This is a 'heavy on the photos' style post. I just completed the iconic Gibb River Road with a dear friend over just two days. It's the end of the dry and many of the tourist stops/stations have closed up shop for the season. It was also on the warmer side - late 30's every day. There are arguments for both sides when travelling this time of year, the biggest plus being that it is quiet and many popular spots are not so busy. It was such an amazing trip though, and I feel so blessed to be able to cross it off my bucket list, oh but I would do it again in a heart beat.
2 things: this post is really really long.
and, the photos have been doing my head in, they refuse to sit right within the margins, please ignore this fact and just enjoy the content.
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| Imintji Community/Roadhouse |
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| This photo is blurry for a reason...he was coming for my ears... |
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| Station pets |
Mt Barnett - Manning Gorge
Set into the back drop of the King Leopold Ranges the camp site sits next to the Manning River, when we visited it was very quiet, but I hear the camp ground is heaving in the height of the dry. It is such a beautiful spot, you would be crazy to miss it. We camped out under the stars with the full moon shinning down on us and woke early with the sun.
The walk was warm, and fairly unprotected for much of it, however it made it all worth while when we finally hit the gorge. It wasn't in full flow due to the time of year, it didn't matter an ounce to me though, the water was a welcome relief after the sweaty up and down climb.
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| 630am wake up swim |
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| Manning Gorge walk |
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| First sight of the Gorge, that steep hill was well worth it |
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| We had the whole gorge to ourselves, it was spectacular |
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| dunny - Mt Barnett Roadhouse |
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| Gibb River Station |
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| Oasis |
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| road |
Home Valley Station
It had been a really long day of driving and the road seemed to go on forever, lost in the wilderness of the Gibb it was hard to calculate how far we were away. At the top of the hill just before Home Valley we came across mobile coverage, so we had a quick pit stop to reconnect with the real world, before switching off again.
Home Valley is beautiful, and the staff were fantastic, I would highly recommend a stop in on your way along the Gibb - they have a pool. You could just relax there for a few days, there are lots of tours that operate from Home Valley too, see their website: hvstation.com.au
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| A welcome sign after a long day of driving |
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| Reception and dining hall at HV8 |
El Questro
It's a beautiful part of the world nestled in the Cockburn Ranges. There is lots to see and do, from guided tours to bush hikes. Lots more information if you are interested can be found on their site: www.elquestro.com.au El Questro is most definitely unmissable when travelling the Gibb, it is also possible to do in a day from Kununurra, so late in the season a 2wd would easily make most of the roads.
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| Cockburn Ranges |
Zebedee Springs
Hike a short 750m distance to Zebedee Springs, through dense Livistonia Palms that open to a series of rocky thermal pools. This trail is open to general public from 7.00am – 12 noon daily. We ask that you respect that this trail is closed in the afternoon to facilitate private tour groups to this area, helping to ease the pressure on this delicate ecosystem. source Apparently in the dry season it gets very overcrowded, it's a very small area so you either want to get there at the break of dawn or visit later in the dry season when the roads are quieter. Absolutely worth the visit.
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| Mere days before they had done some seasonal burning, it did add a level of beauty, imagine the place in full bloom. |
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| Thermal spring |
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| Canopy |
El Questro Station
This is the hub of El Questro, the epicentre of this iconic Kimberley location, there are camping facilities, a shop, restaurant, administration offices, and most importantly it's close to the airport and the helicopter parks itself within eye shot. We didn't stay long here, but the lovely guy in the shop/cafe made a delicious coffee.
Emma Gorge Walk
As one of the best-known, most spectacular gorges of the Kimberley, Emma Gorge is a sight to behold. The brisk 1-hour walk (it was a tough walk, over uneven rocks, would recommend a medium level of fitness) ends at a large cool waterhole, graced by a 65m droplet waterfall, perfect for a relaxing swim. Nestled beneath towering cliffs, a second smaller thermal water outlet trickles from the rocks. source
It's only when you think you can go no further that you hit gold. We only had a short amount of time here, but it was unforgettable.
One of the best weekends of my life.
xo
