Journey in a Journey

So today we left The Pebbles and went to the Devils Marbles.  The Devils Marbles and the camping area are exactly as you remember.  We then stopped at the Devils Marbles Hotel as we have never stopped here before.  This hotel is really nice.  They have a lovely outside beer garden and swimming pool.  We were here fairly early so we just had a milk shake and continued on but it would be a lovely place to stop if you arrived in the afternoon. We continued on refuelling at Ti-Tree and this time we went to the cheap servo.  We have found these self serve servos in Kununrra and Ti-Tree you pay via a self serve machine before pumping the fuel and there are no attendants, but you save over 10cents per litre on your fuel.  Got to love that as we have spent a bucket load of money on fuel.  We then stopped at Aileron.  The place with the man on the hill.  He is now joined by a lady and child in the car park.  Continuing on we are now at the The Tropic of Capricorn Rest Area just outside Al

We are now back on the Stuart Highway on our way home we stopped at Bitter Springs this morning for one final swim.  This hot spring has also had a makeover but unlike Katherine Hot Springs this makeover is fantastic.  The hot spring river is the same although it has been cleared a little bit further so you can float past the first ladder along to a new second ladder.  They have also concreted the original stone path which is great because you can now float down the river and then walk back to the start and float back down again.  This is what we did over and over again.  We could of stayed here all day.  I took a video with the go pro so I will show you when we get home. Continuing on the Stuart Highway we were delayed by a Road Train which had caught fire.  The road train was carrying 3 trailers of cows.  Luckily the driver had time to get the cows out before the cab was engulfed in flames.  The truck was blocking the north bound lane but the flames were making it impossible for

We have now left Western Australia and are back in the Northern Territory.  We were going to spend some time at Victoria River in the Gregory National Park but we have had a problem with one of the roof clips on the van and spent time in Kununurra trying to get a replacement part without any luck.  We  have resorted to a homemade fastener made by ourselves and it seems to be working ok.  Unfortunately this has taken time so we only had a quick stop at the Victoria River Roadhouse and a hike up the escarpment.  We will be sure to spend more time here if we ever return. We continued on to Katherine and stopped at the Hot Springs.  This has really changed.  If you remember it was just a small river. It has now been made into 3 pools with a river linking the pools. I think I liked it better before.  I'll put load some photos and you can decide for yourselves. There is also a cafe here now and they are building a new Park for the kids with a turtle you can walk through and sli

Quickly trying to write this while Michaels is filling the water tanks and I have a bit of internet.  Our last stop in El Questro was at Emma Gorge.  Another beautiful spot and two gorgeous swimming holes.  We are getting very spoilt for swimming locations.  We stopped and had lunch at Emma Gorge Resort which was lovely and then started heading for Kununurra and ultimately home.

I know I've said how amazing everything is but Zebedee Springs tops them all.  The springs are beautifully warm and covered in Livistona Palms.  It is so beautiful and relaxing.  We spent all morning soaking in the different pools, starting at the top a lovely large pool that you can float in and working our way down the cascades relaxing in the different pools each one amazing in a different way. After lunch we hiked Moonshine Gorge which was a bit of a let down and then we went for a look at the Chamberlain River and saw a distant view of The Homestead.  We then went 4 wheel driving to Pigeon Hole Lookout.  The view was pretty spectacular which was lucky as the track in was rocky with more river crossings and a steep track up the hill.  We even used hill descent on the way down for the first time ever.  It works really well.  Another great day in paradise here at El Questro.

Today we arrived at El Questro.  This place is magic. We have a great spot looking at the river and we have been relaxing enjoying the view.  We did one walk down to El Questro Gorge.  The walk was beautiful and the swim at the end of the walk was amazing.  The water was just the right temperature for swimming and the clearest water I have ever seen. There is lots of water here something that the rest of the Kimberley is lacking.  We have encountered a few river crossings which has been fun and it is lovely to see rivers running not just dry. It really feels like an oasis in the outback.

Today was clean up day.  We had completely ran out of clean clothes I had been wearing Michael, shorts and T-shirts for the last 2 days.  So after 4 loads of washing we took a drive to Wyndham.  On the way we stopped at The Grotto.  What a surprise this spot was.  You descend a steep staircase down the side of the gorge to the pool of water below.  Apparently this spot is the locals swimming hole and they have put swing ropes up for jumping in the water. We then continued on to Wyndham and had a look around town.  Being a Sunday it was very quiet but we saw the big croc and the biggest boab in "captivity" and we went up to the Five Rivers Lookout which was pretty good.  On the way back to the van we stopped at a billabong that is in the middle of this dry arid area.  It was like a mirage that appeared out of nowhere.

Today is Michael's birthday so it is fitting that we start the day with the Mini Palms Gorge.  This is a beautiful walk squeezing through huge rocks and ending in a natural amphitheatre.  Another amazing walk.  We then did a small walk called Stonehenge which showcased pants used by aboriginals and what they use them for from medicinal to food and hunting. It was a very interesting walk.  Just before midday we went to the Echidna Chasm.  We timed this so we could see the light shine in the chasm which was happening at 11.30.   This was Michaels favourite walk.  He has over 100 photos to show you when we get home.  The walk begins meandering through a beautiful gorge lined with palms and is just stunning.  You then enter the chasm which is very narrow and long winding its way into the range.  It is very interesting to see the light turning the narrow chasm from dark to light and the rock walls light up when the sun reached the right angle.  Another amazingly beautiful walk. W

We arrived at the Purnululu about midday so we decided to explore one side of the range and leave the other side for tomorrow morning.  We chose to start with the southern side.  We started with the dome walk meandering through the unique domes.  What an amazing trail. It is cooler today and the walk is so much easier than the walks on the Gibb so we are loving it.  We then went to the Cathedral and skipped some rocks on the small water pond inside the cathedral and then continued along the Picaninny Creek and stopped at the window.  This place is amazing and well worth the 59 km 4wd track you need to negotiate to get here.

The bus picked us up at 8am for our flight to the Horizontal Falls.  The flight in the sea plane was great.  There was 11 people on our plane and 3 planes left Derby this morning going to the Horizontal Falls.  What a great day.  It is amazing to see the Kimberleys from the air and to experience landing on the water.  We did several passes through the Horizontal Falls at different times throughout the day and has a beautiful barramudi lunch.  It was amazing to see the different tides at different times of the day and we got to sit up the front of the boat for the last trip which was fantastic.

We had a great day today in Broome.  It was interesting to see how much it has changed since we were here last time.  The shopping precinct has been landscaped and looks great and has plenty of shade.  Cable Beach looks the same although the road and parking area has had an overhaul, even the nude fisherman is still there.  The planes were coming in to land over the main shopping village instead of over the beach but they are still so low you feel you could reach up and touch them  We did a lap of the town, drove on Cable Beach and did some shopping.  It was a really nice dirt and dust free day.

We spent the last night at Windjana Gorge campground and were up early as normal so we had done the gorge walk by mid morning.  The gorge walk is really lovely and was one of the easiest walks that we have done.  We saw lots of freshwater crocodiles, bats and a few kangaroos. I am gorged out now and so sick of the dust so we headed for civilisation ending up in Derby.   Derby is pretty small.  We had lunch at a cafe on the jetty and it was lovely to be eating at a clean table with no dust and it also felt cooler which was a nice relief.  We toured the town saw the Prison Boab tree and with little else to do we decided to head to Broome. When we arrived in Broome we found out that today is the night to view the staircase to the moon.  We managed to get a site at a caravan park right on the foreshore of Broome town beach so we are can see the moon and go to the market without having to get back in the car.  We did pay top dollar for the site $51 for a site just big enough

First thing this morning we headed to Bell Gorge. The gorge and waterfall is beautiful and the water was lovely to swim in.  We then decided to continue on and we stopped at Lennard Gorge. The walk to this gorge was challenging and the waterfall had stopped flowing. It was a really hard walk for not much reward. Our last stop for the day was at Tunnel Creek.  This was the highlight of our day.  It was so cool entering the cave and so unique walking through the cave and through the water.   

We are up really early every morning in the swag.  It is so hot at night we sleep with only the netting closed therefore as soon as the sun is up so are we.  Also not having our van we find we are going to bed really early.  Anyway so another early start so before midday we were at Manning Gorge.  Manning Gorge has two swimming holes.  One at the beginning that you can swim in and it also has a tinny on a rope pulley system so you can get across without getting wet. The walk to the Upper Manning Gorge is a challenging goat track especially in the heat of midday but the Gorge was lovely and the swim was sensational. It was still fairly early so we decided to continue on stopping at a couple of other small waterholes and we are now camping at Imintji Campground.  It is sensational here we have had nice hot showers and we have phone reception.  The campground is beautiful I am even using the solar charging station to charge the laptop.

It took us about 2 hours to walk to the falls which were spectacular.  Its a challenging walk but worth it to see the falls.  We went for a swim on the way back and just lounged in the rapids.  It was beautiful to cool down as it is so hot here.  $160 each for a 6 minute flight to the falls with no doors on the helicopter.  Too expensive and too terrifying for me so we walked. We found a kings awning and solar panel for Nick but unfortunately we have no way to get it back. There is a pile of stuff here that has fallen off cars on the way in on this horrid track.  We saw 2 swags and sleeping bags on the side of the track that I am sure will end up in the same left over pile  eventually.  We decided to pack up and start driving back to King Edward Camp ground and have a swim ready to get back on the Gibb tomorrow.

We left Drysdale River Station and headed back to the corrugated road towards Mitchell Falls.  About 90 minutes down the road we arrived at the King Edward River.  We tackled our first river crossing and then came to the best river camp.  You can swim in the river as there are no crocodiles.  We went for a paddle and then continued towards the Mitchell Falls but we will camp here on our way back tomorrow. The road got worse from here and that is saying something because the road has been bad already.  About 2 hours of bouncing later we made it to the Mitchell falls campground.  We spent the afternoon at little Merton falls standing under a natural shower.  Michael is just packing up all our stuff as we are told to put everything away or dingoes will take rubbish, shoes, clothing and hats.  I'm hating this swag more and more. 

Last night we packed the car as we are leaving the van in Kununurra and tackling the Gibb in a swag. You have no idea how much crap we have the car is bursting.  First stop was the Pentecost River and our first indication as to how dry the wet season up here really was.  I stood in the middle of the Pentecost crossing and took this photo. The water over the crossing is almost non existent. Moving along the Gibb we stopped at Home Valley Station and had scones at Ellenbrae Station. We have now pulled into Drysdale River Station where we will spend the night.  Drysdale Station is a very basic dust bowl of a camp.  The only green grass is at their outdoor beer garden.  The Gibb River Road has been really good much better than we expected.  The road to Drysdale Station on the other hand has been fairly average.  We are off to the Mitchell Falls tomorrow and are told that the road in is pretty bad. 

Today we arrived in Kununurra.  We are staying at the Hidden Valley Caravan Park which is awesome.  Lots of shade, green grass, great showers and the Mirima National Park at the back of the caravan park.                                    We spent the day looking around town with our favourite spot being the Ivanhoe Crossing.  We spent some time watching the local aboriginals fishing from this croc inhabited water crossing.  One of the guys had a barra on his line and was reeling it in when a croc snatched it off his line.  We drove across but were not game to walk in the water.                                

Today we went on a cruise on Lake Argyle.  This is one huge reservoir equivalent to 19 Sydney Harbours.  It was lovely and cool on the water and we had a great swim in the reservoir and a lunch on one of the islands.  Lunch was Silver cobbler which is caught in the reservoir and it was nice, not very fishy for someone like me who isn't a huge seafood fan.

So we have finally arrived in the Kimberleys.  It was a long drive up but nice to see all the familiar tourist spots.  Coober Pedy and Alice look very much the same as we remember.  We stopped off at Daly Waters for a beer and a swim at Mataranka which is always nice after a long drive. Finally at Katherine we turned towards Western Australia which is new to us.  Gregory National Park looks amazing and we plan to stop at Victoria River in the National Park on the way back to explore more. At the moment we are having a rest at the stunning Lake Argyle Resort.  The infinity pool has the most awesome view of Lake Argyle but I must admit it is cold.  Its 35 degrees today so a swim is a must no matter how cold the water is.