Kimberley Adventure

Getting excited about this trip to the Kimberley and finally ticking off the The Gibb River off the bucket list.  Hiking & camping in the bush with a bunch of adventurous women I have never met before.

Itinerary

26 July - Perth to Broome

27 July - Broome

28 July - Broome to Windjana Gorge

29 July - Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek & Bell Gorge

30 July - Bell Gorge to Manning Creek

31 July - Manning Creek & Manning Gorge

01 August - Manning Creek to El Questro

02 August - El Questro

03 August - El Questro to Kununurra

04 August - Kununurra to Bungle Bungles

05 August - Bungle Bungles

06 August - Bungle Bungles

07 August - Bungle Bungles to Fitzroy Crossing

08 August - Geikie Gorge to Broome

09 August - Broome

10 August - Broome

11August - Broome to Perth 



 

26 July 2015 - Perth to Broome

Woo Hoo... Knock knock, my sister is at the door to take me up the airport. Thanks to Qantas Frequent Flyer points, I'm flying business class to Broome, a little bit of posh before I get in the outback with my tent and sleeping bag :). Arrive safely in Broome and check in at the Mercure. Straight down to the pool for a swim and sunbathe before I get to meet a couple of the ladies going on the Kimberley Tour. In reception and meet some of the ladies going on tour, we all walk across to Matso's Brewery for a get to know each other chat, drink and have a bite to eat.

O la la business class

 

Viewing the Pilbara from the air

 

Cable Beach and Roebuck Bay - Broome

 

Cable Beach - Broome

 

27 July 2015 - Broome

Up early, daypack on and walk into Old Broome Town, grab a coffee and strolled around the shops for a while.  Jumped on the local bus and headed to Cable Beach for some sunshine and a swim.  Back on the bus and stopped off at the Boulevard Shopping Centre for a look around, then into Town again for a Thai Massage, treat the body before I put it through some outback torture.  Out to dinner again at 18 Degrees (lovely restaurant) to meet all the ladies, Brad the Chef and Mike the Driver.

 

Cable Beach

 

Cable Beach

 

 Cable Beach

 

28 July 2015 - Broome to Windjana Gorge

Well this is the day the adventure begins,  all the luggage on the bus and off we go to pick up one other lady.  Greta was a 70+ year old lady, full of life and a great sense of humour.  All in and on the road, first stop was Willare Bridge Roadhouse for morning tea.  Next stop Derby Boab Prison Tree and Myall's Cattle Trough for a look, then a drive through the town of Derby stopping for a walk along the wharf.  Woo Hoo, on The Gibb River Road, well the corrugations were huge, luckily we had the old patch of sealed road to stop the body shaking for a minute or two.  Stopped at the Mowanjum Aboriginal Art Centre for a look and the lunch stop.  We arrived at Windjana Gorge, massaged from head to toe, unloaded the bus and had a lesson on erecting our tents. I missed out on the warm water for a shower, so it was a very quick one.  I lit the camp fire, so I was designated the daily job of lighting the camp fire.  A lovely dinner, chat, laughs and off to bed in my little tent. :-)

The Bus



 



 

Willare Bridge Roadhouse

 

Willare Bridge Roadhouse

 

 

Boab Prison Tree - Derby

 

Myall's Cattle Trough - Derby

 

Wharf - Derby



 

Start of the Gibb River Road - Derby

 Gibb River Road

 

 Mowanjam Aboriginal Art Centre

 

 

Windjana Gorge Campsite

29 July 2015 - Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek & Bell Gorge

Up bright and early, packed up camp and off to walk through Windjana Gorge.  The freshwater crocodiles were sunning themselves on the waters edge, I managed to get within about 8 meters of a couple and that was as close as I was getting.  We walked for about an hour into the gorge, then turned around and had morning tea half way back under the trees.  On the bus and off to Tunnel Creek, on goes the walking sandals and headlamp and into the tunnel we go.  In some parts of the tunnel the water was knee high deep, mostly sandy with some rocky sections.  Bree spotted three freshwater crocs over to one side that we had to pass, gulp.  It was about 40 minutes to the other end of the Tunnel and some of the group had a swim in the freezing cold waterhole.  Back through the Tunnel and on the road to Bell Gorge to set up camp for the night.  Fire lit and another fantastic dinner thanks to Brad our Chef. 

 

Windjana Gorge

 

Windjana Gorge

Windjana Gorge

Windjana Gorge

 

Windjana Gorge

Windjana Gorge - Morning Tea

Windjana Gorge

 

Tunnel Creek - Workmen with a sense of humour

 

Tunnel Creek

 Tunnel Creek - Going in

 

Tunnel Creek

 

Tunnel Creek - The end

 

Tunnel Creek

 

Tunnel Creek

 

Tunnel Creek - The water was freezing



 

Tunnel Creek

 

 

30 July 2015 - Bell Gorge, Galvan's Gorge & Manning Creek

 Up bright and early again, packed up camp and hiking gear on to walk into Bell Gorge.  A little bit of a rock climb down into this gorge and a little slippery getting into the water hole for a swim, but what a beautiful gorge she was.  Morning Tea beside the water hole then back to camp to hit the road for Galvan's Gorge.  A short walk into Galvan, another swim to cool off and back in the bus for the drive to Manning Creek, for two nights.  Yay...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magic Mike our driver and guide 

Greta the amazing mountain Goat.

 

Down we go  

 

Stunning