Mitchell Falls. W.A.

Spent the next couple of days exploring Kununura and Wyndham went out to wyndham port had barra and chips at the Wyndham pub, up to the 5 rivers lookout, what a view and then to the boab prison tree . Then it was on the Gibb River Road , our first stop was El Questro where we spent a couple of nights. Had an enjoyable stay, we went out to el questro gorge and did the 2hr return walk then it was back to camp for lunch and then the afternoon cruise up Chamberlain gorge, with champagne, fruit and  spectacular scenery , we were serenaded by our host on guitar and skipper on the harmonica. We met a couple from Perth who we went on a 4x4 trek with on el questro station. Arrived at Drysdale river Station , on the Kalumbaru road only to meet up with our friends again , we then travelled up to Mitchell Falls together. We got the helicopter ride out to the falls and did the 3k walk back . The scenery up here is very impressive .

Gibb River Road

El Questro Gorge

road to the gorge

road to explosion gorge



chamberlain gorge

champagne and music chamberlain gorge

visitor at the bar at El Questro

Emma Gorge

Gibb River Road near Home Valley

Crossing the Pentecost River

Jam and scones at Ellenbrae Station

Mitchell Falls  from the air

Kununura WA

Had a lovely time exploring Litchfield NP , although the Renolds River was closed due to flooding so that cut short that part of the park. Travelled across towards Western Australian border then spent a couple of fantastic days at Lake Argyle, with its fascinating history and huge lake , we went on a sunset cruise on the lake, wonderful . Then on to Kununura where we camped at Lakeside Tourist Park . Found a spot right on the waters edge, we had just set up camp when a guy from the park asked if we wanted to go for a ride in the hire boat for free , as he had to rescue another hire boat stranded up river . We jumped at the offer , little did we know that the guy did not know how to drive the boat very well , so we all pitched in with the rescue,  it took a couple of hours to tow the " S.S. Minow" back and have Gilligan safe on shore. Then it was off to explore Kununura and the surrounding Wyndham area. We head off today on the Gibb River Road to Home Valley Station.

Litchfield National Park

camp at Victoria river

road to W.A. border

Lake Argyle

sunset on Lake Argyle

sunset at lookout over Lake Argyle

rescue of the S.S. Minow

view from our camp at Kununura

5 rivers lookout at Wyndham

prison boab tree

the relocated Argyle homestead

Darwin

Left Roper Bar after fueling up at $2.00 per litre , with only 100k's or so of dirt left the tar was a welcome relief . We met up with some friends at Mataranka where we set up camp , then we went swimming in the thermal pools. Happy hour was at five and we also had some entertainment, a singer. The next morning it was off to Katherine to find somewhere to get our exaust repaired. With no luck in Katherine we pushed on to Darwin where a guy at Parmeston Exaust said he would fix it the next day. Spent Thurs and Friday looking around Darwin and catching up with my cousin . We had a lovely sunset dinner at the sailing club on Thursday night. Friday we went to a museum then it was lunch at Parliament House with Rachel and Abbey. Now we are heading off to Litchfield National Park.

happy hour at tomato island

the welcome tar road

Mataranka thermal pools

visitors at camp

our muffler

parliament house

Abbey at Mindel Markets

dinner at the sailing club

sunset at the sailing club

Roper Bar NT (Tomato Island)

After leaving Mt Isa we headed to Lawn Hill National Park, Adel's grove. The roads are corrugated and dusty and dry. After setting up camp at Adels Grove , we walked around and it is a very pretty place has a lovely area at the back of the restaurant on a wooden deck under these huge trees where we had a drink with some people we met while we were swimming in lawn hill creek. The next day we hired a canoe and paddled up the river at lawn hill national park. What a fantastic morning we had .
The next day we left Adels Grove and headed to Hells gate and across the NT border were we found a free camp at the calvert river. We met up with a lovely couple from WA and had a lovely chat over a few drinks before retiring for the night. the next day we caught up at Booroloola for coffee and well not cream buns. Then we parted ways and we headed towards Lorella Springs. It was a slow 3 hrs on corrugated and bull dust roads.
  After arriving at Lorella Springs we set up camp and then went for a swim in the thermal pools just near camp. The next day we went exploring the 1 million acre property of Lorella Springs , bush walking , swimming . Then it was back to camp to get organized for our departure to roper Bar.

road into adels grove

adels grove

adels grove

adels grove

leaving lawn hill national park

hells gate road house Qld

NT border

 

  On the way we ended up getting a hole in the muffler and when we arrived at Tomato Island camping ground the guy at the office went and found some tin that we could patch up the muffler until we can get it fixed at Katherine. Then it was off to join the crowd for happy hour.

lunch stop , note the EK

river crossing

Lorella Springs

Lorella Springs bush walk

the arch , Lorella Springs

Mt Isa

After leaving Morven we headed to Blackall , travelling through Augathella, Tambo arriving in Blackall at about midday. did the tour of the woolscour, which is the history of the wool industry and the woolscour where they cleaned the wool. We then went back to the van park where we were having a baked camp oven dinner.  We had a stockman come in to the park and showed us how  he worked with his horse, have never seen man and horse work so well together .  He also had a sheep that did tricks. Very entertaining evening. Then it was on to Winton where we visited the " age of the dinasour" and looked at  dinasour bones they have found near Winton. We had another evening of entertaining with comedy/bush poet duo they were fabulous, so funny . Today  travelled to Mt Isa , stopped of at the Walkabout creek Hotel . tomorrow we head to Lawn Hill National Park.

stockman at Blackall

age of the dinasour site

road toWinton

Woolscour at Blackall

Walkabout creek hotel