We left Broome about 7 am to head towards the West Kimberley region and onto the GIBB River Road, which is still dirt and heavily corrugated and only opened up in the 1980s connecting the giant cattle properties, which are in a constant boom/bust cycle in this harsh environment. Our fellow passengers now include two farming couples from Crookwell, NSW. The Sydney couple and the Perth tradie have left us. So there are 11 for the rest of the journey.
Our first stop is at the Boab Prison tree near the Derby turnoff. This massive tree, only found in the Kimberley in Australia, could house about 30 ‘prisoners’, who were usually captured and used as divers for the pearling industry.
An historical photo
Termite mounds abound, the colour depending on the soil
This windmill boasts the longest water trough in the Southern Hemisphere.
Crab’s Eye Bean. They were used for beads for necklaces by Aboriginal tribes. The seeds are extremely toxic and one seed can kill an adult.
Our destination today
Brahman cattle graze freely and are rounded up by helicopter and the males aresold when the price of beef is high and the females kept for breeding stock.
Windjana Gorge campground in the Napier Ranges
Tunnel Creek - a 750m cave system
A guide from the local Bunaba people told us about the legend of Jandamarra, who became an outlaw and hid in the caves in the late 1800s.
We put on our head torches and explored the caves, catching a glimpse of small freshwater crocodiles on our muddy, wet
journey.
Then we discovered Tunnel Creek
A cool oasis
Back to Windjana campground. A resident rock wallaby begging for food.
We walked down to Windjana Gorge at sunset. First we passed through limestone walls, 350 million years old.
Imbedded in the rock are nautiloid fossils from when it was a marine environment
Beautiful entry to the gorge
Last light on the 90m walls
A large freshwater crocodile resting on the water’s edge
Dinner by the fire
M&M
