7. Gibb River Road
The Gibb River Road is a mostly unsealed road from Derby to Kununurra in the North-West of Australia. The road was built to transport livestock and supplies to/from the cattle stations in the Kimberly region. While it was once a remote road, it is now a very busy tourist thoroughfare. Though it is still quite a rough road with a number of river crossings. The road is known for passing near several picturesque gorges and large cattle stations (which nowadays also cater to tourists). The road is only open in the dry season and has become a key part of the ‘lap’ of Australia.
We had some challenges with our car and caravan along the way.
Our first challenge was losing our spare tyre off the back of the car. I do not know if the tyre fell off while we were driving back from a day trip (not towing the caravan) or if it was stolen overnight. We had got back from our day trip as the sun was going down and I rushed off to get a photo, and so it was only the next day that I noticed the tyre was missing. If it fell off on our day trip then we actually got lucky because if it had fallen off when we were towing the caravan then it could have gone under the caravan and caused a serious incident. If it was stolen overnight, then so be it. The net result was that we had to back track 200 km along the Gibb River Road to Derby and wait for a new spare wheel and tyre - it is not possible to drive such a road without a spare as the chance of having a flat tyre is not remote. We got lucky in ordering a new wheel up from Perth to Derby. However, while the company invoiced for the new wheel immediately, they did not bother putting it on the courier truck for five days. As a result, we had to wait around six days in Derby for the new wheel. This was unecessarily frustrating.
The caravan also had issues. While it is an ‘off road’ van and apparently designed for harsh roads, there were drawers that flew out, many screws rattled loose or free and the wheels developed an alarming noise (the van went in for repairs at the end of the road in Kununurra).
Nonetheless, it was a great experience. The scenery is amazing. We did some of our favourite walks on our trip so far. Without making plans, we met up with friends that we had previously met along the way which made our time on the Gibb ever more special.
Derby: The sign outside of Derby which signals the start of the Gibb River Road
Derby: Public art in Derby
Windjana Gorge: First stop on the Gibb River Road
Windjana Gorge
Windjana Gorge
Windjana Gorge
Tunnel Creek: This is a cave which is probably about 500 metres long. Going through the cave you must both walk and swim through water. The cave is also home to fresh water crocodiles… This photo is at the entrance
Tunnel Creek: Near the entrance. On the look out for crocodiles
Tunnel Creek: Just inside the entrance
Tunnel Creek: About half way along there is an opening with some natural light
Tunnel Creek: The far end of the cave
Tunnel Creek: When you exit there is some indigenous rock art
Tunnel Creek: Millie was a little concerned about the crocodiles and so chose not to join for the walk. She waited at the entrance for mum and dad to return
Bell Gorge
Bell Gorge
Bell Gorge: We had a lovely swim in the bottom pool
Bell Gorge: That is where the spare wheel used to be… The whole bracket and wheel is missing
On the road again: There are a lot of river crossings along the way
Manning Gorge: The first part of the walk from the campground to Manning Gorge is a river crossing. There are some barrels provided to get your gear across the river
Manning Gorge
Manning Gorge
Manning Gorge: I was just doing some recon and who was there? Guy and Adam… the fifth time we have met up with them. We saw them later that day at Manning Gorge. I sat in the running water at the top of the water fall with Millie (who did not want to do that). When I got out of the water it looked like I had green moss on my legs. In fact, it was hundreds and hundreds of tiny worms. And they would not come off… Guy was sure they were leeches. (Millie had only a very small number on her because she had been sitting on me). Poor old Guy spent a lot of time picking leeches from my legs, and Adam had a spare pair of shorts which I changed into because I could not get them out of my bathers.
Another water crossing
Galvans Gorge
Galvans Gorge
Galvans Gorge
Crossing the Pentecost River to El Questro
El Questro: Emma Gorge
El Questro: Emma Gorge. The water in the main pool was very cold. There is a natural thermal spring off to one side. Here we are enjoying the warm water
El Questro: Emma Gorge
El Questro: Emma Gorge. Millie has become quite keen on swimming under waterfalls
El Questro: El Questro Gorge. This was one of the nicest walks we have done on our trip
El Questro: El Questro Gorge
El Questro: El Questro Gorge
El Questro: Zebedee Springs. This is a naturally occurring warm water spring
El Questro: We met Nick and Kristy (centre) at Cape Leveque and they turned up opposite us at El Questro. Millie really enjoyed playing with their boys (here in the photo at right are also their friends Rachel and Bruce). We went up to high ground at El Questro to watch the sunset
El Questro: Just as we were leaving, Guy and Adam turned up. We cannot go anywhere without seeing them. At least Guy did not have to pick leeches off my legs this time
Gibb River Road: It is hard to really show how much dust and dirt there has been through the Gibb River Road.