked me to state there was one thing missing from I love list in her blog. You know the author of this blog

From the Bungles we headed north to Wyndham. Lonely Planet's Steve Kinnane said about Wyndham:

Wyndham appears - a rough frontier past, an uneasy existence, a humble and subtle presence. Climbing the Five Rivers lookout, the curve of the world is revealed as five vast river systems carve their way back into the earth. It is absurdly and terrifying beautiful.

The five great rivers of the Kimberleys - the Pentecost, King, Ord, Forrest and Durack Rivers all confluence at Wyndham. Absurdly beautiful? Perhaps waxing a bit lyrical but all the same very impressive. Despite his description Wyndham is a little off the beaten tourist trail perhaps adding to our enjoyment.

Five Rivers Lookout

Dreamtime Statues, Wyndham

Giant Croc, Wyndham

We used Wyndham as a base to explore the King River Road with its views of the Cockburn Ranges. The same ranges that are so frequently seen in photos of the Gibb River Road. We went to a property, Digger's Rest, where Madonna went on trail ride - she rode, cantered, trotted and galloped. Caroline went with her but all she got was a sore..... The property owners gave us a mud map of their favourite Barra spot on their property. But alas. We did spot our first wild saltie on the banks on the King River.

King River Road

Madonna and Johnny-Boy

Boys without Barra

Cockburn Ranges

Onto the Gibb River Road and El Questro which is essentially a private national park. Some great walks albeit with some nasty roads and a blown tyre. Caroline was able to change the tyre whilst I took photos.

Emma Gorge, El Questro

Amalie Gorge, El Questro

Amalie Gorge

Dad and Dave

Road to El Questro Gorge

El Questro Gorge

A real highlight of El Questro was Zebedee Springs hot pools, lying back in hot pools under a canopy of Livistonia palms. Priceless.

Zebedee Springs, El Questro

Zebedee Springs, El Questro

Zebedee Springs, El Questro

Onto Kununurra. It was relief to get off corrugated roads. It is amazing the roads can shake the lids off screw-top jars in the fridge, cause the number plate to drop off, disintegrate the fridge-battery connection,  pop out screws from the stove and  caravan electrical connectors and lose taps on the gas bottles. Kununurra has one-of-two National Parks in the Kimberleys that are accessible by sealed roads. Often called the Mini-Bungle Bungles and gives those not able to drive to the Bungles a taste of the beehives. I stopped counting at 100 Land Cruisers in the car park.

Mirrimar NP, Kununurra

Warning, just in case you intend on overtaking on a single lane, dirt-road strewn with rocks where even a 4WD throws up enough dust to make you pull over and wait for five minutes.

Next fuel stop, Gibb River Road

The locals pride themselves on Kimberley hospitality. See the following sign.

The Bungle Bungles

The track into the Bungle Bungles is 53km of Kimberley dirt road, involves 43 creek crossings but it was worth every single corrugation.

The Beehives [click to enlarge]

[Click to enlarge]

Bungles Road

The walks were fantastic especially Echidna Chasm, in parts only an arm span wide, but 300 metre high walls. The sun only hits the bottom of the chasm at midday.Similarly you were just dwarfed inside Cathedral Gorge.The red rock and Livistonia Palms were unique.

Echidna Chasm (testing the arm span rule)

Echidna Chasm

Echidna Chasm

Echidna Chasm

Cathedral Gorge

We splurged on a helicopter ride. Yes they do have a helicopter big enough to fit all the Cafferys. Tip to future travellers do not allow your 4 year old to sit in a seat with a voice activated headset.

Maverick

Iceman

Bungles Bungles from the air

A couple more photos.

We had to store the caravan and tent it during our stay in the Bungles. Luckily there is a secure Landcruiser storage area at the entrance to the park who were kind enough to let us store our van.

We have received a number of emails and blog comments regarding the proximity of our children to crocodiles (see the Kimberley's post). Can I assure everyone we vetted the appropriate proximity to crocodiles with the Responsible Parenting League (RPL). The RPL have designated the minimum child-to-croc distance (CTCD) as the distance the aforementioned child can out sprint an antagonized crocodile. We never breached the CTCD. However, we thank everyone for their concern.

Carolines Say

Hi All,
Just thought I would put my two cents worth in.  We are having a great time and I would thoroughly recommend the trip if you can do it.  We are starting to get a little travel weary and I am a bit gorged out, so to speak, but I am looking forward to the next part of the trip.

We are on our way home and I can't wait to get into my own bed and have my own shower in which I don't have to wear thongs. I have not lost any weight which I thought that I might do given we are eating camp food most days and nights. Mind you we are drinking like we are on holiday too. 

We have met some really great people which we keep bumping into as we are travelling a well worn track.  I'm surprised the highway dosen't have wheel ruts as well.

I love the scenery, the freedom, the family time (despite the photos that Liam made the kids pose for), the time off work, the animals we have seen, arriving in a town with coverage and of course the people we have met.

I hate wearing thongs in the shower, grumpy scone gobblers who have a problem with children being children, paying extra at caravan parks for the kids, corrugated roads, dust and bbq's that don't heat up properly.
 
We have saved some parts for when we return as scone gobblers ourselves.  Or maybe sooner.
Thanks for all the comments  and  emails on the blog.  They are quite entertaining and we love opening the page and reading them. We look forward to seeing you all again and having a glass of wine.

Love Caroline

The Kimberleys

We have started heading east - about 130km along the Gibb River Road before detouring via the Fairfield-Leopold Road due to road closures on the GRR.

Fairfield-Leopold Road

We camped at Windjana Gorge most notable for its wildlife that inhabit the series of waterholes that form in the gorge during the dry season.

Windjana Gorge

Breakfast

A challenging drive to Tunnel Creek with it's 2km subterranean walk which involved wading through freezing water sometimes in pitch black - a nervous experience given the wildlife in the area. However, we used the premise that if we can't see them, they can't see us.

Entrance to Tunnel Creek

There was often a line of cars at creek crossings waiting for someone to bite the bullet and head across.

Crossing enroute to Tunnel Creek (note the Landcruiser in the background)