Keep National Park to Lake Argyle.

We leave Gregory National Park behind and headed west from Timber Creek, we stopped off at Policeman’s point, well worth a look and not what we were expecting at all. Next we took a look at Gregory’s Tree, this is a large Boab that stands at the campsite of Augustus Gregory’s North Australian expedition which was commenced in 1885. We only did a short drive today to Keep National Park which is just 3Klm inside the Northern Territory’s border. Keep NP is a smaller NP and very pretty, on our first evening the Ranger did a talk on the land and wildlife. There are many sandstone ridges and are Bungle, Bungle miniature’s (not at all small just smaller than the Bungle, Bungle’s).  We did several walks here a 3klm walk around the rock formations, was stunning and a big surprise. Next day we did an 8klm walk (The Jarnem Walk, which took us to the lookout, art site and Nigli Gap) A stunning walk. Following on from this we did the Jinumm 3klm walk which follows the bed of the Keep River to a site once used by Aboriginal (Miriwoong tribe), this was a wet season shelter. We were very disappointed on this last walk, as the rock art was rubbish and there was really nothing to see. Still the rest had all been stunning!!! We saw lots of bird life Kookaburras, Gouldian finches, little red finches, cockatoos and lots of other’s we didn’t know. Fabulous another stunning NP.

                                                                         Policeman Point.

 Keep National Park.

                                                                 Me in a rock at Keep NP.

 

Steve in Keep NP.

Mini Bungle Bungles  - Keep NP.

 

Next we have the Western Australia Border to contend with, firstly I had to give my Vegetables to some other campers that were heading East, next at Border control they go through everything, however I was allowed to keep my nuts!! All was well and we were soon on our way and into WA. Heading to Lake Argyle  it was only a short drive today.

                                                                     We cross the border.

The damming of the Ord River in 1972 formed Lake Argyle, this is the largest man made lake in Australia, set amongst the Carr – Boyd Ranges and covering an area around 1000sq klm. Lake Argyle is an awesome sight with many bays, islands, creeks & waterfalls. Lake Argyle is a must for anyone travelling, it is stunning. The camp site here is excellent and the pool is fantastic. GIRLS you must come here and you must do the Luxury Cat cruise- it is fantastic!!! We took a trip on The Kimberley 50ft luxury Cat and headed out through the Eastern straight Mount Misery to Monsmont Island and lots of other islands in between. We fossicked for Zebra Rock on a tiny Remote Island and all got some to take home. In Lake Argyle there are approximately 30,000 Freshwater Crocs and yes we got in and swam with them, they are bigger than me and still scary although they say they won’t hurt us!!! Still we did the swim and watched the sunset –this was a fantastic day.  We left the camp at 0930 and arrived back at 6pm, we had all the food we could eat, lots of drink and loads of room. Exceptional cruise to be recommended to all. Oh yes we can’t get used to the time difference, we have moved our clocks back 1.5hours and now it is light at 5am!!

Next we did a drive around the area and went to the look out and the Dam wall – very pretty and absolutely massive. Some facts The Ord Dam was originally 68 meters high and 355 meters long and held 5.8million mega litres and in 1996 this was raised to 11.6 million mega litres.   We went to the Durack Homestead (Early Pioneers) and museum, the Dead Horse Springs & did a walk along the rocky spillway finding dead Crocs.   

                               Our pool with Lake Argyle behind us - stunning!!!!!!