Good Morning, Afternoon, Evening or Night depending on what time zone you are in and when you are reading this blog.
Firstly to Michelle, Partners and my colleagues at empire group, Happy 15th Birthday. I would loved to have been there for what I am sure were awesome birthday celebrations and I do look forward to hearing all about it when I return.
So now about us...OMG what a beautiful country we live in. This part of the the trip has for me been the highlight so far. The Kimberley is absolutely amazing.
Our last night in Wyndham saw a storm come out of no where. I am glad I had my anti flappers fixed on the awning but it was still so strong that all four of us where outside holding our awnings down in the pouring rain. On a positive note however the car and caravan did get a good wash.
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| Len holding down the Awning |
The next morning we awoke to another beautiful sunny day however we were saying goodbye to Judy and Len for a little while as they ordered new parts for their caravan stove in Kununurra and as it was a long weekend in WA they wouldn't be able to leave before Tuesday. So Tricia and I decided that as we are limited on time that we would choof off and meet them along the road later.
Our first stop was Spring Creek rest area where we could unhook the van and leave it there whilst we drove into the 50+ km into Bungle Bungles. Unfortunately due to some issue over land payments there are no caravan parks currently operating in this area, so if you want to see Purnululu National Park aka The Bungle Bungles you have no choice but to have trust in those around you when leaving your van there. If however you have a single axle vans you can drive into the Bungle Bungles and stay at a designated campground.
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| Spring Creek Rest Area |
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| Beer O'clock |
Anyway we stayed the night and met lots of people who had returned and those that were doing the same as us. This is also when we met Ela who was staying next to us. She was a lone backpacker from Slovenia who was driving a little car that would have no chance of making the drive in to the Bungle Bungles, so Tricia and I offered her a ride with us and we thought she was going to cry when we made the offer and said it would be amazing.
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| Matt, Tricia & Ela (Bungle Bungles) |
The trip in took about one hour and forty minutes to complete with more than 40 water crossings. The day was amazing and we concentrated on exploring the south side of the Bungle Bungles. This included seeing the Domes, The Cathedral, The Window and Piccaninny Lookout. The only downside to the day was it was overcast all day. So Tricia and I decided that we would stay another two nights and go back and do the North side which was just as spectacular but as the sun was shining when we went into what is called the Echidna Chasm and Wow is the best way to describe this feature. This was our favourite spot overall.
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| One of the 40+ crossings to Bungle Bungles |
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| The Window |
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| The Domes |
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| Tricia and I on a Bungle Bungles walk |
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| Echidna Chasm |
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| Echidna Chasm |
Our next drive was to Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater campground which consisted of more than 300km of dirt road overall, going down the Tanami Road. The road was great in some spots and average in others with a reasonable amount of corrugation which in this case we think knocked a wine bottle forward opening the Fridge door as when we arrived our fridge contents were spread across the van floor. A little messy with a jar of Ma's Lemon Butter and a jar of Bread & Butter cucumbers that had come open and spread themselves around the floor.
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| Just some cattle hogging the road |
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| Tricia opening the gates to Wolfe Creek Crater |
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| The van just a little dirty and dusty |
The Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater was definitely worth the drive. Tricia and I stayed two nights and did the rim walk which was spectacular in itself and the sunsets were amazing.
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| Standing on the rim of the crater |
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| Red wine by the campfire. What more could I ask for? |
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| Sunset at the Crater |
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| Water in the bottom of Wolfe Creek Crater |
Drone footage
Our next stop was the very popular Mary Pool Rest Area where we again met up with our travel buddies Judy and Len. This free site was packed. I would say between 40 and 50 caravans were there.
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| Mary Pools Rest Area |
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| Looking through the skylight (Mary Pools) |
The following morning we headed off and decided that we would take the alternate route to Derby via the Fairfield-Leopold Downs Road stopping at both Tunnel Creek and the Windjara National Park. This again was an all dirt road. Tunnel Creek was an experience where you both walk and swim through a natural tunnel system in the Leopold Range. There were two swim legs, one about 10 and the other about 20m across, both deep and freezing and later we found out full of Fresh water crocs...We did not see or feel any...
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| Tunnel Creek |
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| Out from the first swim |
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| Second swim |
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| End of the Tunnel |
| Just one of the many residents at Windjana Gorge |
Next was Windjana Gorge where we stayed for two nights. A great camp ground and beautiful gorge but full of both Fresh and Salt water crocs... No swimming in that one.
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| Windjana Gorge |
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| Windjana Gorge |
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| A local getting some sun |
Our next coulpe days were spent at Birdwood Downs which is a cattle station 20km outside of Derby. It was here where we caught up with Meg Moir and her partner Pete who are travelling the opposite direction to us. Meg and I served together in the Army and Tricia and Meg went to school together when they lived in Puckapunyal. Whilst we chatted on messenger over the years we haven't seen each other in 20 years so it was great catching up over a few wines around the campfire.
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Arriving Birdwood Downs Station
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| Pete, Meg, Matt & Tricia |
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| Monday Night = T Bone night @ Birdwood Downs |
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| Tricia on the Derby Jetty |
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| Mud flats near Derby Jetty |
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| Another Boab Prison Tree. Tree believed to be more than 2500 years old |
So this brings us to now and we are free camping at old Langley crossing where we will stay until Saturday. We have our vans as close to the river as possible however still keeping that safe distance from the shore line as we can see the crocs sunbaking on the other side. We had every intention of doing some barra fishing but due to the cold spell last week they have gone off the bite... Maybe we will try tomorrow.
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| Our morning wake up view |
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Lots and Lots of crocs in here
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Changing colours of our morning view with coffee in bed.
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| Judy & Len just chilling on the river bank |
Anyway that's the update for now. Next week we are going to Barn Hill and the Cape Keraudren where finally we will be rid of the red dirt and sand to be replaced by pristine West Coast white sand beaches.
Cheers
Matt & Tricia
