Who can you trust

I told my crew that it would be worth forgoing showers for a few days in order to experience the World Heritage Area of the Ningaloo Reef. Well , you would think I was asking them to go on a hunger strike for a month. I know I've made some ordinary decisions over the years but I didn't think I had completely lost credibility.

Maybe after Alison enjoyed one of her peak experiences of the entire trip snorkelling the Turquoise Bay drift loop , some of my credibility will be restored. She even snorkelled with a white tip reef shark and lived to tell the tale. We spent a lovely few days in the Cape Range National Park and managed to wash the salt off at the end of most days thanks to our close proximity to Ned's Bore. Camping 50 metres from the water was worth the sacrifice.

The messiest campsite as usual

 We were also fortunate enough to catch up with our friends from Kiama, the Vidilini's. There were even three generations who made the journey to WA to spend  a few weeks in Cape Range. It was great to see them enjoying such a marvellous time on the road.

We also visited the Karijini National Park for a few days where we clambered up and down the various beautiful gorges on offer. The redness in the surrounding Hammersley Ranges was stunning. 

Our tour through Rio Tinto's Tom Price mine was enthralling. At least Charlie and I thought so. The girls did not seem to share our enthusiasm. At least it was mercifully brief. Alison was wise enough to stay in town.

After a few days in Coral Bay, we will keep heading south. Next stop Carnarvon.

Karijini

I have just returned to Broome after a successful stint at home. Now it's off to the Karijini. Like Cape Leveque, it comes highly recommended so we are pretty psyched. 

Looks pretty flash don't you think?

I picked up my surfboard when I was home because everyone ( ok not everyone) suggested there were plenty of waves down the west coast. I took a bit of a look on the net today and have decided I will pretend it's not mine if I see anything like this.

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Ruby suggested I pretend I am a German  backpacker. Yes , I am getting a bit soft in my old age. Perhaps I'll surprise myself. 

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.