WA-Gorges of the West Kimberley

We left our van at the caravan park at Derby and decided to camp in the Windjana National Park, 200 kilometres along the infamous Gibb River Rd. We had seen many cars around town covered in red dust so Mike was a little hesitant to head out on the track but it was much easier than we had imagined. The grader had recently been through and most of the road at the western end is more gravel than red dust . The drive in was beautiful with my new favourite tree, the boab, growing everywhere. We set our tent up at the camp ground and then drove to Tunnel Creek where we donned our bathers, our head lamps and walking shoes ready for our adventure in the underground creek.

This creek tunnel runs 750 metres under the Napier Range and you have to walk through several permanent pools of fresh water of varying depths and clammer and slide over boulders and river rock. Not long after entering the tunnel it is pitch black so our head lamps came in very handy. Even though they say there are no crocodiles, while walking through the water in the dark I was definitely a little apprehensive.

The tunnel is massive with stalagmites and stalagtites everywhere. Part way through, we could smell and hear the bats who make this area their home. During the flood months this massive tunnel is full of raging water which is hard to imagine.



After a wonderful night with our friends, Di and Steve, around the camp fire we headed out on our three hour walk through Windjana Gorge. The gorge has the typical high red cliffs with the Leonard River snaking its way through this ancient limestone reef. Many crocodiles were sunning themselves on the banks and didn’t blink an eye as we walked by.
It was an easy walk and we stopped frequently to marvel at the rock structure and as always appreciate how lucky we are to be seeing these amazing marvels of nature.

After our wonderful time here, we moved on to Fitzroy Crossing, where 90% of the population is Aboriginal. We spent an afternoon cruising Geike Gorge with a local guide informing us on the history of the area and the local wildlife.