As we were packing up to leave the caravan park, our friends Susan and Ian arrived so we had coffee and caught up with our travel stories. They were staying in Kununurra for a week and we will probably catch up with them again somewhere down the track.
We stayed at Spring Creek which is a free camp just opposite the road into The Bungles. The alarm got set for 5am and after packing supplies for the day we set off on the 53 km trip to the Rangers station to register our visit. It took over an hour and a half to do those 53 km because the road was pretty rough and we were glad we didn't take the van. There were 6 water crossings which were OK - there can be more than 20 after rain! Once registered we did a lookout and a bush tucker walk before doing the Echidna Gorge walk. Rough going but so worth it. After another 30 odd k's we finally reached The Bungle Bungle Range. It was beautiful and the walk to 'The Cathedral' was wonderful. We had it to ourselves and it was so cool and refreshing in there. By this time it was getting very hot so we started the long trek back to the van and arrived at about 4pm. Everyone back at the camp wanted to know how we liked it and some were going the next day so wanted some tips. We ended up having a big camp fire and exchanging travel stories (as you do) and stayed for four nights because it was just so comfortable there. One night we had a 'camp fire cook off' and all cooked different flavoured damper to share. Another couple put two big fish on the fire to share and we threw potatoes in as well. Every day we heard about cars having to be towed out of the Bungles ($1,000) !!
Luckily we came through unscathed.
Our next destination was Fitzroy Crossing Caravan Park to get cleaned up. We swam in the pool, visited the sights and crossed over The old Fitzroy Crossing. After a couple of days we moved on to Derby to see the sights and a couple of days later, headed to Broome. We were fortunate enough to be there at the time of a full moon so saw "The stairway to the Moon" as well as the beaches, markets and beautiful rock formations along the coast. After leaving Broome we headed down the coast visiting Eighty Mile Beach where we walked along picking up beautiful shells and coral - and rescuing two young women who had a flat battery. We stayed for three nights on The De Grey River which was so serene. The bird life was amazing and we again met more wonderful people and shared campfires. We spent half a day in Port Hedland to look around and replenish supplies then headed inland to the "Hottest Town in Australia" Marble Bar.
We walked the heritage trail and visited Comet Gold Mine as well as all the other points of interest in Marble Bar including the incredible rocks which gave Marble Bar its name. The rocks are actually Jasper but were mistaken for Marble. Again we have taken our lovely van into all sorts of terrain and she has come through with flying colours including the 4WD track into remote Carawine Gorge which is on a cattle station. It was heaven with an abundance of bird life, fish jumping out of the water, incredible escarpments and some very friendly Bulls.
After staying there for a couple of days we headed on to Nullagine along Skull Springs Road.............well! the Carawine Gorge road and the road into the Bungles were like a freeways compared to Skull Springs!!! It was a 143 km journey and took over five hours! Thankfully, Peter got us through. The scenery was wonderful and we actually really enjoyed the drive but were so relieved to get through without anything broken!!
Weeeeee!
Our cruise on Lake Argyle
just chillin'
The Captain reminded me of Bob Burton and I wanted to hug him!
Five foot Freshwater Croc
Naaaaw
We met Susan and Ian at Mataranka then Darwin
Stayed at their place in Young and met again in Kununurra!
At the Bungle Bungle Ranges
Love these Boab Trees
A bush Turkey
One of the water crossings on the way into The Bungle Bungle National Park
The road was so rough, the corrugations formed their own shadows!
From one of the lookouts - that's our car down there
walking into Echidna Gorge along a dry river bed
On the ground behind this plant is a Bower Birds Nest.
He has decorated it with grey and white stones
part way into the Gorge
We watched this frog for ages, we thought it was going to grab the cricket
walking into Echidna Gorge
walking to "The Cathedral"
beautiful rock erosions
Inside The Cathedral
Inside The Cathedral
going through one of the crossings
After our trek into the Bungles, the car REALLY needed a clean (bush style)
We met some lovely people and shared good times around the campfire
Later in the night we had 18 people sharing the fire
Crossing the old Fitzroy Crossing
Geikie Gorge
Geikie Gorge
time for a dip
This Eagle had something in its claws and wasn't going to let it go.
He couldn't fly because of the weight of whatever it had so it was running, dragging its prey!
Talking to the fishermen and watching them catch live bait in nets
so they could catch Barramundi
I'm in old The Derby Jail - probably a crime against hair!
The Prison Tree, Derby
Worlds longest Cattle Trough, Derby
Sunset from Derby Wharf
waiting for the sun to set and the Moon to rise, Broome
Stairway to the Moon - Broome
Broome Coastline
Driving on Cable Beach
Peter thought the rocks looked like the rocks in the Superman movie
Section of Eighty Mile Beach
Collecting shells on Eighty Mile Beach
Camp site on the De Grey River
Walking across the unused railway Bridge over De Grey River
Sunset on De Grey River
The only Roadhouse in Marble Bar closes everyday for lunch between 1pm and 3pm!
Chinamans Pool, Marble Bar
Marble Bar
the colours are amazing
Our camp on the river at Carowine Gorge
This fellow came to say hello..
..and stayed for a while!!
The beautiful Gorge
lots of birdlife
a Jabiru
me panning for gold from the comfort of my chair
letting the tyres down for our 4WD trip to Nullagine
cattle skulls on a post to mark stations driveway
the 'road' became a track
Good views but it had it all - bull dust, stones, mud patches, corrugations, big dips and climbs, washouts. The track became really narrow at points and we did a big river crossing.
I think we wanted to kiss the bitumen when we got to Nullagine more than 5 hours later!
