Camping in the outback

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Ok from Broome I start my eight day camping trip through the Kimberleys to Darwin which will be my last hurrah here in Australia. Some background . . .

The rugged Kimberley at the northern end of Western Australia is one of Australia's last frontiers. It's a little-travelled and very remote area of great rivers and magnificent scenery. If you're looking for quintessential Australian landscapes of red earth, rock, gum trees and blue skies, this is the place to come. Wildlife includes freshwater crocodiles, wallaroos and the rare black-footed wallaby. Attractions include the spectacular gorges on the the Gibb River Road and Bunge Bungle National Park. The best time to travel to the Kimberley is from April to September (notice that it is now November) when the weather isn't at its hottest, and before the storms have started. So right now the weather IS at its hottest and the storms HAVE arrived.

I must disclaim that the original itinerary got tossed on day 3 due to the rains and the fact that we did not want to get stranded by flash floods. This is my best attempt at piecing together what hell happened. Not that anyone who wasn't there would know either way . . .

We traveled from Broome to Derby to visit the famous Boab Prison Tree. Just south of town are two large attractions (large in size and popularity). Myall's Bore is an ordinary bore (a water trough), apart from the fact that it stretches about 120 metres along. Even more astonishing is the wonderful 1000 year old Prison Tree, which is 14 metres around and has a hollow trunk which is said to be the storing place of prisoners before they were taken to Derby Gaol.

From Derby there are two routes which you can take, both leading to the Northern Territory border. The direct route is along the Gibb River Road, which is a dirt track best suited to 4WD. If you're a sissy you can take the longer, but easier route along the Great Northern Highway via Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek.

We tackled the punishing Gibb River Road on our way to Tunnel Creek to wade through the icy underground stream & explore ancient limestone caves. We view the abundant wildlife of Windjana Gorge & explore the 350 million year old fossilized reef wall rising 90 metres above the riverbed before settling into our overnight campsite.

Below you is a picture of our first campsite from a small hill nearby. Notice that there is nothing around for miles. When you camp in the bush you basically pull off the road and find a flat spot and to your best. The first lesson of camping in the wet season I learned is that you need to set up your tent straight away. Leaving it lying on the ground for later is not a good idea. Inevitably it will rain, seemingly from no where. At this point all you can do is sit under a tarp and wait for it to pass, hoping that your tent does not get swampped.

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Below you see, the antics of the guide at the croc park, our first campsite notice it is truly in the middle of no where and a sunset in Kunanara perhaps?