Tag Archives: walk

Jandamarra’s Path – Part 4

We’re on the final stage of Jandamarra’s story. After being severely wounded in the siege at Windjana Gorge, Jandamarra retreated into the hills and caves that he knew around the Napier Ranges. One of his hideouts was our next destination – Tunnel Creek. It was from here that he conducted more of his raids on the surrounding properties. The local police for years after had trouble locating him. We’ll soon see why.

We walked along a sandy track, and then around large boulders, down to the cave entrance.

Tunnel Creek

It was cool, wet and sandy inside the cave. In fact, a creek flowed through it (hence the name). It’s a sanctuary also for freshwater crocodiles in places, though we didn’t see any.

Tunnel Creek

The deeper we walked into the cave, the more interesting the cave formations were. There were even some micro bats living in the rafters of some places.

Tunnel Creek

Tunnel Creek

Half-way through, there was a part of the cave that had fallen in, giving us a glimpse of daylight.

Tunnel Creek

And then more daylight – we reached the opposite end and had walked right through the Napier Range! Obviously, Jandamarra used this place to great effect after his raids. So effective was he many people thought that he held supernatural powers.

Tunnel Creek

But he eventually ran out of time. The police eventually found his hideaway, and he was shot dead at the entrance of Tunnel Creek. He might have died almost 120 years ago, but his story has not been forgotten by the Bunuba people. Now others have the opportunity to learn of this piece of Australian history.

Tunnel Creek

Kimberley Swims – Part 2

Our afternoon swim was particularly scenic at the very pretty Bell Gorge in the middle of the King Leopold Range. It was about a 1km walk from the car park, and on the way we passed many a ghostly boab.

Bell Gorge

Our first glimpse of Bell Gorge was of a tranquil pool amidst the red ochre of the King Leopold Range.

Bell Gorge

Time for a dip! The pool wasn’t very deep up top.

Bell Gorge

You could even peer over the edge of the waterfall (the current wasn’t strong at all).

Bell Gorge

Others took a steep track to the bottom pool. I didn’t go however those who did said it was nice and deep.

Bell Gorge

Another nice end to the day.

Mitchell Falls – Part 5

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

Mitchell Falls – Part 2

There was more rock art to be seen. This one is a Gwion Gwion style depiction of animals.

Mitchell Falls Walk

And of course, there are the hand-prints. Traditionally they should be found in pairs – one when the person was a child and the other as an adult. However many in the last hundred or so years many did not get to return as an adult and so only single hand prints are found.

Mitchell Falls Walk

Mitchell Falls – Part 1

We drove another 70km down the rough road to the campground at the start of the Mitchell Falls walk, deep in the Mitchell River National Park. The walk, a 5km one across the plateau, was definitely one of the highlights of the fortnight. We were led through the park by these poles.

Mitchell Falls Walk

It was quite right that one of the first diversions off the track was the rock art under the sandstone overhangs by Little Mertens Falls. Once again, they consisted of both Wandjina and Gwion Gwion style paintings.

Mitchell Falls Walk

Mitchell Falls Walk

Bungle Bungle Walks – Part 2

Our second walk that day was at Echidna Chasm, in the north end of Purnululu National Park. From the car park, the vegetation was all gum trees and scrub. The domes here were less pronounced, however they were taller.

Echidna Chasm walk

As soon as I hit the trail, I noticed that the gum trees disappeared, replaced by a grove of palms.

Echidna Chasm walk

The trail led into Echidna Chasm, and pretty soon its walls were towering over me. The temperature also seemed to drop by 10C.

Echidna Chasm walk

Echidna Chasm walk

Echidna Chasm walk

The path got narrower and narrower. Occasionally we got a glimpse of sky.

Echidna Chasm walk

Echidna Chasm walk

Pretty soon we were in murky darkness, clambering over boulders.

Echidna Chasm walk

At the end, the chasm narrowed into a one metre wide space, and it was so dark that I wasn’t able to get a clear shot. I imagine that in the wet season the entire chasm would be under water. This isn’t a walk for the claustrophobic or with mobility problems! I was pleased to walk back to the entrance and catch a glimpse of sky.

Echidna Chasm walk

Bungle Bungle Walks – Part 1

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