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Published: August 1st 2013
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The camp site
The site at Windjana gorge Well left Fitzroy crossing and headed toward Derby, our plan is to visit the Derby tourist information center to find out the condition of the Gibb River road which is mainly dirt and gravel,the staff at the center advise us not to take the caravan as they had reports of severe corrugations and washouts.We had already been prepared for this news and had practiced putting our tent up for the first time at Fitzroy crossing, we had also pre booked a place to leave our van if we had to.So we headed to the camp site and loaded up the car for two nights camping. We head off for Windjana gorge national park and camp ground some 150km from Derby. The Gibb River road is sealed for the first part of the journey before turning to dirt and gravel, on our way we see 3 wedge tailed eagles on separate occasions feeding on the road side but they few off before the camera was out of the bag except for one Jackie got a hurried photo of.We arrive at the camp ground to find lots of caravans there, and I must admit to being a little peeved, we could have brought
Windjana gorge
The tents up time for a beer our van up this road.The camp is divided between noisy and quiet areas, generators being allowed in the noisy area.So we set up in the quiet area, the first time this tent has been set up to sleep in,we have only had the tent 2 yrs.Once set up we decide to do nothing except take in the ambiance and the scenery.As night falls the camp fires come on and happy hour begins, there is a stir around the camp ground as dinner is prepared and the children settle down,Our dinner only need heating up as we had prepared ours in the dream pot before leaving Fitzroy crossing.Our first night camping in a tent for a long time.
After an early breakfast we head off to Bells Gorge some 150km from here along the Gibb river road, the scenery is ever changing and we pass numerous dried up river crossings with only a couple having any water in which we cross with no problems.Bells gorge is reached by passing through Silent grove camp ground and following a dirt road for 10km at times quite rocky and corrugated.From the car park the gorge is reached by a 1km track graded as
Windjana gorge
First time up and ready for camping moderate with lots of boulders and sandy sections.The track opens out onto a river bed with lots of rock pools and small streams of running water leading to the waterfall.This is reached by further climbing up the rocks and reaching a hole in the escarpment which you then climb down to reach the plunge pool at the base of the waterfall.Whatever you do this place is magical and the journey is well worth it. Although visited by plenty of people you never feel crowded here.The scenery is beautiful and were ever you look the colours are striking. There are many mainly young folk who have made the effort to reach the base of the waterfall and enjoy the cool of the plunge pool as well as the majestic view of the waterfall,we spent some time here and Jackie enjoyed cooling off in one of the rock pools.our trek back to the car park was rewarded with a cool beer I had stashed in the cool box before leaving.
We head back to Windjana gorge and again marvel at the scenery and ever changing views,although still early evening we again decide to do nothing but prepare dinner and talk to
Windjana gorge
Fellow campers some of our neighbors. The camp fires are lit again and we join some of our neighbours for happy hour,we contributed to the fire some wood we had been carting around with us for some time.Next morning we broke camp before heading into Windjana gorge itself which is only a short walk from the camp site,The Fitzroy river runs through this gorge and is home to several hundred fresh water crocodiles,the short walk leads out onto a sandy river bank which in the rainy season is completely covered.The scenery is again magnificent with fresh water crocodiles basking on the river edge, no fishing or netting is allowed here for fish are a main part of the crocodiles food supply. We spent some time here taking in the views and marveling at this wonderful place before heading off back to Derby. Our caravan had been held here on an non powered site so we moved onto our allocated new site with power.We are here for 2 days before embarking on a trip of a life time to see the Horizontal Falls and to fly over the Buccaneer Archipelago.We spend out time cleaning the inside of the car which was full of
dust(to be investigated) and some local sightseeing.The jetty is were the locals cast crab pots in to the water in search of mud crabs, on the day we were there some good catches were made. The night sky is beautiful. So it's Tuesday and we are booked on the 2.30 flight to the falls, we spend the morning preparing our luggage, only allowed 5kg including BYO and securing the caravan, a separate blog me thinks .
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Al & Jan
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The Gibb
Wow, You guys! It all looks stunning! Hope the backs stand up to slumming it in a tent lol! Cannot wait to see plane views of the falls!How far are you into the trip? 1/3rd ? Sounds like no major problems with any of your plans or vehicles. Hope the good times continue. Stay safe & keep blogging! Al & Jan xx