Kununarra to Broome

Hi all,

This is a snap shot of the last 4 weeks. We have been from Kununarra, Lake Argyle, Bungle Bungles, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing and ended up in Broome last week. After we arrived back from the cruise we needed a rest for a few days, then we went to Lake Argyle for 4 days. We left on the Saturday of the Argyle Swim 20km's in the lake. We looked at the dam wall, rock art, Argyle Downs Homestead and went 4x4 driving. This is really a nice place to stay.

Ian & Marilyn in the infinity pool at the caravan park

Argyle Downs Homestead, moved stone by stone before the lake was filled, home of the Durack family in the 1800's

Dam wall

Rock Art

This one looked like a lizard or croc

We left Argyle and went into Kununarra for one night to get supplies and managed to get a stone chip in the front screen going down the main street. Still have it plus another from a road train on way to Halls Creek. From Kununarra we turned south west for the Bungle Bungles where we stay at the new caravan park on the edge of the National Park. next day we headed into the Park to stay 2 nights, what a fun drive that was 16 water crossings, lots of hills, rocks and cattle. We had the best time in the Bungles, we went for the helicopter flight over the Bungles then went walking into Cathedral Gorge on the first day. Next day we packed up our tent and went to the northern end of the range to Echidna Chasm, Then had lunch looking at the range and headed for home. When we were setting up the van I meet up with Noleen from the patchwork group that I went to in Mooroolbark, you never know where you will meet friends.

The 2nd and longest creek crossing

A dingo just strolling along the track

An Australian Bustard also strolling round the grass with 2 friends

Our camp at Walardi camp ground in the National Park

Flying over the Bungle Bungles

One of the many gorges in the range.

Cathedral Gorge

Echidna Chasm walk

At the end of Echidna Chasm, so high and narrow

Moving on from the Bungles we arrived at Halls Creek for a couple of days, went out to Wolf Creek Meteorite Crater. We drove on the Tanami Road 130 km's of gravel and corrugations, what fun, lots of Wedge Tail Eagles, Kangaroo's, 4x4's, cattle and horses. The whole 130km's was on one station Ruby Plains Station. We made it to Wolf Creek Crater and it look quite un impressive from the car park, but when you walk up the track to the rim it just opens out in front of you 800 meters across and about 40 meters deep, with a green ring of trees in the bottom. On our return trip we past a cattle muster, which was very noisy.

Part of the Tanami Road, we had to use the side as the main part was to rough

The rocky walk up the rim of the crater

Local wildlife at the crater

Wolf Creek Crater, to big for the camera

Cattle mustering on the Tanami at Ruby Plains Station

Interesting rock along the way

Yes just to prove we went on the Tanami

Back in Halls Creek for dinner, we had neighbours, gold miners travelling round out bush, they had a nice amount gold too. Next day we went to China Wall, Caroline Pool and Old Halls Creek. Old Halls Creek was a great dissapointment.

China Wall, a vertical vein of White Quartz

 From Halls Creek we moved onto Fitzroy Crossing with a stop at Mary Pool for a free camp. We stopped here for a couple of days thinking that there might be a lot to see, no just Geike Gorge, the crossing inn was a flop, but the crossing itself was interesting. The Gorge was beautiful with fresh  water crocodiles little birds. We meet up with Stewart and Annette from the cruise and spent ages chatting.

Sand Monitor in the park

 Pictures of Giekie Gorge

 Fresh Water Crocodile, you would think they were trained for photo opps 

Fitzroy Crossing

This insect would have been 10 to 12 inches long.

After saying our good byes to Stewart and Annette we went west they went east. We stopped overnight at Willare Bridge  .  Arrived in Broome on Friday and meet up with Pam and Roger also from the cruise. 

So I guess it's good bye for now see you all soon with the next instalment of Dryden's Travels, Marilyn and Ian

Kimberley Discovery Cruise

 Hi All,
Well I have finally managed to put the some photos of our cruise up for you to see.
The photos start near the end of the cruise then to the start of the cruise (I messed up) but never mind I hope you can sort it out. I have had trouble trying to select which photo's to show, between Ian (1,500) and I (1,200) we took close to 3,000 photo's. We loved the cruise and would do it again in a flash.
Love Marilyn and Ian

P.S. you can click on the photo and enlarge it.
P.P.S. the cruise started on the 12th April, so scroll down to that date for a better idea of the cruise.

23rd. APRIL 12
Following on from Cockatoo Island we went to Crocodile Creek for a swim (as you do), this water hole and water fall was beautiful, only one problem the tide. We had to climb again for the swim, but first you had to climb out of the tender onto the rocks then scramble along till you got to the side of the waterhole, now if you wanted a swim all you need to do was wade across the waterhole round the edge then up the side of the fall to another waterhole that was safe (no crocodiles). The tide was on it's way in so the time was short but a number of passengers went. We sat at the bottom and watched the salt water come in under the fresh water, fish swimming around and mud slickers run around the rocks. Just fantastic, we waded in the edge of the water. We returned to the boat and moved onto Silver Gull Creek and BBQ lunch at The Squatter's  Arms. 

Arch at the end of Crocodile Creek

Climb for a swim at Crocodile Creek

Rock Wallabys in Silver Gull Creek

Sunset at Myridi Bay

24th. APRIL 12

After overnighting in Myridi Bay we woke to a cooked breakfast, then off to Silica Beach for yet another swim. This beach is just superb, crystal white sand, clear blue water, just the best swim. On returning to the boat we were off again to catch the tides and wind across King Sound to arrive in Derby just before sunset.

Silica Beach, best swimming beach around

Derby warf 

last sunset from Derby

Derby warf from Discovery 1

25th. APRIL 12 , "ANZAC DAY"

Up early as had to be off the boat and at the community centre for breakfast, then a short drive round Derby. On the way to Broome we stopped at the Prison Tree and longest water trough. Arrived in Broome just before lunch time. Had a late lunch and a look round Broome, swim at the pool then off to Matso's for a end of cruise dinner.

Prison Tree at Derby

Broome Time Lodge last night

START OF CRUISE


12th and 13th. APRIL 12,

This is the start of our great cruise aboard the Kimberley Discovery 1, for 14 days we sailed round the top of Western Australia to some of the most beautiful places you can find. We started by flying on a sea plane (float plane) from Kununarra to the mouth of the Berkeley River. Here we went cruising up the river to the Melentra Pool (no photo) on the first afternoon and the Casuarina Falls then on the second day as well as a visit to the Berkeley River Resort for drinks, the resort was not yet open for guests but is now. 

Kimberley Discovery 1

Malarda sea plane, built in 1948

First sunset on the Berkeley River

Casuarina Falls

Berkeley River Resort

14th. April 12

We left the Berkeley River today as it was now or stay for a while the tide was right and the wind blowing. quite a rough ride out but fun all he same. We headed up the coast to Koolama Bay and another ride in the tenders to King George Falls, we got dunked again under the falls. The towering cliffs and deep water made for beautiful colours. We left her in a hurry as had to get round Cape Londonderry (Cape Laundry) before the weather changed, very rough trip to the quiet of our overnight stop at Cape Talbot. 

Twin Falls in the King George River

100 meter cliffs of King George River

Mum and Ian after dunking under Twin Falls

15th, April 12

After overnighting at Cape Talbot we were of again at breakfast time headed for Vansittart Bay and  the DC3 wreck of 1942. Ian like the wreck, I liked the photo ops there. Swimming followed at Freshwater Pools after Len (our intreped CAPTAIN) checked it out for crocodiles. We moored here till midnight then it was a run through the night for Bigge Island.

DC3 plane wreck from WW11

16th. April 12

This was a very pretty spot, we hoped into the tender again and off to the beach to look at the Rock Art, Wandjina "Kaira" mighty sea wandjina. Drawings of white men with pipes and hats on, skelton in rock crevious. From here we steamed onto the Hunter River.

Rock Art on Bigge Island

Rock Art on Bigge Island

Wandjina figures of Bigge Island

Sphinx stand sentinal at Hunter River

17th April 12

We were all up early today for the sun rise over the rock cliffs of the Prince Frederick Harbour and Porosus Creek, (Crocodylus Porosus - saltwater). We sailed back into the Prince Frederick Harbour  and round to Naturalist Island for our chopper flights over the Mitchell Plateau and the falls. We also went up the Hunter River for a look around, found a Barra Fisherman, had the best Barra BBQ that night ever.

Sunrise on Porosus Creek

Naturalist Island beach, waiting for chopper

Mitchell Falls

Crocodile tracks on the sand, note were he went up then down when tide lower

18th. APRIL 12

We left the Hunter River using a short cut across the shallow waters with as little as 5 meters under the boat, Audrea led the way in the tender to the Roe River, where we all hoped on the tenders  again and headed 12 kms up the Roe river to a great little swimming hole we called "Narelle's Pools. On returning to our boat we found it under guard by a large crocodile. From here we sailed on to Careening Bay arriving late in the afternoon. 

Rock Pools for swimming (Narelle's Pools)

Good size Crocodile checking out the boat

Boab tree at Creening Bay

Mum in the long grass of Creening Bay

19th. APRIL 12

After overnighting in the St George Basin our boat headed toward the Prince Regent River, then after morning tea we boarded our tenders again hopping for another dunking! We went 12 km up the river to arrive at the Kings Cascades.  

Kings Cascades

20th. APRIL 12

We cruised through Camden Sound to see Sheep Island and the grave of an early pioneer Mary Pascoe. This was the site of a large property fraud in the 1800's. Then we moved on, we past Kuri Bay pearl farm, cruised up Sampson Inlet.

Kuri Bay Pearl Farm

Tenders following the cruise boat

21st. APRIL 12

The boat started out at 6.30am on the way to Langgi, site of strange rock formations. The tide was quick to come here, we watched as the crab holes went from plies of sand to bubbling spouts of water. We went swimming in Red Cone Creek at Ruby Falls after a climb up the rocks. Then it was off to Raft Point for more climbing to see more rock art. This was a hard climb but the Wandjania Paintings were worth it.

Redcone creek

Time lines it the rock

Langgi Rock Formations

Swimming hole at Red Cone Creek

This is what we climb up and down to get to the swimming hole

Raft Point, we had to climb up 188 mts round the other side of this to see the  Wandjania Paintings

Some of the Wandjania Paintings

22nd. APRIL 12

Up very early this morning for the trip to Montgomery Reef, had to catch the falling tide. A most beautiful sunrise over the water. The reef is 4 meter out of the water at low tide and 4 meters under at high tide. After lunch we arrived at Talbot Bay ready for the Horizontal Falls ride. We went for a spin on Cyclone Creek which lived up to it's name.

Sunrise over the ocean on way to Montgomery Reef

Stunning sunrise on way to Montgomery Reef

Water falls on Montgomery Reef

Crinkled rock of Cyclone Creek

Another painting at Raft Point

Horizontal Water falls, between the walls, boat standing still at 35 km hr

Our room

23rd. APRIL 12

Left Talbot Bay on way to Myridi Bay with lunch at the Squatter's Arms. On the way we past Koolan and Cockatoo Islands both have iron ore mines on, the ore is 95% pure.

Iron ore mining at Cookatoo Island

PLEASE NOW MOVE TO THE TOP TO CONTINUE WITH THE CRUISE