Windjana National Park

WINDJANA GORGE is about 150kms from Derby down the Gibb River Road, the section we were on wasn't bad and about 80% would of been sealed. The road into the gorge off the GRR was closed earlier in the week while they graded after all the rain last week so it wasn't in too bad condition for gravel.

Although this photo is taken in the gorge, these 90 metre limestone walls welcome/confront you as you enter the car park. In Karijini you walked along flat land and looked down into the gorge, here the fact it is a wall is what impresses you.

                                       

WINDJANA GORGE as you wander further in.

FRESHWATER CROCODILE one of the many locals basking in the sunshine and this is actually how close we got.

TUNNEL CREEK is 37 kms further on into the national park down more gravel road. You scramble over some huge black dolerite rocks to enter the 750 metre long tunnel which was formed by the creek cutting through a spur of the Napier Range. We wore our reef shoes as you walk along sandy ledges and then through the water up to your waist in parts armed with your trusty torch.

The roof in the tunnel was amazing with hugh rock stalagtites and various formations.

Stream at the exit of the tunnel.

BOAB TREES are the symbol of this area and these ones looked good surrounded by all the termite nests.

The Day Has Arrived

HORIZONTAL FALLS day trip, it was just fabulous! We flew from Derby in the seaplane, with the flight being about 30 minutes.

Flying in this was our view of the horizontal falls at low tide, lucky for us one of the best tides of the year. Our day in the area meant that we got to experience three trips between the two gorges.

Top gorge, at low tide and high tide, the drop being four metres.

Bay at full tide, at low tide 70% of this  water has disappeared and the water is still 40 metres deep.

Lemon sharks hear the seaplanes and then line up for a feed, you can swim in a cage off the floating pontoon to see them underwater.

Flight home this gives you bit of an idea of the speed of the water when you see the different colour swirls of the water around the Buccaneer Archipelago.

Biding Time At Derby

DERBY WHARF at high tide of just over 10 metres. Derby is north of Broome and on the King Sound which is a massive mudflat, so alas no nice beaches. There are four tides a day to give you an idea of the speed, so it has been interesting to visit the jetty at different times to comprehend the enormity of the variance.

DERBY WHARF at low tide. As you can appreciate it is a very big U shape wharf that you can drive around in. The murky mangrove waters look like an attractive home for crocodiles and we have started to see crocodile warning signs again.

                                                                     

BOAB PRISON TREE believed to be 1500 years old. It was used as a staging point for prisoners being walked into Derby. The area has boab trees of varying shapes and sizes and where we are staying the area tracks flocks of noisy corellas, some that have been frolicking in the mud are bright orange.

These are pretty much the sites of Derby itself, due to the wet weather we will not be able to access gorges off the Gibb River road until the grader has been through, just have to be patient, so a bit of reading is on the agenda.

Wet, Wet, Wet!

WATERFRONT CAMPSITE don't tell management or we might get charged more. Yesterday it cleared in the afternoon and we got in a couple of swims at the beach. We were due to have a big day out today on a tour - 4 wheel drive up to Cape Leveque then fly to the Horizontal falls, boat trip there and then fly back to Broome, so got up at 4.30 am and got a call at 5.30 am that the trip is cancelled due to the Cape Leveque road being closed. No go for tomorrow either so will now visit the Horizontal falls from Derby next week.

Today we have had showers and now a downpour, at least the kids are enjoying it. According to the locals and regulars this is 'unseasonal', no use complaining as overall we have had a really good run of weather.

Not Lost

CABLE BEACH haven't been up to much lately as the weather has been very ordinary, yesterday it rained all day and didn't stop until about 5am this morning. Fortunately the blue sky and sun appeared around lunch time today, have to admit that it has been nice having some r and r. Yesterday was so miserable we never left the van so caught up on some paperwork, read and watched a movie.

CABLE BEACH nice to stretch the legs today and the camels were on the beach for the afternoon rides, a great sight. The wet weather must be a big dent in the tourism $'s with several day tours, flights and camel rides etc cancelled.

Superb Sunset

CABLE BEACH we went down the beach this afternoon about 4.30 pm with fellow Gold Coast campers John and Maureen, as it turned out it was John's birthday, so that was nice. You drive down onto the beach and great being able to set up your table and chairs, drinks and nibbles and take in the changing view for the next hour or so as 3 camel trains set off along the beach.

CAMELS on their way back as the sun sets. As we were driving onto the beach there was a wedding being held at the restaurant overlooking the beach and then they came down to the waters edge  for their wedding photos, what a stunning backdrop.

Changing Coastline

GANTHEAUME POINT has these amazing red sandstone coloured cliffs and the section broken off is very impressive. The colour of the water is beautiful with the white sand that is fine like powder.

DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS this is a cast of the footprints found at the base of these cliffs at low tide, they are believed to be 120 million years old, makes you feel young.

ENTRANCE POINT around by the boat ramp.

ROEBUCK BAY a really good example of the contrasting colours.

PORT OF BROOME is deep enough for cruise ships to dock.