Dryden's Travels: On Way to Broome part 2

Hi to everyone,
We reach Kununarra at beginning of May for a short stay as we have been here before. On the 3rd and 4th we spent at El Questro Resort, this was a great weekend, Sunset cruise on the Chamberlain River Gorge, BBQ dinner on Saturday. Sunday morning we went to Zebebee Springs for a soak in the thermal pools and after lunch we headed for the Gibb River Road and the Pentecost River Crossing. I have wanted to do this for a long time. The Gibb is black top to the turnoff to El Questro then gravel, it was fine the crossing was fun as it was not too deep, "I was not going to walk it".

Friendly visitor at Kununarra

Turn off to Gibb River Road

All roads open on the Gibb River Road

The first of many crossing of the Pentecost River at ElQuestro

Our accommodation at El Questro Resort

Before the cruise we went for a drive round, went to the Durack Tree "no 15" when the Durack's were exploring the area they marked the trees to show were they went, this is one of the few that remain. I collected some Boab nuts from this tree. We didn't cross the Chamberlain River here as we were on our own and the crossing was very rough, no need any way as we needed to get back to the cruise boat.

The Durack Boab tree at El Questro

Crossing on the Chamberlian River looking toward Branko's lookout

The cruise was only short but very nice, big cliffs, little freshwater crocs, lots of fish with sparkling wine and fruit platter at the turn round point.

Chamberlian River cliffs at sunset

Sign said it all, only open 7am till 12 noon

Sunday morning was spent at Zebedee Springs soaking in the thermal pools, the spring rambles throughout he trees over rocks and makes little pools for a couple of people to sit in, the bigger one is at the bottom with lots of people sharing it.

Burnt palms on the Zebebee Springs walk

Livistona Palms at Zebedee Springs

On the road into El Questro are these old cattle yards, no wire anymore but lovely timber posts. Get the picture "I like it a lot" made Ian stop so I could photograph it.

Old cattle yard on road into El Questro

Sunday afternoon after lunch we went to the Gibb River Crossing on the Pentecost River, had fun crossing it we then travelled another 10km past this point to a lookout, wow !!!. We past the turnoff into Home Valley Station, this is surposed to be great also (next year).

Pentecost River crossing on the Gibb River Road

View of the Cockburn Ranges from lookout about 10 km west of the Pentecost River

YES we have crossed the Pentecost River on the Gibb River Road

When we got back to the river, there were a number of vehicles at the crossing. One old Landcruiser brocken down, one trying to help and a caravan the driver of which was also helping to get the broken down one started. Which they did, it crossed no problems, then the other one. Then the caravan crossed! you can see the depth of the water it was flowing quite fast. This caravan had been all the way across the Gibb River Road.

Fellow travellers on the Gibb River Road,

Once back in Kununurra went decided to go to Wyndham for a look see. On the way was a sennic spot, The Grotto good for a dip, that is is if you want to walk down into the gorge and out again. Ian was very unsure about the lack of a railing so we didn't go down. You would need another swim when you got back to the top anyway.

Sign was the best part of the Grotto, steep steps to a water hole

One of many beautiful Boab trees around

At Wyndham we had fish Barra & chip lunch in the Five Rivers Cafe, good food and coffee. From there we follow the road past the old Croc Farm to the Iron Ore store then up to the 5 Rivers Lookout at the top of the Bastion Range. WOW, you are looking at the West Arm of the Cambridge Gulf into which the Ord, King, Pentecost,Durack and Forrest Rivers empty.

View from the 5 rivers lookout at Wyndham

Iron ore storage and loading facility at Wyndham

From there we decide to go to the Parry Creek Farm Tourist Park for a look to see if we could get the van into the park. No such luck the road was bad, much to rough for our new van, coffee was excellent here, then it was a visit to Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve for a look and some photos of the water birds,

Pied Heron

Magpie Goose

Flowers in the water at Marlgu Billabong in Parry Lagoon Wetlands

From Kununurra we head to Broome with a free camp near the Bungles, the one we stayed in last year was closed so we found on a bit further along the way to Halls Creek. Left the free camp in the morning had coffee at Halls Creeks Bakery fuelled up the truck and continued on our way, lunch was at Mary Pool free camp some we kept going till Fitzroy Crossing, spent mothers day here with a FaceTime call to mum. On Monday it was off to Broome as the tours to Tunnel Creek did not start till the 18th May which was another week away. Once here we have ween doing the usual, Staircase to the Moon, Sunset on Cable Beach and went to the polo match at Cable Beach, what a laugh that was, lots of waiting around then the horses race round after a plastic ball, O'well I have seen Polo now.

The Mangrove Hotel

Moon Rise at the Mangrove in Broome

Island in the mud flats Broome

Sunset on Cable Beach

The big Polo match on Cable Beach

Cable Beach

Boab flower

The flower is on this Boab Tree near the caravan park

O' another sunset on Cable Beach "Intombi" pearling lugger

Camels on Cable Beach

We have had a few visitors of the wildlife type in and around the caravan, Green Frog spent the night in the van and woke us up to go out by jumping on Ian's head and the wall next to me. Tawny Frogmouth Owl in the tree for a few days, Green Frogs everywhere on the walls outside the on Thursday one in my sneaker.