Kimberleys-Fitzroy Crossing

Geike Gorge Fitzroy Crossing

The last night at Kimberleyland Campsite at Kunanurra was dampened a bit when I asked for another wifi voucher. The first lady had said when your free voucher runs out come back and get another. Lady 2 says you can’t have another its only one a day. I got a voucher yesterday so I will have the one for today. Its only one per stay. Eventually I got one but the wifi hardly worked. Warm that night for first time since Darwin.

Left at 7.30 for Halls Creek. 360kms of empty road. Lots of mountains and one road house and aboriginal community at Warnum.

 Halls Creek about 12.30 was red hot and dusty.Most of the sites were outside of town on dirt roads so not much for us. Pie and a coffee at the Shell garage. Campground basic so decide to continue. Only another 300kms to Fitzroy Crossing. In the tourist office lots of people had written they had been to Wolf Creek and were still alive.

From Suffolk to Halls Creek in the Kimberleys

Around Oz in a Polo

 Two free campgrounds on the way. Some mountains and lots of flat land. Mary Pool a nice place to camp but a bit early.

The Polo could probably fit under a road train. Hope we don't have to try

Cockatoos at Mary Pool free camping area

Reached Fitzroy Crossing resort at 5pm. Great place with lots of space and an elevated kitchen. Despite loads of space someone parks near us and then chats on his mobile phone until I asked him to be quiet as we were trying to sleep.

Another beautiful day. Blue skies and sun.  I walked 2kms to the town. Neat small place. Tourist office has a map of the area showing about 20 aboriginal communities nearby with a population of 3500.Most of the people in town were aboriginal and there are 5 aboriginal languages spoken. The communities had developed after aborigines were forced to leave cattle stations in the 60s because they had to be paid for the first time. Very positive place but still lots of jobs done by backpackers. Tourist office showed a good film on Jandamara who fought the white settlers in 1890s when they were massacring his people.

Walked to the Crossing Inn and then down a dirt road back to campground. About 7kms in total

Fizroy Crossing

One of many languages spoken at Fitzroy Crossing or perhaps a combination

Fitzroy River or what is left in the dry season

Swim at campground then drive off to Geike Gorge and a sunset walk. Limestone hills and river with big big sandy shores that must be under water in the wet.

Geike Gorge through limestone reef

Emu footprints? Do crocs have 4 toes?

Kangaroo just before dark at Geike Gorge

wyndham

Drove to the end of the world today through great Kimberley mountains to Wyndham.
Red hot 33 degs, huge estuary with cattle and iron ships, graveyard with graves of guys who died of heatstroke building the meat works. Lovely lady in the museum which had lots of info and a great cafe. Five rivers lookout. On the way stopped at the Grotto a deep hole in the sandstone.

Kununura

At the border we are checked for fresh fruit and veg and luckily have none to be confiscated.Turn clocks back 1.5 hours and drive last 43kms to Kunanura. After dry country it is very green and pleasant. Chinese lunch next to info centre then settle at Kimberley campground on the lake side. The Hidden Valley campground is full of tents and its 20 fridges are all full. Must be lots of backpackers working on the fruit farms nearby. Huge Argyl reservoir is not far away.

Coles shopping gives us fresh food for dinner and the thirsty camel sells us wine. Singer on campground is good and unfortunately we get through two bottles of wine. Flapping in the night turns out to be bats flying around.

Up at first light and find it is only 5.30am (because of clock change).Our neighbours have a super Toyota 4 wheel drive with $5,000 of fancy tent on the roof. Huge tyres. Lunchtime Dave heads off for Kunanurra races. Pleasant hot afternoon with all the features of a race day miles from anywhere.

Ladies smartly dressed and a good showing for fashions on the field. The jockeys are very small and look about 60. 1.5hours for Dave to walk back as he didn’t wait for the courtesy bus.