Now I'm a believer

I knew as soon as we drove up over the hill overlooking the beach at Cape Leveque what everyone had been raving on about. Wow!

The next confirmation came upon seeing our accommodation for the next five nights.

Yep, Cape Leveque was everything I could have hoped for. 

Beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

Magical swimming.

Beach driving.

Local culture.

And quality family time.

I suspect that at the end of our big adventure, I will be telling people that the Kimberley was incredible, and Cape Leveque was the peak experience of the Kimberley. I could go back in a heartbeat. 

So that's what they were talking about

Many of our friends when they have returned from their big Aussie adventures have talked in reverent tones about a few key places they visited. When you haven't been to those places , you can feel a bit on the outer , not part of the special club. We can now include ourselves in the special group who have made it along The Gibb River Road. We can speak the exclusive language and have acquired the signature handshake or is it a body shake developed through 1000+ kilometres of corrugated , dusty, rocky road . I should point out that the girls in our party are not so sure they are really happy to have earnt their way into the club.

Nevertheless, we did manage to enjoy many aspects of the Gibb River Road, especially the many gorges and the rugged beauty of the Kimberley. 

Friends at El Questro

Near Home Valley GRR

Wunumurra Gorge on Mt Elizabeth station

Our own private gorge for most of the day

Manning Gorge - also mostly to ourselves

Taking the leap at Manning Gorge

Galvan's Gorge

Bluebush Waterhole Mornington Wilderness Park

A great family day on Dimond Gorge - Mornington

Dimond Gorge

Bell Gorge

Charlie at Bell 

Early morning walk at Windjana

I thought we had made it through unscathed. A good opportunity to display advanced man skills to the children

We made it - Cable Beach Broome

More comfortable than the Troopie on the Gibb

Staircase to the moon- Roebuck Bay- Broome

Tomorrow we head north to join another exclusive club. The  Cape Leveque Club. We often hear people say that the Kimberley was their favourite region in Australia and Cape Leveque was their favourite spot in the Kimberley. Expectations are high. Then it will be back to Broome before we head to yet another favourite - The Karijini.

I'm excited

Well I was excited a couple of weeks ago as we were heading for the Kimberley from Darwin. Now I'm just exhausted after making it to Broome. Will include a more extensive post when I can work out the Internet here. Things have been hectic and my gang needs a good rest and a chance to wash off the dust and swim in the saltwater again without the threat of being eaten or stung. 

Lake Argyle

Branco's lookout El Questro

The Bungle Bungles were incredible and the Gibb River Road was hard work but very rewarding. Just the one decimated tyre and a slow leak. Somehow managed to limp our way to Broome and will base ourselves here as we explore coastal Kimberley. More later.

Go West

After spending a few weeks in the Top End, it's time to move on. We would be happy enough to stay but with some limits on our time, we have to head west. The weather has been a highlight with daytime temperatures between 28 and 33. Not bad for winter. No wonder there is a conga line of grey nomads filing into Darwin at this time of year. Who can blame them.

Enjoying the waterfalls of Litchfield NP

Favourite bird - Jabiru

The jumping crocs

Lazing in Litchfield

Classic Darwin sunset

Waterfront pool handy when you are nervous after the croc cruise.

Ma Ma ( Alison's Mum Julie)  joined us for a week in Darwin

Apparently it's not too bad in the Kimberley either so we will head there tomorrow. At least we will head in that direction, as like most things up here, it's not just down the road.