Darwin

Thursday, May 28

Final Day

DARWIN

Before leaving Edith Falls we strolled down to the falls where Steve and I started the day with a refreshing swim.

Colin and Steve swimming at Edith Falls

After drying off, we set off on the final leg of our Around Australia Adventure. We all decided to stop at Adelaide River Pub for lunch which was and excellent idea, except I limited myself to light beers. After a scrumptious steak sandwich we covered the final 100km’s in near silence arriving in Darwin just before 4pm.

Edith Falls (Katherine)

Wednesday, May 27

We broke camp early as we intended to drive through to Katherine over 400km’s east of Kununurra.

Steve Ready for the Road

We stopped at the WA/NT border for a quick picture noticing in the back ground new signs advising that a 110km/h speed limit applies throughout the NT closely follow by a sign reading speed limit 130km/h. Both ironic and hypocritical as I remembered when the NT ALP government introduced the 130km/h limit it was suppose to replace the open speed limits throughout the NT. Hence, it should read a 130km/h speed limit applies throughout the NT.

Colin and Olive at the WA/NT Border

Upon reaching Katherine, we fuelled up and headed a further 60km’s towards Darwin stopping at Edith Falls. None of us had stayed here since parks had opened up the new camping facilities. Most of us remembered camping on the bank of the pool with camp fires etc. We had bought fire wood with us have read that it wasn’t available at the park and were disappointed to learn that fires were banned. This didn’t stop a large party camped near by having a fire.

Sally outside our Camper Trailer

Steve’s last Night in Jude’s Tent

Kununurra

Tuesday, May 26

A day in Kununurra so we loaded up the Prado and headed to see the sites. First a quick visit to an internet café then off to the diversion dam. Steve being a keen barra fisherman was toey all the way along this waterway and although we didn’t wet a line no doubt he’ll have his rod on his next visit.

Kununurra Diversion Dam

Ivanhoe crossing is another popular fishing spot and, indeed, our neighbours at the van park, visited this crossing on Wednesday and proudly flaunted photos of an excellent fish to anyone in the van park who was awake at the time.

Ivanhoe Crossing

We then toured the agricultural region of Kununurra and were amazed at the diversity of produce produced in this region. On the way back into town, we stopped at the Hoochery Distillery where Steve and I sampled several brews before making our selections. Both Steve and myself selected the Kentucky Mash whiskey.

Hoochery Distillery

As a treat, Steve had offered to shout dinner at the Pump House Restaurant located conveniently at the end of the road where we were staying. An easy walk there and back but not before another Lake Kununurra sunset.

Sal, Jan, Mike, Col and Steve at the Pump House Restaurant

Lake Kununurra Sunset

El Questro

Monday, May 25

We were up at sunrise again, as again the kids in the camp had been sent to the playground next to us to get out of their parents’ hair and into ours who were given the sites next to the play ground.

Sunrise

Mike and Jan were heading to Kununurra for breakfast, were as Steve, Sally and I decided to spend the day at El Questro Station. We crossed the Pentecost River before turning south into El Questro.

Pentecost River

Crossing the Pentecost

We were hoping to cruise the Chamberlin Gorge but the cruise doesn’t leave until 3pm which didn’t give us enough time to reach Kununurra until long after dark. We decided to visit Zebedee Spring and then the long walk into Emma Gorge. Zebedee Spring was brilliant with clear warm water and wonderful rock holes in which to enjoy it. Emma Gorge was a contrast with a long walk and lots of rock hopping and a refreshing swim in the pool at the foot of the falls.

Colin, Steve and Sally Zebedee Spring

Emma Gorge

Sally waited for Steve and myself by the Turquoise Pool about 100m below the falls where she enjoyed a dip.

Sally at Turquoise Pool

After completing the return walk, we hit the road and headed directly to Kununurra where we caught up with Mike and Jan just before sunset.

Mike and Jan at Kununurra Holiday Park

Lake Kununurra Sunset

Home Valley HS

Sunday, May 24

Mike and Jan booked an escorted tour around the homestead to see the places used in the filming of Australia the movie. Sally, Steve and I opted for a self drive tour. The destinations of the drive were all back on the Gibb River Road so we didn’t see much of the homestead. We drove up to Bindoola Waterfall, however there was no water flowing so we settle for a quick swim in the waterhole

Steve and Colin Swimming at Bindoola Waterhole

Bindoola Waterfall

Nyarli Billabong was overgrown so we didn’t stay and on the way back to the homestead we stopped at the Cockburn Range, Pentecost Valley lookout to see the ranges under a different light.

Cockburn Range (Pentecost Valley)

That evening we had booked into the e was confused and could not take our drink order when we ordered dinner, and finally later in the evening he asked us to stop smoking in this area (outside the dinning room). This was enough. We made our feelings clear and left the restaurant bitterly disappointed with our visit to Home Valley Homestead.

Dinner at Home Valley Homestead

Galvin's Gorge, Home Valley HS

Saturday, May 23

We had consider the option of moving our camp into the powered section of the campground but decided that if we were going to pack up and move, we might as well go onto Home Valley Homestead. Before hand, we continued another 5km’s up the Kalumburu Road to check out Drysdale Homestead’s alternative camp ground at Miner’s Pool. This is an excellently prepared campground with access to a billabong.

We called in along the way to see Galvin’s Gorge. This is a spot that had intrigued Jan and was well worth the short walk in to see. We almost tripped over a water monitor on the path and the birds were plentiful.

Water Monitor

Galvin’s Gorge

Further down the road we stopped at a lookout over the Cockburn Range for some photos.

The Crew, Steve, Col, Sal, Mike and Jan at Cockburn Range Lookout

Then onto Home Valley to make camp.

Drysdale Homestead

Friday, May 22

We were looking for a half-way point between Silent grove and Home Valley Homestead to break up the trip and opted for a 60km detour to Drysdale River Homestead. We had hoped to secure some powered sites to recharge Mike’s very tied batteries but none were available. The road into Drysdale was one of roughest so far, bringing back memories of the Savannah Way past Borroloola. We setup camp and then headed to the bar before returning to camp after dark for Jan’s mince curry.

Drysdale River Homestead Campground

Miner’s Pool

Silent Grove, Bell Gorge

Wednesday, May 20

We broke camp and hit the road moving further east. Our destination was Bells Creek but the ranger at Windjana had told us that this camp facility is closed due to recent bush fires. So we opted to stay just down the road at Silent Grove. We arrived late morning to give us time to secure a good position for the next 2 days. This we did.

Silent Grove Campground

Steve’s Camp

We loaded up the cars and headed to Bell Gorge and enjoyed a swim in the upper pools before returning to camp for a camp fire and dinner. Rounded off with a game of triv under the stars.

Bell Gorge Upper Pools

Thursday, May 21

After a fairly peaceful morning (besides some punters in the generator area who thought it was a licence to play load music all night and again in the morning) we packed lunch and prepare for the trek down to the waterfall pool of Bell Gorge. After a walk around the goat track we made it to the pool and hastily jumped in. After some lunch it was time for a nap.

Lounging Around Bell Gorge After Lunch

After more swimming we headed back to Silent Grove to prepare dinner around the camp fire.

Silent Grove Campfire

Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek

Monday, May 18

No one was too impressed with this morning’s 6am early wakeup call but it did allow an opportunity to catch the Broome sunrise.

Garbage Truck Wakeup

Broome Sunrise

Mike and Jan had stuff to do in Broome and decided that they would only drive to Derby. As my flat would be ready by 9:30, Steve, Sally and I decided to push through to Windjana Gorge camp ground.
We stopped at the just before the start of the Gibb River Road and took a look at the famous prison tree just outside Derby.

Derby Prison Tree

We had stocked up on supplies and all were freshly showered and prepared for 4 days of rough camping. We were most surprised to find flushing toilets, running water and hot showers at Windjana Gorge so camping was nowhere near as rough as we had anticipated.

Windjana Gorge Campground

Tuesday, May 19

We started the day with a walk into the Windjana Gorge and were greeted by the locals. This gorge is famous for its abundance of fresh water crocodiles and there was plenty to see.

Steve and Sally Enter Windjana Gorge

Windjana Gorge Local

Steve, Colin and Sally at Windjana Gorge

In the afternoon we drove down to Tunnel Creek, a river that runs underground all the way through the Devonian Reef system.

Tunnel Creek Entrance

Steve at the other end

Aboriginal Rock Paintings at Tunnel Creek

Broome

Saturday, May 16

We resurrected Jude’s tent from Cairns which wasn’t too hard for Steve who had been suffering nightmares every since using it in Queensland seven months ago.

Jude’s Tent Resurrection

We then joined Trish and her sister Jen and dined out on Thai before heading back to camp and soundly crashing for the night.

Sal, Col, Jen, Trish, Jan, Mike and Steve

Sunday, May 17

A fairly lazy for us and that evening Mike and Jan were off to the outdoor cinema so Steve, Sally and I decided to venture into the Famous Beer and Thai pub to see what was on the menu. No before receiving a visit from some nocturnal wildlife.

Relaxing at Roebuck Bay Caravan Park

Nocturnal Visitor

The pub had roast on the menu and as we had all enjoyed a big lunch, we gave this a miss and settled on beers and participating in the local crab races.

Crab Races

Broome

Saturday, May 16

Sandfire RH Peacock

Onto Broome. We stopped at what’s left of the Sandfire Roadhouse for breaky and then drove into Broome to meet up with Trish and Steve for Darwin. Trish was in town for her sister’s birthday and Steve was looking for a ride back to Darwin. We checked into the Roebuck Bay Caravan Park and were kindly given 2 excellent beach frontage site to enjoy for the next 2 days.

Mike, Jan, Colin, Steve and Trish at Roebuck Bay Caravan Park