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The Red Centre – Part 6

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We take a turn about the town, and saw some interesting sites, including this mural at the back of Coles Supermarket.

Coles Mural

And then for our last stop we climbed atop Anzac Hill for a panoramic view of the Alice.

Anzac Hill

Anzac Hill

The MacDonnell Ranges are never far away and look as spectacular as ever. Pity that this visit is so short.

Anzac Hill

We could even see the Ghan from the top. Look closely, and you can see that it is ridiculously long.

Anzac Hill

One last view of the Territory State flag.

Anzac Hill

And its state flora, the Sturt Desert Rose.

Anzac Hill

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The Gibb River Road (End)

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The end of the day came at our campsite at Windjana Gorge by the campfire.

Windjana Gorge

It was made even more spectacular against the backdrop of the gorge. It became my final picture of the day.

Windjana Gorge

The final day, we made our way back to Highway One, although there were still a few sights to see along the way, like this very long cattle trough at Myalls Bore.

Myalls bore and cattle trough

By morning tea we were back on the Indian Ocean at Derby – a sleepy town compared to Broome with a long jetty, mud flats and 10 metre tides.

Old jetty/wharf

Derby coast

And by afternoon tea, we were back in Broome and ‘civilisation’ and the end of our fortnight in the Kimberley. I hope you enjoyed the journey. It was certainly more than a series of grand landscapes – it was a place of rich and deep history, too.

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Mitchell Falls – Part 5

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And as a final treat, we got to ride a helicopter back to the start of the walk.

Mitchell Falls Walk

We strapped ourselves in, since the back seat was once again door-less.

Mitchell Falls Walk

But the view of the falls was priceless.

Mitchell Falls Walk

Mitchell Falls Walk

With all that blue water, you would think that the falls are a good place for a dip. You can swim, but only in the upper pools – saltwater crocodiles may be lurking in the lower pools.

We got a bird’s eye view of the track we had walked on.

Mitchell Falls Walk

And five minutes later, we touched down!

Mitchell Falls Walk

The falls (and the helicopter) was my picture of the day.

Mitchell Falls Walk

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The road to nowhere

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We turned off the Gibb River Road on to Kalumburu Road northwards, and that was when the fun started. My goodness, weren’t we bumped around in the bus! The road was very straight for the most part, but the corrugations on the road were jarring and constant.

Kalumburu Road

Plus, there were quite a few water crossings.

Kalumburu Road

No big vans up there!

Eventually we reached the turn-off to Mitchell Plateau. Our campsite for the night thankfully isn’t far away now. This road to nowhere was my picture of the day.

Kalumburu Road

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Cockburn Ranges – Part 4

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At El Questro we camped by the Pentacost River. It was a little oasis, and the first thing in the morning was the best time to capture this tranquil setting.

El Questro and Pentacost River

El Questro and Pentacost River

However tranquility was no more by mid-afternoon. As the temperature climbed past 30C, everyone was interested in a freshwater dip.

El Questro and Pentacost River

The tranquility of the morning was my picture of the day.

El Questro and Pentacost River

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Cockburn Ranges – Part 2

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The Gibb River Road is an old stock route, but these days it’s a highway of sorts. Despite it being only 50% or so sealed, road trains, tour buses, and hundreds of four-wheel drive vehicles with camper trailers run along its length every day in the Dry. You get a good idea of how busy it can get at Pentacost River crossing.

El Questro and Pentacost River

It’s a pretty enough place, with the Cockburns in the background, but it is sure busy! Nevertheless, it inspired me to paint a few works. The first is the crossing with a sunset sky (yes, Kimberley sunsets are that colour) which I did on tour.

El Questro and Pentacost River

The second is a larger painting that I did once at home. I could help but put a few boabs in for good measure.

El Questro and Pentacost River

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Kununurra and Ord River – Part 3

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There were plenty of local fig trees by the Ord. They don’t have to work so hard to get their water.

Ord River Cruise

And also plenty of bird and bat life.

Ord River Cruise

Ord River Cruise

These bats seemed pretty happy in their home, unlike their counterparts in the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney.

The further upstream we went, the more rockier the landscape became – all beautiful red sandstone.

Ord River Cruise

Ord River Cruise

It inspired my picture of the day.

Ord River Cruise

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Bungle Bungle Walks – Part 1

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The following day we drove the 53km into Purnululu National Park to see the Bungle Bungles up close. We did two walks that day – the first was to an area called Cathedral Gorge.

The walk started with a grand vista of the domes among the usual savannah landscape of low scrub and termite mounds.

Cathedral Gorge walk

Cathedral Gorge walk

The domes towered above us the further we walked into the gorge.

Cathedral Gorge walk

Cathedral Gorge walk

There were lots of interesting details to see: a close-up of the stripes, and the amazing places that termites are able to build their mounds.

Cathedral Gorge walk

Holes in the ground grinded down by rocks being caught in a whirlpool.

Cathedral Gorge walk

Giant slabs of sandstone that have fallen away due to the intense weathering in the Wet.

Cathedral Gorge walk

And at the end was Cathedral Gorge – a pool dwarfed by sheer sandstone cliffs and overhangs. The acoustics were magnificent, as the boys found out when they sang a tune.

Cathedral Gorge walk

The scenery on the walk was so inspiring that it became my picture of the day.

Cathedral Gorge walk