Rock the top end

Kununurra

 

Arrived in Kununurra after a long 829km drive from Darwin.  Drive was really good, the country and scenery around Victoria River has done enough to get us back.  Originally had planned a night around there though needed to make some time up after the delays in Darwin.

Kununurra hasn’t changed much since we were here 2000, staying at the same location right on the edge of lake Kununurra with the waters edge about 10m away.  Weather is now starting to feel cool, with the days around 30 and the nights under 20.  Close to the actual town is a huge boab tree, which I had to get a photo of the car near, and kindly to add further scale a road train pulled up.

Tonight we walked to the waters edge for sunset, whilst there someone came up to check if we’d seen the croc 20m further up.  So we went up and had a look, good sized freshy up against the bank in the weed.

Drove up to Wyndham and came back via a billabong reserve which had lot’s of life surrounding it with a fire coming in from the back of it.  From there we took a 4WD track across the dried out flood plains, driving through tall dry grass, as we got close to the end of the track we also came across the fire, burning across the track.  Looking at the navigation info we were within 1km of the end and in the already burnt section, though to get to the end we’d have to cross the fire line and go into the unburnt grass, so we waited a while seeing what the winds were doing, no change so it was turn around and re-trace.  Once back on the road the rest of the drive down Parry Creek road was good, eventually getting back just as last light disappeared from the sky.

Spent a few hours fishing from the bank of the Lower Ord, knew I had a good spot when after a while I had a local come up and start fishing next to my shoulder.  I was in his (and families) favorite spot.  Ended up having a good chat though neither of us (nor family 20m down) had any luck.  Apparently they caught a big Barra the day before from the same spot and fish from there every couple of days.

Took a cruise on Lake Argyle which took us fair way down the lake, really reveals the size of this lake.  Very pleasant out on the water, and stopped off on Remote Island looking for some Zebra rock, I managed to spot a good piece in the water from the boat near the edge which we got.  Then found another good piece further around also.  Sunset was really nice on the water with a couple of refreshing coldies to help.

El Questro

 

Arrived early at El Questro and managed to get a private campsite right on the bank of the Pentecost river, nearest campsite a couple hundred meters away.  This part of the Pentecost is safe for swimming and in front of our camp was a small dam wall to create a pool with a spill way that formed a water slide which was rough ride over rocks though provided a firm massage.

El Questro Gorge—When we were here in 2000 we did the 1st half, so this time we did the whole gorge.  Getting past the half way point meant wading through a deep pool (a few trips for me to get all my photo gear plus packs) then a climb up a couple of metres to get out of the pool.  There were a few other tricky points including climb up a small waterfall, though the end point there was a great waterfall and pool.  All up it was about a 6hr return hike.

Moonshine Gorge—A more open gorge with a flowing creek, it was a hot day and in the open sections on the rock it was indeed hot.  A couple of dips in very cool pools helped.

Did some great four wheel driving, with lots of water crossings and plenty more rocks.  One of the tracks to Explosion Gorge had everything, including the track following along section of the gorge walls and at points barely discernable track over the rocks.  A couple of tricky bits with one section needing a few extra rocks put on the wheel line so that I we could keep going (1 wheel was spinning in the air).  Whilst at Explosion Gorge tried fishing again, after about 5 min I watched a good sized fish come at the lure a couple of meters from the bank but no good.  Then caught a few Archer fish, so really nothing.

We did start to have a noise coming from the rear left wheel, couldn’t find a problem so went to the mechanic at the station who was also left scratching his head.  Even called Jeep seeing what else it could be, it was an intermittent knocking noise always just after water crossings then would go a while later.  Without a fix and with no impairment visible it was continue, though I still had some doubts.

Next morning we headed off early for the Bungle Bungles, though never made it.  About 40km’s after leaving I noticed a vibration that was not the road, pulled over to find the left rear wheel just hanging on, 2 studs sheared off and the remaining 3 wheel nuts almost off.  A few minutes later we waved someone down who ran me back to Emma Gorge (10min back) where a quick call to the RAC had a truck on it’s way to get us.  2 hour wait (pretty good) and the truck arrived, loaded up and back to Kununurra about 75km’s away.  Now it’s a waiting game for parts, having to be shipped from Sydney to Perth, then to Broome and onto Kununurra.  We got back on Friday, at this stage parts should be in town on Wednesday then a fix by Thursday all going well…..  Given the right rear wheel nuts were also loose I can’t help but think they weren’t done up properly after getting the rear suspension fixed in Darwin (which was also a weeks delay)…..  Last photo is where we broke down, at least it was a good view.

Bungle Bungles

 

Lets start with the road in, hyped as being very rough and that it takes at least 2 hours or 3 towing a camper.  Well it took just under 2 hours and whilst there are some rough patches it wasn’t that bad, the worst part is for the 52km’s the longest straight and flat section is about 150m, the rest is either bending and/or going up and down.

We’d seen the Bungles from the air before but seeing them from the ground is something entirely different.

Echidna Chasm

Went here twice, on the 1st afternoon then again a couple days later near the middle of the day when the light is better for photo’s in the chasm.  Amazing, such narrow walkways with the rocks towering above and beautiful light reflecting down (at the right times).

Whilst at the Chasm the first time we also did the short stroll to Ormond lookout which has a great view.

Cathedral Gorge

At the southern end this was about a 45min drive, we got there early with only a couple of groups in front of us.  The walk in is easy and the view once there is very impressive, amazing.  We were lucky and managed to get the gorge to ourselves for quite some time, ending when several other groups (the start of the rush) arrived.

Also did the Domes walk and checked out a lookout there also, the view from the lookout was great.

Mini Palms Gorge

We were not expecting much from this and at the start of the track there are a couple of sections to squeeze through, I even had to take off my packs to get through and thinking at the time this had better be worth it.  It was.  Having no expectations on this the views going in were great then at the end was a gorge that was very impressive indeed.  Again timed it well with great reflected light in the first section in which a tour group went past us, then by the time we got to the end again we had the gorge to ourselves until we left.

 

Fitzroy Crossing (Geikie Gorge)

 

A quick 1 night stop and a cruise on the Fitzroy through Geikie Gorge.  A pleasant boat ride which we just made, though not long into it the latest breakage happened, my camera….  Took a photo and it made a funny clunk, then the next was worse and only 10% of the photo.  Took the lens off and saw a loose piece inside so quickly put the lens back on and feet up for the rest of the boat ride.  It was a nice boat ride.

Later looked at the camera again to find a mirror from the inside had come off, investigation that night found a “Known Problem” where the glue holding the mirror on breaks down in hot and humid conditions.  They will fix for free though it takes up to 4 weeks which is no help.

No mirror means I cannot see through the viewfinder and the auto exposure does not work, so I’ve covered up the viewfinder (stop light getting in) and now blindly taking photos and adjusting settings etc as I go, only realistic for wide angle shots..  See how we go..

Windjana Gorge

 

Went via Tunel Creek which is a creek running through a cave which you can walk through, not as much water to wade through as we remembered from last time though still a good walk.  There are a couple of sections with a caved in section of the roof to the outside separating.  The bats gave us a few swoops and while apparently there we didn’t see any freshies.  Some great water flows coming into the cave at a few points.

Arriving at Windjana the camp ground was busy and only got busier, the busiest bush camp so far.  We went for a stroll in the evening and in the non generator camping area we counted 72 cars, there was also the generator and tour group areas, a busy yet quiet camp.

Walked the gorge which is beautiful in the morning and saw lots of freshies, got to within a couple of metres of one resting on the bank.

Then it was back to head off for Mornington hoping we would get in..

Mornington Wilderness Camp

 

We got in, one of the last ones.  They only allow 50 campers per night, when you reach the turn to enter there is a radio you have to use to see if you can get in, and we did.  Then it is a near 100km drive in, that’s a long driveway.  The road is in pretty good condition, most of it better than the Gibb River Road.  The last 20 or so clicks is a bit rockier with some water crossings, and unfortunately for us a slow driver in front topping out at around 25kmh….  Our campsite was great and it was nice and quiet except for dingoes in the distance and barking owls surrounding the camp at night.

Dimond Gorge

Super gorge, we hired a canoe and spent the morning canoeing through, the only way that you can actually get in as the water goes wall to wall.

Sir John Gorge

Nice but not in the same league as Dimond,  walked into the gorge then Tina sat down while I continued and crossed the Fitzroy on my way.

Also checked out a couple of other spots then had a relaxing 2 course meal and some drinks at the restaurant to finish a tiring day..  Packing up for the move to Derby tomorrow and the Horizontal Water Falls.