Western Australia, 2002

Travelling Western Australia takes time. Time to see it as it is so big and time to take in all the beautiful scenery. The Kimberley is a full of wonder.

When travelling on the Gibb River Road in the Kimberley just after the wet season has ended you get to do some river crossings. This is the Pentecost River. When we did it it was an easy crossing. However you need to be wary as it becomes a raging torrent during the wet season. There are plenty of bush camping spots along the river banks. Just be on the lookout for hungry saltwater crocodiles.
The Bungle Bungle National Park is a must see when in the Kimberley. The 50 kilometres of dirt driving to get to the park takes you through some lovely hill country. When you get to the park the many walks are breathtaking. This photo was taken at the end of one of the gorge walks on the north side of the range. The walk is fairly easy. Some rock hopping is involved but nothing too serious. Don't forget to take some water.
At the end of the Cathedral Gorge walk in the Bungle Bungles you end up at a waterhole that has been carved out of the rockface of the mountain. When it rains water flows down the walls into the rockhole. To get to it you have to walk through the gorge which in itself is spectacular. Cathy spotted the gorge walls reflecting onto the water and thought it would make a great photo. One of the amazing things about the Bungle Bungles is it is made of sandstone. The gorge wall is compressed sand. When I ran my hand along the overhanging wall face it crumbled into sand. At first I thought this was way cool. A mountain made up of sand. My sense of intrigue turned to trepidation when I noticed the cracks in the wall and the smashed rocks laying by the water that had come from the wall. I then made sure I wasn't standing under any overhanging rocks. Just in case.
One of the wonderous things about the Bungle Bungles is the beehive domes that dominate the southern and eastern sides of the range. The different bands of colours in the domes are a result of fungi having been deposited over time when the mountains came to be. Then water and erosion over the milleniums shaped the beehive shapes. The walk through the beehive domes is a real treat as you get to see the different colours. Especially at sunset. Oh and the toilet block at the start of the walk has to have the best scenery going around.
No trip to Broome is complete without a visit to Cable Beach. So named as a telegraph cable made its way from the beach to Indonesia. Cable Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. You can drive along the northern section of the beach. Only thing you need to be wary of is the nudists. Especially the overweight middle aged men with beer guts hanging out for all to see. And cringe at.
Less than an hour north of Broome on the Cape Leveque Peninsula is Quondong Beach. The corrugated dirt road isn't too bad. You can bush camp in the area and enjoy the crystal clear waters of the beach. Next to the beach some good rock platforms are ideal for fishing. As are the waters off the beach. You can even launch your tinnie from the beach. You need to carry the tinnie to the water as driving on the beach can lead to disaster. It has soft sand and getting bogged is quite easy to do. With the huge tides in the area you may well end up with a drowned vehicle.