26 August - Mitchell Falls, Kalumburu and Kimberley Coastline

26 August 2016 – 184 770

Mitchell Falls, Kalumburu and Kimberley Coastline

This morning we got up early to be ready for a 6:30am pick up for a 7:00am flight. 
https://kingfishertours.com.au/project/wandjina-kimberley-coast/ 
After arriving at the airport we were all weighed, we were assigned to an eight seater small aircraft with our pilot “Sam”.  He briefed us on all the usual safety requirements and exactly where we would be going.  After take-off we headed over the Gibb River Road, seeing Emma Gorge, El Questro and Home Valley Stations before turning north-west across the Kimberley countryside.  We then circled in close to Mitchell Falls, which are still flowing despite what many people have told us.  This was enough to make most of us feel a bit sick on the plane.  We then headed out to the coastline and followed this to Kalumburu. We landed at Kalumburu; this was once a Catholic Mission but is now mainly an Aboriginal Community (about 400 people).  It is quite beautiful at Kalumburu.  We also visited some Hudson Bomber wreakage left over after WW2.  We took off again and followed the magnificent Kimberley coastline to the Cambridge Gulf and then the Ord River back to Kununurra.  This was an amazing flight.  We got back to the van about 4pm – very tired and very happy.  Hayden was very nervous on the first flight but enjoyed the second flight, overall we all enjoyed the day very much.  Such amazing views!!  And a swim to finish the day.

Week 10 from Hayden

Week 10 from Hayden (10yo boy)

20/08/16

Today we drove to Edith Falls and did the 8km walk and the other walk.  On the way back we stopped two times for a swim, it was awesome.  The second swim was better.  Thanks to Dad's fly net I was safe!

21/08/16

Today we drove to Nitmiluk and did the four hour canoe.  It was hard work (I didn't do much so imagine what Mum and Dad are feeling like!).  Dad let me get out and grab the back of the canoe while he paddled.  Then we went and did the walk to the lookout, the view was amazing!

22/08/16

Today we drove to the Victoria River Roadhouse and walked to the lookout and had a look around. Then we drove to Joe Creek and did the walk there.  Then we drove to Saddle Creek Rest Area and set up.  I had a play with some kids (refer to 25/08/16)

23/08/16

Today we packed up and left early to go to Keep River National Park and did 8km, 3km, 2km, 400m walks.  Then we drove to Kununurra and went to Kimberleyland Caravan Park W.A.

24/08/16

Today we went shopping for fruit and veg because we can't take it over the border.  Then we went to the information centre  and got information! After that we went to the Parks and Wildlife office and got additional information and park pass.  Then we drove to Kelly's Knob lookout and did two walks there.  Then we drove to a homestead and looked around (its original resting place is in the middle of Lake Argyle).  Then we went on Lake Argyle Cruise and saw wallaroos (cute), short eared rock wallabies (even cuter!), fresh water crocs (some of the largest in the world).  We threw pieces of bread to attract the fish, for the crocs to eat! Then we went out of the harbour and saw how big it was really (held 41 Sydney Harbours!). Then we stopped and had a swim.  Then we got back in the boat and had crackers and a lemonade.

25/08/16

Today we went to Wyndham and drove through and looked at the big boab tree (big).  Then we drove to the port and Five Rivers Lookout!  Then we went to the Dreamtime Statues and a massive crocodile!  Then we drove to the Grotto and it was dry.  We had lunch, then we went to Kimberley Fine Diamonds, after the Mirima National Park where we walked the walks.  We came back and I played with Arlo in the pool!  We played seaweeds!  Then we went and had a wrestle with his little brothers.

26/08/16

Today we went to the airport and we did a scenic flight from Kununurra to Emma Gorge to El Questro to Home Valley to Mitchell Falls to Truscott and landed in Kalumburu.  There we had lunch.  I had 4 big pieces of ham, 1 roll, 2 tomatoes, 3 000 000 000 lollies, some salami.  Then we went and looked at the crash site of some WW2 planes.  Then we flew to McGowan Island, through Fanny Bay, down King George Falls, over Berkeley, down Cambridge Gulf and landed gently down in Kununurra.

25 August - Wyndham and Mirima National Park

25 August 2016 – 184 533

Wyndham and Mirima National Park

Good!

This morning we headed out on the Great Western Highway to explore Wyndham. 
https://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/wyndham.html

The wharf area has very fast flowing tides that visibly stir up the sediment around the jetty piers.  We visited the Wyndham Caravan Park to see their giant Boab tree – it is truly enormous, it is estimated to be about 25m in circumference and 2 000 years old.
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g495088-d1367890-i115560872-Wyndham_Caravan_Park-Wyndham_Kimberley_Region_Western_Australia.html

We drove up and up to the Five Rivers Lookout, this gave an amazing view over the Forrest, Durack, Pentecost, King and Ord Rivers and the tidal flats around Wyndham.  The birds (kites) flying on the thermals around this hill were quite numerous and make it look so effortless. https://www.australiasnorthwest.com/business/attraction/five-rivers-lookout We then headed back down to the township to look at the “Dreamtime Statues” and “Big Croc” both of which were quite well done. http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/61273-warriu-park-dreamtime-statues; https://www.australiasnorthwest.com/business/attraction/big-croc  On the way back to Kununurra we stopped off at the Grotto to consider a swim, but there was very little water remaining at the moment. 

After lunch we went to Mirima (Hidden Valley) National Park and walked around the rock formations that we saw from Kelly’s Knob yesterday. https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/mirima A stop off at Kimberley Fine Diamonds showed me I know nothing about diamonds and pink argyle diamonds are way out of my budget.

https://kimberleyfinediamonds.com.au/ We enjoyed an afternoon swim at the caravan park before feeding the turtles just before sunset.  Another day thoroughly enjoyed.

24 August - Kununurra and Lake Argyle

24 August 2016 – 184 378

Kununurra and Lake Argyle

This morning we headed to the supermarket for a restock, and then to the tourist information to find out more about the Gibb River Road. https://www.visitkununurra.com/ The conclusion was that some facilities in the area are starting to close for the season already, due to a combination of a really boom season and the sudden drop in tourist numbers from the early start to the build-up.  We also went to the Department of Parks and Wildlife to buy an annual pass for the National Parks – this covers entry fees but not camping. https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/know/park-passes It appears we will need to have more definite plans here than we have had so far, as national park camping needs to be booked online prior to getting to a park – however the brochures on the local parks are far more detailed than in the territory and hence planning should be more possible.  We were also advised that Purnululu may be closed again as the fire that closed it last week has jumped containment lines.  Our next destination was Kelly’s knob, this was a steep climb that rewarded us with views over both the town and nearby rock formations – kind of like a mini Bungle Bungle area. https://www.visitkununurra.com/accommodation/kellys-knob-lookout

After lunch, we drove to Lake Argyle and had a look at the relocated Argyle Downs Homestead (of Durack family fame – Kings in Grass Castles). https://www.visitkununurra.com/contact-us/argyle-homestead-museum This had been relocated stone by stone before the Ord River was dammed and half of the Argyle Downs pastoral lease flooded.  

The remainder of the afternoon was spent with Lake Argyle Cruises, cruising on Lake Arrgyle – it is massive! https://www.lakeargylecruises.com/ It is many, many times larger than Sydney Harbour.  We got up close to cliffs with small families of short eared rock wallabies and wallaroos that came down to eat pellets. 

After heading into another cove bread was fed to many many fish. One of the types spits water into the air as a strategy to knock insects into the water so this was amusing as various people got hit.  Of course with a large number of fish congregating to eat the bread, some of the fresh water crocodiles came to have their dinner of fish. 

We then went out into the main section of Lake Argyle – in the distance it was just possible to see a sliver of land on the horizon – the lake is just enormous.  We went out into a deep section where we could all have a swim in a seemingly bottomless lake (it is over 40m deep in spots) while having nibblies and watching the sunset.  This was magical!!  Then home for bed.