Camping in the Colourful Kimberly

Seriously have been neglecting this blog, its okay all we are still here and still on the road. This post covers a stretch of our travels that seemed to have a view much like the picture below for most of the time. We spent many, many hours getting between places, whether it was in the car off road or in the bus minus the air conditioner. After a while some of the places seemed to all merge together in a bit of a rainbow blur. One thing that came very obvious quickly was the amazing colours in this part of North west Australia. The dirt was as red as you could imagine, the sunsets as spectacular as I have ever seen and the sky so so blue.

The Cape north of Broome was to be our first adventure in the roof top camper and tents. I am not opposed to camping, I have actually done quite a bit over my time but I did make the comment to Sime that "if this goes well I may be more inclined to do more in the future". The pressure was on. Thankfully the 4 days we spent up there were great, deserted beaches with no croc sightings and sunny days not too hot yet. We travelled with our friends we met back in Ballarat which also made for great company.

Red, dust and sand everywhere at Cape Laveque

Massive tidal changes 

Sonny exploring a fish hatchery

Just a lunch stop by the beach

A beautiful camp spot at Middle Lagoon

We cautiously went swimming

I had been told how beautiful Broome was and it lived up to its reputation. We happened to plan our visit to coincide with a well known Broome event, the staircase to the moon. This is where a full moon rises over a very low tide across the mud flats to create a visual staircase. I have to admit this picture of the phenomenon is not mine but rather a postcard with a picture by a photographer who actually knew what they were doing. Our pics did not do it justice as it was beautiful.

Broome also gave us a preview to the warmer weather, we had defiantly hit the heat of North Western Australia.

Staircase to the moon, Broome

Exploring Broome's mud flats

Dakoda trying on a pearl divers helmet for size

Castaway Simon taking a stroll on Cable Beach

Another lovely sunset over Cable Beach

We then left Broome and packed up the car again for a week camping and exploring the numerous gorges of the Gibb river Road. Tunnel Creek was our first stop where we walked through a tunnel in water knee deep which was so cool and refreshing as the outside temp was now nearing 40 degrees and because it was dark we couldn't see the fresh water crocs. Windjana Gorge was next and we learnt that dragging kids on a 2 hour walk in the middle of a 40 degree day on mostly a sand track without a place to swim was crazy. CRAZY!!

Galvin Gorge, Bell Gorge, Elizabeth Station Gorges, Manning Gorge, Barnett River Gorge followed, each stunning but slightly tainted for me coaxing little legs to move in the heat on the walks in. The kids swam and jumped off rocks at every opportunity, getting more game and adventurous at each gorge. A smorgasbord or gorgeous gorges.

Galvin Gorge, here Sime played nurse to a tour group of oldies helping them in and out of the water in an attempt to prevent a broken hip

Mt Elizabeth Station had a few gorges one took over an hour of 4x4 to get to

Mt Elizabeth Station is a working cattle station and some locals got very friendly with some fellow campers

Rock art pretty well untouched at Mt Elizabeth Station

Manning gorge was accessible by a short punt ride and a long, hot rocky walk

After roughing it for the past week in the heat we washed and cleaned at the luxurious Fitzroy River Caravan park, well it had a pool and showers. Here we did another gorge but by boat this time, the kids and I were gorged out and my inner pathfinder had long gone.

Gieke Gorge

Our next stop was Kunanurra and El Questro station on the Eastern end of the Gibb River road. Here we were able to take the bus as the road was tarred to the station gates but a very slow 16km of rocky dirt from the gates to the homestead. More gorges here Emma Gorge and Chamberlain Gorge. More swimming and a little more walking.

The kids were amazed and Ryder a little worried about these willy willys. "Will they suck us up?" Ryder asked.

Zebedee Springs, El Questro Station, not cool enough for the heat

Chamberlain Gorge sunset cruise. The colours shone on the cliffs and made for a stunning backdrop for the tour guide playing guitar and singing , We still call Australia Home.

Emma gorge, walked early in the morning in an effort to escape the heat

Busta crossing the Pentacost River, not much clearance.

The scenery leaving El Questro was dry but beautiful.

We had a little stop over in Kunanurra to replenish the supplies and explore the Ord River area before heading to our last stop in Western Australia, Lake Argyle. Lake Argyle is Australias biggest water reservoir and has the Ord River catchment dam. However along with this it has a caravan park with possibly the best pool in Australia. We hired a dinghy for the day a explored the huge lake, Sonny caught a few fish and even spotted a freshwater crocodile skeleton on the banks which the boys thought was cool, but Dakoda thought was gross.

Swimming and jumping again

Infinity pool at the caravan park

Bye Bye Western Australia

So because I have been a little slack in getting to this next post we are already 2 states away but travelling through this part of Australia has made me come to a few conclusions, firstly I don't love travelling more than 200km a day in and un-airconditioned bus. Secondly I don't love walking more than an hour into a gorge in extreme heat. Thirdly I am pleased Sime pushed me a little to walk because the natural beauty was like nothing I have seen before and lastly all this said I am still enjoying the bus life and am not stopping just yet.