Windjana Gorge (by Tom)

Today we went to Windjana Gorge.  The river going through Windjana Gorge has about 50 crocs and we got close to a few that were sun-baking on the bank! The walk was long and some of it was sand so it was tiring. We also saw some sleeping bats hanging off branches. Next we headed off to Broome.

Some pictures of our camp last night (and some happy campers)!

Starting the day with pancakes, then we hit the gorge…


The prison boab near Derby (a town we didn’t make it in to).

All showered and cleaned up in Broome!

Tunnel Creek (by Ellen)

Today we headed to Windjana Gorge but we had two stops on the way there. First stop was at Geikie Gorge. That was a bad walk because of the sand and the burrs (prickles).
The second stop was Tunnel Creek. Tunnel Creek used to be called Cave of the Bats. It was really cool walking through water. On the way back Tom said "$10 for the first person to spot a bat". I saw a bat first. Actually I saw about 20 10 5 bats before anyone else. When we got to Windjana Gorge we played "Cops and robbers", "Everybody's It" and "Marco Polo".

Here's a video of our adventure!


Tunnel Creek was a much anticipated visit. We were thrilled to have everyone well and excited at the propsect of walking along the subterranean creek in the dark.


Resting at the other end of the tunnel.


Pointing at the bats. I was surprised by the beuaty of the cave. I wan't expecting cave formations like stalactites etc.

Geikie Gorge

We packed up camp and left Fitzroy Crossing for a rather big day intending to take in Geikie Gorge and Tunnel Creek before camping at Windjana Gorge. The big unknown was the state of the Fairfield-Leopold Rd upon which we had to travel for about 100km.
There was consensus that Geikie Gorge started off OK with a pleasant visitors’ centre. The times of the boat tours weren’t going to suit so we picked a walking trail. Unfortunately it turned about to be a bit of a dusty slog through thick sand at the base of the gorge with little in the way of views. We may have chosen poorly. I suspect that visitors doing a boat tour and a shorter walk up on to the walls of the gorge may speak differently of Geikie Gorge!
And there were the prickly burrs. These were evil little critters that broke apart as you tried to extract them and spiked your fingers painfully with the finest filaments of prickle!
As Hannah was heard to say “I liked Geikie Gorge at the start but now I don’t like this place!”

Happy at first but pretty soon we are starting to deal with burrs!

Pete did feel there were a few up-sides to Geikie Gorge …

We leave the bitumen to tackle the Fairfield-Leopold Road. It turned about to be a beautiful drive. Sure there were corrugations but we actually enjoyed slowly winding around and over the ridges and getting back in to the boabs!

Tom & the Bungles by chopper

Today Mum and I went on a helicopter flight over the Bungle Bungles because I was sick yesterday and couldn’t have gone on the walk

Bungles helicopter video

We had planned a big day at the Bungles yesterday but Tom was ill through the night. Kath and he stayed behind but were treated to a helicopter ride this morning!

Purnululu National Park

We arrived at the Bungles Caravan Park last late afternoon, Ben and Ves having made an earlier start from Kununurra and arriving before us. They had booked a site for us in this quite unusual caravan park 1km off the Great Northern Highway along the gravel road that takes you to the Bungles. It is unusual in that it is all so temporary – all facilities are demountable mobile installations. The office has the feel of a shipping container. Kath later found out that indeed the whole thing gets closed down each wet season. It is run by the Mabel Downs cattle station which manages the land surrounding the Bungles.

At night this fellow was wandering THROUGH the camping area! Scary!

The campfire (huge) discussion was all about