Bungle Bungles

Well what can I say, we have just got back from our early morning flight over the Bungle Bungles, how amazing. I didnt realise how big the range was, we flew at 3000 feet over it , round the gorges and valleys, over the Ord River and the isolated stations which are totally cut off by road in the wet season.

Coming back we flew over the Argyle Diamond Mine, a massive land mass of pink, the mine trucks looking like ants against the enormous crevises. Each step up the mountain is about 17 metres high. Mining will continue until around 2020, then they have to dig up the runway as there are huge deposits under it.

Mining goes on 24 hours a day in 12 hour shifts, most work 2 weeks on 2 weeks off, many fly from Perth. On the way back we flew over the Ord River Irrigation area growing and experimenting with different crops. Huge mango and sandalwood plantations.

Afterwards we went out to the Zebra rock workshop and showroom, it is a beautiful coloured rock with zebra stripes through it, Tony bought a piece which had been shaped like a boomerang. There is a huge island in the middle of Lake Argyle which is the only place in the world where you can get it from.

In the late afternoon we boarded the BBQ boat for our evening trip, we went round Lake Kununurra to the Diversion Dam wall where Paul cooked up feast of BBQ delights, Lamb chops, chicken, scotch fillet, sausages, rissoles, and pork together with some salads and bread rolls, before which Stacy had tempted our taste buds with a nibbles platter. Together with our bottle of Sparkling Burgundy it was the perfect ending to our Anniversary, thank you Paul and second mate Stacy for a memorable evening.

After the best nights sleep I think I have had on this trip, we got up and went into town to the local markets where we bought some home made fig and almond jam, ruby grapefruit and other fresh goods, after leaving there Tony said he had seen Danny so we had a quick chat, he wasnt sure what the name of the van park they were in but we promised to catch up.

We got back to camp and what do you know they are camped just up and behind a couple of spots away from us, we seem to be following each other. Tony has gone out for his fishing trip so will see what he comes back with.

Kununurra - Photos

Timber Creek to Kununurra

Kakadu to Kununurra

Goodness me its 2 weeks since I updated the site, sorry. After we left Kakadu we headed back towards Katherine, on the way we called in to Edith Falls where were told they did breakfast tours up the gorge but no they are done from Katherine Gorge. We backtracked and went back over the railway line to the sound of a train whistle, I wondered if by chance it was the Ghan and luckily it was so we pulled up and got a couple of pictures and gave a wave to those on board. Got to Katherine late afternoon and started the usual Van Park crawl, ended up at Riverview, $25.50 a night ended up staying 4 nights. Were lucky to catch up with Judith and
Graham who were on their way to Darwin, so had a great time catching up at the RSL.
We enjoyed a visit to the Cycad gardens, amazing plants, also a visit to the Museum, such a large collection of "stuff" and scaringly things that I remember so well, wringer washing machines,etc. The next morning we braved the sudden chill and took the brekky cruise up the Katherine Gorge, great buffet including fresh fruits, hot things and croissants, Yum. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, I know I have used the word on many occasions but there is no other way to describe, Mother Nature has provided us with an incredible landscape to enjoy.
Later on in the afternoon we went for a swim on the hot springs which were just at the back of the park, a constant 32 degrees, very nice. Spent the rest of the day sorting van and doing washing, had the 20hour service done on the motor, did a bit of shopping, careful what to buy as we will be over the border in a few days and they are very strict so we have been told.
Saturday we moved on to Timber Creek a beautiful drive, came across some aboriginal drovers moving cattle so we had to stop for a bit, cattle wanting to move onto the road. Stayed in Timber Creek for a night before moving out to Big Horse Creek where we spent a few days doing nothing too much. Met some folks from Victoria whom it turned out know friends of my family, its geting spooky the number of people we are coming across. We were cooking our roast pork one night and Tony heard someone mention Warragul (my home town) so he went and knocked on a few van doors and found them turns out it was Ann Stainer who was in the same class at High School. She still lives in Warragul, wonder who we will run into next.We spent a lovely day with Wendy and Graham, Lorraine and Danny from Tanjil South in Victoria, went to the Limestone Gorge which unfortunately was closed but we walked in a fair way, also walked up a steep climb to the calcite falls which look like frothing water but is calcite build up, very interesting. A pleasant lunch was had at Bullita homestead, which is now abandoned but some very interesting letters to read on the hardship that they endured, amazing people. Thanks guys for a great day out. We were given some fish for tea by a fellow called Richard who played in Russell Morris's band way back in my day, Tony spent quite some time chatting to him, he and his wife have been travelling some years now, so many people we have met who have been on the road for a number of years.As we were leaving camp we were pulled up by Sam and Jeannie who we met at Mitchell way back at the start of our trip.
After leaving Big Horse creek we headed off towards the border, only had our grapes taken off us as we had peeled and cut all our other fruit and veges up into pieces. Pulled onto Kimberlylan d Van park after changing our watches back another hour and a half, so we are now 2 hours behind. Have been on the road for 8 weeks and hadnt seen another Gazal Van, pulled in beside one and got to talking to them, turns out that they traded their last van in Brisbane and it was the same van that our friends had looked at, Tony described the van in detail, they couldnt believe it. They also have a brother who lives on Mayflower Street just up the road from us.
We have booked a scenic flight over the Bungle Bungles and Lake Argyle tomorrow, takes off at 6.30am, at night we go on the BBQ boat for a cruise on the Lake, as it is our Anniversary it is our treat to ourselves. The light planes are like a wake up call they start at 6.30am and go all day. We took a walk around the lake today it is teaming with bird life, saw some lovely red face finches they were so tiny. May go and do a bit of sightseeing today want to see the place where they have zebra rock.