The Ord River, WA.

While based in Kununurra we took in a Launch Tour of The Ord River system. The river banks are varied and interesting to pass through. The tour takes in the Ord River, upstream of The Diversion Dam to the base of the Lake Argyle Dam Wall, a distance of about 55 km. This stretch of water is also known as Lake Kununurra.

These riverside farms are too small in area to be viable enterprises but are keenly sought out as 'Lifestyle Blocks'.

On one of these riverside blocks a Brolga was sighted.

The main Ord Irrigation Area water is gravity fed but for The Ord #2 Irrigation Area the water needs to be lifted from the lake by these four screw pumps.

 

The Tour passes through several Gorge sections as you travel upstream.

We have a riverside lunch stop.

The river narrows as we travel further upstream and in some sections is very narrow. The final 15 km the water flow is quite rapid as the river drops 10 m over the distance.

We approach the Lake Argyle Dam Wall and the end of our river journey.

The Hydro Power Station supplies electricity to The East Kimberley towns of Kununurra and Wyndham.

This is the vessel that we travelled the river in. We vacated the vessel at this point and a Coach Load of new passengers boards for the downstream journey.

We board the Coach here for the return trip to Kununurra.

Part of Lake Argyle from the top of the dam wall.

Looking down from the dam wall to the river. The tour boat has cast off and will soon head downstream.

On our return journey we pull into The Historic Durack Homestead.

Beautiful lawns surround the homestead.

The homestead has verandas right around and all rooms have their own exits to the veranda.

The Headstones of all The Durack Family have been bought here although the actual graves remain as they were.

Kununurra, WA.

We enjoyed more of The East Kimberley winter temperatures at Kununurra. Staying for five nights before we leave Western Australia after more than eight months touring the State. We stayed at Kimberleyland Caravan Park and while there I was able to repair two leaky water pipes. It seems strange how these leaks manifest themselves after travelling for over twelve months with no issues!

Looking across Lake Kununurra to the Sleeping Buddha, as viewed from our Caravan Park.

Friendly Johnson Crocodiles come up to the lake edge looking for a 'hand out'.

Rare Gouldian Finches in The Kimberleyland CP Aviary.

There are also Double Barred Finches. I've also seen these in the wild.

Downstream side of The Ord River Irrigation Scheme Diversion Dam. The retained water forms Lake Kununurra.

Initially water was pumped into the Main Irrigation Channel through this Pump House. The pumps are still housed there but the building is now The Pump House Restaurant.

Three delivery pipes from under the Pump House.

The three pipes shown above exit into the cage structure in the foreground and the gravity fed water from Lake Kununurra is flowing past in the background.

Wyndham, WA.

Most other travellers would have left Spring Creek RA and driven through to Wyndham in the one day, but not us. There were several other RA's between the two places and we couldn't pass all of them without calling in and talking to some of our fellow travellers. After all, that is how to find out about the great "not to be missed" places of interest along the way. Therefore Dunham River RA, only about 90 km short of Wyndham, was to be our camp site for a night. This RA was a very good, level, gravelled area with toilets and a dump point. We arrived early, before lunch, so we could, literally, choose our camp location at will. Within 2 to 3 hours most of the area was taken up with campers in all manner of vehicles.

The following morning saw us make the remaining 90 odd km to Wyndham for an early entry into Wyndham CP. Sharon in Reception saw us signed in and we selected our van site from the several available for our three night stay. The sites are large, grassed and shaded by large eucalypts. The climate here in Wyndham, at this time of the year,  is mild with a gentle breeze and as with most of The Kimberley Area, very few annoying or biting bugs.

Wyndham is a fairly quiet town and the pace of life here is definitely slow! Suits me fine.

Adjacent to the Wyndham Port Area are the ruins of The Magistrates Residence, only the foundations remain. Strangely the Magistrate never took up residence in the home.

There are huge stacks of Mahogany and Sandalwood Logs at the Wyndham Port awaiting export. This is Mahogany. The Sandalwood is farmed and shipped from nearby Kununurra.

Alongside the port area there is a museum, of sorts, of the machinery and locomotives of the ports early days.

Two more of the early locomotives.

In town is the Wyndham Historical Museum. This museum, manned by volunteers, is well worth a visit. Inside, are photographs of the town and port from the early days. In several of these photographs the locos pictured above can be seen during their working days.

Only erected in 2012 is the new Public Jetty. The boarding pontoon is floating, of course, to accommodate the hugely variable tides of the area. Note the colour of the water, it is more like liquid mud. Saltwater Crocodiles are known to inhabit the mangroves along the shore line here, although we didn't see any.

A high level view of the Port area from the Five Rivers Lookout.

From the Five Rivers Lookout looking East over The Ord River Estuary.

Looking West from the Five Rivers Lookout you can see Wyndham township in the centre with the Estuaries of the King, Forrest, Durack and Pentecost Rivers. The view from here during the Wet Season would be phenomenal.

The Big Croc welcomes visitors to Wyndham. It is about 23 metres long and contains 5.5 km of steel rod, 10 rolls of bird mesh and 6 cubic metres of concrete. It was constructed by an artist and volunteers from the local TAAFE College in 1987.

Constructed at about the same time as The Big Croc is this Aboriginal Family in what looks like copper. The male stands about 3 metres tall.

The female sitting with the child between the two.

Also in the display, the animals that they once hunted are also depicted.

Behind the male statue, there lurks a massive python.

Bungle Bungle NP, WA.

After fifteen relaxing days at Derby and having completed our planned tourist activities the time came to move on. As you may realise by now we only move in short bursts, therefore I had plenty of Rest Area (RA) stop-overs plotted along our planned route. The first night was to be Ellendale Lake. This is not an official RA, but rather, a free camping area on Private Property, with the owner's permission, around a pool remaining from a 'Wet Season' water course. This is a water point for the beef cattle on the property, therefore the cattle casually roam through the camps heading to the water. Some of these beasts are becoming too friendly and inquisitive though. We camped for three nights here and then moved on to Fitzroy River Lodge at Fitzroy Crossing. I absolutely needed TV reception to take in the Origin 3 Match. Which, in case you have been in a cave and haven't heard, Queensland royally defeated NSW. Most of the viewers  at the Lodge Bistro were Maroons Supporters, especially after half time, when the Blues supporters were strangely absent.

After three nights at Fitzroy Crossing we did a series of one night stops beginning with Ngumban Cliff RA, a great camp but very windy that night on top of the cliff. Good views though. It was then onto Mary Pool RA. This is an extremely popular stop-over. Too many here actually and with a brisk Easterly blowing very dusty as well. This was a great stop-over for us as we met up with friends, Heather and Al, from Hervey Bay who were travelling in the opposite direction to us. That afternoon and evening we traded yarns of the places both of us have visited.

The following day we topped up with fuel at Halls Creek then travelled on to Spring Creek RA. This RA is directly opposite the entry to the Bungle Bungle NP. We stayed three nights here so that we could take in a coach tour to 'The magical and awesome Bungles'. I opted not to drive our vehicle the 80 kms out there as I had heard various reports about the track condition, none of them good. The Tour was excellent, departed at 7 AM from The Bungle Bungle CP (actually The Mabel Downs Station) and returned at 4:30 PM. We then returned to The Bungles CP at 6 PM for a Complimentary "Bush Dinner" with fresh damper. The meal was delicious and filling after our full day at 'The Bungles'.

Huge Boab trees abound in these upper Latitudes. This one at a Rest Area.

With Jude standing beside it you can get a good idea of the size of these monsters. It is possible to enter this Boab around the other side, but 'God' knows what else is in there with you.

Ellendale Lake on Private Property makes an excellent camp spot. The Highway passes just beyond the tree line on the far side.

Most of the campers choose to camp around the 'back side' of the lake, presumably to be further away from the highway noise.

Wild cattle roam through the camp area on their way to the water. This one, christened Mary for some reason' was extremely inquisitive and comes looking for a fresh lettuce leaf or maybe a juicy crunchy carrot, far better than dry grass!

'Mary' is quite pushy if she doesn't get quick service. Jude had already given her a treat and now she wants more!

Elephant Rock, seen as we arrive at The Bungle Bungle National Park (NP).

The familiar 'beehive shape' is confined to the southern end of the range.

There are various shapes and sizes to the outcrops.

Part of the walking trail to Piccaninny Creek Lookout.

Jude and I at Piccaninny Creek Lookout.

The view from the Lookout.

Termites build there mounds in the strangest of places.

Walking into Cathedral Gorge we pass this pool of water. The water is not as clean as it looks here, believe me!

Further into Cathedral Gorge the path narrows.

Suddenly the narrow path opens into an enormous cavern. Hence the name Cathedral Gorge.

During the Wet Season water flows into the gorge through this channel in the rocks.

The Halls Creek Fault Line passes through the Bungle Bungle NP and is quite evident here. The fault line passes from near Darwin all the way across to Halls Creek.

Walking into Echidna Chasm now along a creek bed.

Echidna Chasm is at the Northern end of the range and the geology is very different here. All the rock here is "Conglomerate" whereas in the southern end the features are fine grained sandstone.

The various fixed 'pebbles are released from the rock by eons of Wet Seasons and deposited along the creek bed. This is what you have to walk over, all the way in and out. It is very strenuous on the legs.

Palms grow in the more open areas.

But now the Chasm narrows suddenly.

It is quite dark and very cool in the Narrows of the Chasm.

There are two ladders to ascend with this large boulder looming over your head.

We are at the end of Echidna Chasm, unless you are an ant and can scale a vertical rock face. Now we face the walk out to catch the coach before it leaves for the drive home.