Slide Show - Gibb River Road

The enchanting Emma Gorge at El Questro Station.



Zeebedee Springs



Crossing the Pentecost River on our way to Home Valley Station from El Questro Station with the Cockburn Ranges in the background. Makes me want to go and watch the movie "Australia" again.



Entrance to Home Valley Station



The infamous prison boab tree that led us on a wild goose chase around the Cockburn Ranges on the Karunjie track. When our fishing guide Tom heard we went on this track he laughed and said 'what tyres do you have? It's a shit of a track'.



Windjana National Park. The colour of these cliff sides were awesome.

The Gibb River Road

Setting off from Kununurra at our usual departure of between 9am and 11am (grey nomads are up and gone well before 8am) we headed up to Wyndham. If we thought it was hot in Kununurra then we certainly got a shock in Wyndham. It was stinking hot there. Looking out from the look-out you could see the 5 rivers that meet and go out to sea. An impressive sight in anyone's eyes.

Curiosity got the better of us as we headed out of Wyndham, we wanted to go check out a prison boab tree. Well this little tourist attraction lead us on an interesting path to reach the Gibb River Road. Karunjie road - what an adventure! We didn't know what was ahead, the lady on the hotline of the major sign said "yeah road is open, friends did it a few weeks ago and they said it was all good". Ha! One persons interpretation of the condition of a dirt road is totally different to the next person you speak too. This little adventurous road took us around the base of the Cockburn Ranges. Spectacular sight as you bump along the track that takes you through the El Questro Station. A road that we learnt is for the pastoralists and fair dinky di outdoor adventurers or tourists that are on an expensive day tour put on by the station.


(Trip around Karunjie road looking out at the Cockburn ranges)

El Questro Station
Zeebedee Springs - the name says it all. With a name like Zeebedee it was sure to be a cool place to visit. Thermal springs flowing down through the native palm trees and rocks. Great bath to start the day.

Emma Gorge, a little treasure located at the end of the track at the Emma Gorge Resort. We figured it must be alright when we were walking up to it when 2 guys came sprinting past us with bare feet. The track was dirt with sharp rocks sticking out everywhere. You could feel some of the sharp rocks in proper shoes let alone bare feet at pace. Turns out the lads had grown up in the area, with it being their backyard they do it all the time. Climbing up over the last mound of rocks we were greeted by an enchanting watering hole. Soaking up the ambience of the place we stayed for a good hour before retiring to the bar for a well earned beverage.

Home Valley Station
Just what we were looking for, a place to call 'home' for 2 nights. Not over crowded, an awesome bar in an open shed and an inviting pool in the 40c heat. It just so happened to be the station where I snagged my first barra on my 1st fishing experience. The barra just happened to be approx 1.2 metres according to our fisherman guide Tom. If you haven't heard the story already we decided to fill in 4 hours with a spot of fishing down on the muddy banks of the banks of the Pentecost River. Amazing afternoon cause I snagged a barra. The station had a more friendly feel about it then El Questro and a far better outlook onto the Cockburn Ranges and the Pentecost river.

El Questro Station was lovely but for us it was too commercialised it was missing its rustic outback appeal. Home Valley Station on the other hand had it all just right.

Further down the Gibb River Road
Due to bush fires in the area a lot of the places we were planning to visit were closed. This turned the Gibb River road stint of the trip from 9 days down to 4. Once we left Home Valley we set off again for what turned out to be one of our longer days of travelling. Thankfully we fuelled up on the famous scones at Ellenbrae Station that took us all the way to Windjana Gorge. The colour of the rock at Windjana Gorge was fantastic. Black mostly with orange sprinkled throughout. Not rock you see just anywhere. Another feature of this part of the world was Tunnel Creek. Was a little disappointed that there were no guided tours still running. According to 'Ranger Stacey' the guide stopped them only in the last we cause it was too hot. Man if I am out there then it can't be too bad. Never fear, Damian knows a lot of stuff, he tells me "Morton & Nigel" taught him all he knows so we did our own tour of the tunnel. It was neat inside, didn't go through to the bat infested area, didn't fancy going near them.

Overall the Gibb was fun but unfortunately for us over too soon due to fires but fortunately this meant we picked up a few extras days to spend elsewhere.

Kununurra

On the way into Kununurra we went and checked out Lake Arygle. The sheer size of that lake from what you can see standing at one of the look outs is impressive. What is even more impressive is when you discover that the portion you can see from the viewing point is only 1% of the lake. They were onto something when they built that lake, if only one could be built and filled in every state of Australia.

Expectations of Kununurra were not high prior to getting there (for me). There was the lake, river and irrigation system to see but when we got there I have to say I was amazed at the thriving township and the industry that it has created. We stayed for 3 nights, think if we had the time could of easily have stayed another 2 nights and filled our time in easily.

To take in the ambience of this area of the Kimberley we went on a 'JJJ' Cruise from the base of the Lake Argyle dam wall, along the Ord River onto Lake Kununurra. Talk about service, we got dropped off on the shoreline of our caravan park, don't get service like that everyday. JJJ Tours were great, 5 hours of learning about how Kununurra came to be, the thriving industries it has created, all whilst cruising down the picturesque Ord River and Lake Kununurra. It's a pity we didn't travel some 15 years ago, apparently 15 years ago they tried selling blocks of land on Lake Kununurra not that far from town. No one wanted them. If only they'd known what they are worth today they sure would have snapped them up, over $1M.


(Sunset over Lake Kununurra)

The other tour we took was a flight over Lake Argyle, the Bungle Bungles back via the Lake Argyle diamond mine in a Cessna "buzz box"that seated 6. Good way to see a lot in 2 hours, not so good when the pilot decides to tell us that when he was learning to fly his instructor didn't teach him how to navigate properly so he nearly had an accident in his early career. Just what I wanted to hear!


(After our flight, looking a little warn out cause we got up at sparrow farts time, I was crock before boarding plane and you couldn't swing a cat in the plane if you tried, no way of coming out looking too flash after that)

The 'Industry' - what can't they produce here? Mangoes, sandalwood, chia, pumpkins the list goes on with the best one of all being pink diamonds. I'd like to know who just pops into the jewellers in Kununurra (of all places) to pick up a pair of pink diamond earrings at a mere $220k. Can't say I'd be wearing them but I would take the $52 k stone. The diamond mine sources one champagne glass of pink diamonds (most expensive type of diamond on the market in the world).

Dinner recommendation if you ever make it up this way is the 'Pump House' restaurant, great wood fired pizza on the lake. Nifty way to recycle a pump house.

"Top End" Slideshow

Daley Waters Pub, a must stop when in NT.

Stephen & Damian enjoying a cold one @ the Daley Waters Pub

Don't see signs like this back home

Mataranka Thermal Pool - home of the noisy Peacock & millions of bats

Gunlom Plunge Pool, view from the bottom then 2nd is what they look like at the top (you can swim at the top & bottom, just need to be on alert for freshies at the bottom)

Maguk swimming hole & plunge pools (1st one is the bottom of the 2nd picture)

Farewell to the "Top End"

From Darwin we took off down the Stuart highway to the Litchfield National Park. A different terrain to Kakadu, a little more picturesque on the drive through. We stayed the night at the Wangi Falls camp ground. A spot with 2 flowing water falls into a swimming hole. Only fresh crocs at this time of year, apparently, nothing to be concerned about. A place that only a few weeks ago you couldn't get a camp spot unless you were waiting at the gate early in the morning for another camper to leave. So far we have been very lucky and gotten into every where we have gone too, our trip timing has worked well. The highlight at Litchfield NP was by far the 'Buley Waterhole', clear cool water boulding over the the rocks in our own private waterhole. All the rest was great too but Buley Waterhole was the best.

Having spent the day exploring Litchfield NP by the time we got to a small village called Adeliade River the green grass of the caravan park we drove past looked too enticing so we called it a day. Adelaide River is home to a War Cemetery. The place was oozing with history from WWI & WWII. As well as green grass the 303 bar of Adeliade River was a hit. We were going to stay a second night just so we could have a day of R & R but the want to get going got the better of us so we hit the road. Did we tell you the pub was great!

Time to make tracks for Kununurra although we took our time and did it over 2 days. Stop off on the way was "Victoria River Roadhouse". We nearly called it a day 20ks prior to here, thank god we didn't because only a few kilometres down the road were the ranges following the Victoria River that sprung upon us. What a sight to see. One of the nicer roadhouses we have come across (great views do help). Damian took in a spot of fishing, I didn't follow him as it was in long long grass and croc country, me not silly. Instead I took in the upper level views along the road and bridge. The pub sure attracted the locals later on, was going to leave Damian to watch the Hawks defeat the Swans but something told me I was best to stay put.

We are still alive!

Sorry folks we are still alive just been busy. Who would have thought one could be so busy on holidays (that and reception is pretty average in the outback). This post will be big so get your beverage of choose ready and read on......

From Katherine, Kakadu National Park, Darwin, Litchfield National Park, Adelaide River to the Victoria River Roadhouse, we bid farewell to the Northern Territory Top End. A whole world away from southern NSW.

Kakadu National Park
We were fortunate enough to be able to spend 2 nights in Kakadu however unfortunate to not be able to stay longer to explore. To do the park justice we'd suggest 5-7 days and a good 4WD. On the main road you don't see a lot, just trees and termite mounds. To see Kakadu you need to go off road.

Gunlom (pronounced Goon-lom) Plunge Pool
About 35kms (1 hour later) off road to make it to the camp ground of the Gunlom Plunge Pool. We had great expectations that we would make it to the Jim Jim Falls to camp for the evening but we kissed that good-bye after the trip into Gunlom. Hot and sweaty, camp set-up time to conquer the cliff face to the spectacular plunge pools. Northern Territory National Parks are pretty good, in my days of hiking in NSW & VIC when they indicate the grade of a hike one is left skeptical, NT are true to their word "difficult, steep, rugged terrain" - they weren't wrong. Worth it though. Up top was the most spectacular set of natural pools one has ever cast their eye over (that's if or haven't seen it in photos before I suppose).

Cooinda & Maguk
Great expectations again today to do it all but alas we only made it too Cooinda. It didn't disappoint. Cruise on the Yellow River to witness wild crocs in their natural habitat although the best part of the tour was spotting baby "Jesus birds" on the swamp grass. Tiny little bundles of cuteness walking across the grass with their popsicle with no idea there was a croc swimming just a few metres away.
Our exploration today took us to Maguk hence why we only made it too Cooinda rather than Jabiru. Thanks to the Baulch's we got to see some gorgeous water holes above the falls of Maguk. The pools are only known to the locals or tourists that are advised of them on an organised tour. Thanks Baulch's! Damian had a ball even if it meant being scared shitless by a water monitor and nearly losing his hat and sunnies in the water (he he).

Darwin
What a city. Different, unusual but great. Great welcome to the city in the first night by visiting the Mindil Markets. Think I set a record, only bought one thing, could have bought a lot more but Damian has this way of restraining me "how many dresses in the same style do you need" silly question to ask a girl. That will be the dress I will talk about for the next year that I should have bought for summer. My bank balance is better off when Deato comes shopping with me though - thanks!
A very laid back city, no hassle and bustle of city life. A nice change. We took in the views of the wharf, museum, the air museum and just hung out. Highlight was the air museum. If anyone is into planes then highly recommend you visit the next Temora Warbirds day in early November, you'll see the planes sitting in the Darwin museum in action.

Snapshots

View of Uluru not far from our campground on the second evening in Yulara.



Artistic shot of Uluru in the late afternoon.



Top of Kings Canyon. Impressive walk. From the top looking over it looks like the Bungle Bungles. Highly rate this walk.



Alice Springs view from on top of Anzac Hill.