Amalia Gorge

                                     Me & Lizard Lisa catching some rays in Amelia Gorge.

                                            The El Questro Lodge for the rich & famous!!!

                                            Part of the 4 WD track!!! A bit rough!!!

                                                   Explosion Gorge on the 4 WD track.

Amelia Gorge

                                                          Amelia Gorge & Waterfall.

                                                            Steve in Amelia Gorge.

                                                                     Amelia Gorge.

                                                    Me in Amalia Gorge.

Flight Lake Argyle , Bungle Bungles & El Questro

Flight part 2-

                                                              The Diamond mine.

                                                              The Bungle Bungles.

We left Kununurra and headed down “The Gibb River Road”!! Arrived at El Questro and have camped up for 4 nights. We went to Zebedee Springs and this was good the water temperature was 28 to 32 and Steve loved it. Next onto Amalia Gorge walk which would take 3 hours, this was a very pretty walk with a lot of water and rock climbing, (or ledge crawling by me, as I am scared of heights)!!! The water was still running at the waterfall which is 32 meters high.

Onto the 4WD tracks, firstly we headed out to Explosion Hole (a lovely gorge) the track was not to challenging, onto Bronco’s lookout, a very steep and narrow climb, the view was stunning at the top. On to the Jetty which was a short deep sandy track with a climb out.  Next onto Chamberlain Gorge and jetty,  very nice.  Next track Pigeon Hole and lookout, well this was much more challenging, with several steep boulders, narrow climbs & descends, very interesting when you meant someone else doing the track. Lastly Saddleback Ridge & lookout, this again had a long, fairly deep river crossing (which we like), very narrow winding, extremely steep, sharp bends track. The scenery from the top was excellent!!! Steve really enjoyed his 4 WD and I also had fun!!! Not finished yet there was a Blues band on at the bar, so we went for an hour and stayed for 3 hours. The band was great, there were girls dancing with Hula hoop’s (Which Steve really liked), they were very good until one of the girls hair caught on fire!!! El Questro had a massive fire, which added to the atmosphere.  

Another day another walk (well actually they are only a walk if you are a rock wallaby)!!  to see Emma Gorge & waterfall (3.5klm), well it was 8am and very nice walking, sorry climbing the big boulders to get to the overhang & waterfall. We saw a black tailed Rock Wallaby. We had a swim in the large pool, which seemed extremely cold, although the paper work said that temperatures are between 15 & 24, we don’t think it was 15, it was freezing!!!  Back to Emma resort for a lovely coffee and headed back towards the camp site.
 Still time for another walk the day’s not over yet!   A  9.6klm walk along rugged paths, deep sand, creek beds & rain forest, this took us to Champagne Springs. We did it in 4 hours and had about half an hour swimming and relaxing under the waterfall, it was a great walk. Not many people at the springs due to the long walk. I slipped on a rock and hurt my leg!!  Steve also saw a King Brown Snake!!! Scary!!! Coming back at about 1330 it was so hot,  I think my face is still glowing!!  The scenery was stunning with huge cliffs about 300 meters high, a great walk.

Yes you’ve guessed another day another walk only 6.8klm today to El Questro Gorge. This is a deep narrow gorge, flanked by sheer cliffs, crystal clear pools and lush tropical vegetation. This walk is only recommended for very fit & adventurous as very challenging and dangerous or stupid (me)!!!! At the half way point you have to wade through water up to my chest (most people’s waist) and clamber up a massive boulder. Well everyone said if you get past this point the rest is easy – of course all the people that say this must be the one’s that only ever get half way!!! Because there were a lot more massive boulders, which of course Steve helped me up, but coming back I couldn’t get down a massive boulder and got very wet!!! However Mac Micking pool was at the end, a stunning pool and waterfall and we had it all to ourselves. An absolutely stunning gorge!!!! Yes that was the morning and in the afternoon we did a boat cruise down Chamberlain gorge, a very pleasant trip!!!!

                                                   Steve at the start of the Gibb River Road.

                                                          One of our many water crossing's.

                                                  Steve in Zebeddee hot springs (El Questro).

Flight Lake Argyle & Bungle Bungles.

Still alive, sorry no signal for weeks!!!

We did a 2 hour flight with Sling air, over the Diversion Dam completed in 1963, Kununurra Township. The Ord irrigation system built in 1960, Packsaddle Plains, Spillway Creek, Argyle Downs Homestead, Lake Argyle Tourist village (where we had stayed), Lake Argyle, Ord River Dam, Ord top dam, Lissadell Station, Texas Station, Bow river diamond mine, Argyle diamond mine, The Osmond ranges and the Bungle Bungles.  Well this was a fantastic flight and had to be done, the information we gained was extremely interesting and the scenery was out of this world. This is a must do to see this vast area.
 

                                                                      Me & our aircraft.

                                                                     Stunning Lake Argyle.

                                                                     The Bungle Bungle's.

                                                          Fire's burning near a river bed.

                                                  Kunnara town & sandle wood plantations.

Kununurra/Wyndham -WA.

Kununurra – well first we went to the Zebra rock gallery and this was very interesting, we had seen the basic stone and it is stunning what they do to it. Next we went to the Sandalwood factory and this was also very interesting and educational. Next we went to the Hoochery distillery (they make rum) Yum, Yum says Steve!!! Pictures to follow….. We also went to the Ivanhoe crossing, which at present is closed to vehicles as to much water.  On to the stone Gallery, again very interesting. Lastly we went to the Diamond factory and my word the pink Diamonds are fantastic and guess what, no I didn’t get any, most things were well out of my price range, and still it was good to look!!  Kununurra is a great place and seems to have everything here.

Wyndham – 100klms from Kununurra and a very historical town, we went to the 5 river’s look out (Forrest River, King River, Durack River, Pentecost River & Ord River) all these 5 rivers amalgamates here and it is known as the Cambridge Gulf. This lookout and area is amazing!!!  We went to the new Jetty, the museum, the port and the pub. We also went to the Croc farm, which was awesome the size of  Crocs are out of this world!!! The pictures do not tell the true story. A very enjoyable day.

                                                    Steve not enjoying his Rum!!!!! 72%

                                                  A must for all alcoholics!! Steve on balcony.

                                                   Steve at Ivanhoe River Crossing - Closed!!

                                                        Steve with a giant Croc- Wyndham.

                                                  The Cambridge Gulf where the 5 Rivers meet.

                                        This Croc was massive over 5 meters, it was so scary!!!!

                                                      Has anyone seen a missing child???? (Blood on the crocs mouth)

Walk Bungle Bungles - WA.

The Honeycombed Domes.

Steve in the Bungle Bungle's.

Inside Cathedral Gorge.

Bungle Bungles and some more Bungles!!

Steve at Piccaniny Lookout.

Going into the Chasm walk.

We loved the Bungle, Bungles!!!!!!

Lake Argyle to the Bungle Bungles -WA

Still at Lake Argyle and we went on a boat trip between Argyle Dam and the Ord Dam, they also call this a Lake because it is dammed at both ends, however it was like a river to us. This trip was excellent and very informative. The boat ride was fast through parts due to the amount of water flowing and how shallow it was in places. All good fun and they reckon there is a Croc every 10 meters and we think they are right as we saw loads, all freshies!!! We also saw a short Earred Rock Wallaby and some Jesus Birds (Can’t remember their correct name), the Jesus birds lived on the water lily pads and just walked on them all day, they were small and their feet were huge, like they had fins on!!!! So funny!!!!

                                                                               Lake Ord.

                                             Can you see the Short Earred Rock Wallaby?

Next we arrive in the Purnululu National Park, home to the Bungle Bungle range, as well as many other ranges. This National Park is only assessable by 4WD – lucky  - of we go for a 53klm trek to our campsite (Kurrajong). We are here now for 5 nights, we are all set up with the mozzie net (for comfortable reading and the shower tent ready for our hot showers after a hard days walking).
we have done the Echidna Chasm walk, this was a 2km walk, with spectacular 20 metre chasm with varying colour hues. This was exceptional, massive, very cool and stunning!!! We also took the 1 km walk to the lookout to view the Osmond ranges – again very impressive. This was a walk not to be missed. Next onto a 5klm walk – Mini Palms walk. This walk had some steep slopes, we also had to negotiate large fallen rocks, it has soaring cliffs, Livistona palms, two viewing platforms and an Amphitheatre at the end. I felt a little disappointed with the last walk – still never mind it beats work!! Oh yes and I took Lizard Lisa with me today on all the walks and forgot to take a picture, will try again tomorrow!!

                                                          The start of the Bungle Bungle's!!

                                                          Look at how small I look!!!!

                                           Me as far into the Chasm walk as we could go!!

 Another day and off we go again, we have done the Cathedral walk (3klm), this had short steep slopes and narrow ledges. This walk took us through striped domes, pebbles, potholes, towering cliffs and honeycomb rock that took us to the amphitheatre. The amphitheatre was huge, very cool and relaxing, a stunning place to sit for a while. As it happened there was a group of people in front of us and 1 guy was playing the didgeridoo and another lady started to sing – it was incredible!!! I was just waiting for the mob dance to happen and that would have completed it perfectly!!

Next we did a 1klm Piccaninny Gorge lookout walk, the walk took us down one massive river bed of rock forms and up through some domes to the lookout – a pleasant walk.

Next The Domes walk (1klm). This was a splendid walk and we were just winding around banded domes, which towered majestically above us!!

I thought the Bungles Bungles would only be a small range, they are just in all the pictures etc, however the domes vary in shape’s and size’s, even the smaller one’s are massive and the ranges seem to go on forever, they are everywhere. We did a 30klm 4 WD to get to them and passed ranges with massive domes, nearly all the way, they are absolutely stunning and have to been seen to be believed!!!! An awesome day!!!!       

                                                                Me on the Cathedral walk.