BUNGLE BUNGLE NATIONAL PARK 21st August

 

We unhooked the caravan and left it in storage at Warmun (Turkey Creek) for $10 per night and took off to the Bungles loaded up with food and tent. Once there we found that there is a new caravan park just inside the gates operated by the owners of Mabel Downs, someone staying there told us $45 per night and a little spartan.

It took us two hours to drive in over a fairly rough road and several water crossings. We set up the tent (last time was five years ago) and then settled in for the night.

The next morning we found our battery flat due to the car fridge and had to wait for the ranger to give us a jump start but then set out. First stop was to Echidna Chasm and we arrived just in time for the sun to reach the bottom of the narrow gorge. It is really quite spectacular and the colours are amazing.

Mini Palm walk was a long difficult track which we didn’t think was worth the effort at the end. Having said that we are a bit older and found the walk a bit much younger folk wouldn’t have so much trouble.

Next day we headed off for Cathedral Gorge and the Bungle walk, both quite easy walks. On the way we saw what we think is a juvenile Bustard. The drive in is really lovely. The Bungle beehives are fascinating such a variety of colours and quite beautiful.

Cathedral Gorge is awe inspiring and so restful , another one of those ‘must sees’ . The scenery on the walk in keeps you interested with lots of photo opportunities. The Gorge itself would be a lovely place to sit and have lunch, so peaceful and cool.

Next morning was pack up and drive out back to pick up the van and down to Leycester Rest Area which is on the banks of the Ord River.

KUNUNURRA

 

Kununurra is on the Ord River very close to Lake Argyle which is the largest inland lake in Australia and in fact is called an inland sea. The town is small but with quite a good shopping centre. The caravan parks are rather congested with smallish sites.

We went on a flight over the Bungle Bungles, Lake Argyle, the Argyle diamond mine and points in between. Never again will we get in such a small plane. It took 6 passengers and Ian described it as a Morris minor with wings and a victor mower engine. I was petrified most of the time and we were jammed in like sardines and couldn’t move once we were in. Unfortunately the Perspex windows were quite scratched and milky so the photos were quite poor. Having said that it was certainly an experience and we obviously saw much more from the air than we would ever have on the ground.

Lake Argyle is also famous for its zebra rock a siltstone which resembles the stipes on a zebra and can only be mined for a couple of months of the year when the water height goes down. It is the only place in the world where it can be found.

We camped at a quite nice spot on the road to Wyndham alongside Maggie creek. There are a couple of Brolgas which come and go, cormorants, kookaburras, corellas, whistling kite, rosellas, galahs, rainbow bee eaters and other little birds. The only drawback is that the site is not very level.

Wyndham was awful – enough said.

VICTORIA HIGHWAY TO KUNANURRA – 11th August

Once we hit the Victoria River region the scenery changed to lovely rocky escarpments and very pretty outlooks. We stayed overnight at the Matheson RA but there are quite a lot of RA on the Victoria highway.

Our next two nights we are spending at the Victoria River Scenic lookout just a few Kms out of Timber Creek. There are several campsites both at the monument and along the road to the turnaround. Mobile phone is also available here on and off that is. We are camped in a small secluded spot overlooking the Victoria River and it is a nice change from the crowed caravan parks, national parks and roadside stops. We are planning the next leg of our journey into the Kimberly.

LITCHFIELD NATIONAL PARK 9TH AUGUST

 

We preferred Litchfield to Kakadu as did other travellers who we spoke to. We camped at Wangi Falls, which was the only place you could park a caravan. The bays weren’t too bad in size but they had an entry leg which was bordered by in-ground poles which made backing a caravan in a little difficult. Having said that once in it was quite private.

The falls and plunge pool at the bottom are quite spectacular with lots of folk swimming and sitting about in the cool water.

Buley Rockhole was extremely popular with quick flowing water running down the hill interspersed with lovely shaded waterholes.

Florence waterfall and plunge pool was equally impressive and the 1km walk along the riverbank to the plunge pool was especially pleasing.

We did a tour of the Lost City, down a 10km 4WD only track which again was well worth a look and had very interesting rock formations which did really remind one of a ruined ancient city.

On the way out just 2km south of the Batchelor turnoff we stopped for lunch at Coomallie creek which Camps 6 said was just a daytime stop but there are no ‘no camping’ signs there and it is a delightful spot alongside the creek which again had a couple of little rapids and waterholes deep enough to immerse in.

DARWIN – 1st August

Caravan Parks are either booked out or very full,ended up at Big 4 Howard Springs, a very nice park with various activities on during the evenings, two pools,spaetc. Jammed full but still enough space around you.

Darwin is a lovely town, clean and new with a satellite city of Palmerston on the south side. We did a self drive tour around the parks and beach fronts and there are some lovely views to be had. Went shopping to buy a few bits and pieces that we needed and sussed out the pier at Elizabeth river for doing a bit of fishing.

We visited the museum and saw “Sweetheart” a rather large crocodile which used to terrorize the local fisherman and was eventually trapped and accidently drowned as they tried to re-locate it. It was given to the museum and stuffed. The museum is small but quite interesting with the exhibits well set out the section on cyclone Tracy was especially interesting.

MUST DO –MINDIL MARKETS

The Thursday evening markets on the Mindil foreshore are something to behold. Hundreds of people gathered to picnic in the park and on the beach. We sat with hundreds on the beach and watched the sun go down and then wandered the markets and watched the sideshows. It was quite a treat and a must do for anyone visiting Darwin.

HOWARD SPRINGS NATURE PARK.

This is a really lovely spot to picnic and swim. Unfortunately the pond was closed for renovations when we were there but should it be open it would be a great spot to spend the afternoon.

MANDURAH

We took the ferry across to Mandurah and had lunch at the hotel there and then fished off the pier until it was time to take the ferry home again. No luck with the fishing at all but still enjoyable.

CORROBOREE PARK – 31st July

We have camped at Corroboree Park Tavern campground, lots of space, and GREEN GRASS – yeah!! Good value at $22.50 including power for the first night and the second is half price. Tomorrow we are off on a lunchtime cruise on the Adelaide River to see birds, crocodiles and stuff like that.

The cruise was with Wetland Cruises at Corroboree Billabong and was terrific. The billabong is freshwater and about 45km long. The tour guide (Ian) was excellent and it was full on from start to finish. We went on the lunchtime 3 hour cruise, lunch was an excellent and filling meat salad eaten onboard in the middle of a waterlily patch. We saw so many birds and lots of crocodiles plus lovely lotus and water lilies. Cost $65 per person and well worth it.

Off to Darwin tomorrow.