OF ALL THE PATHS YOU TAKE IN LIFE, MAKE SURE A FEW OF THEM ARE DIRT
Anonymous
We are happily full of ‘gorge’ essness. What a country we live in and the Gibb River Road lived up to its promise of a rugged corrugated red dust journey leading to treasured places like Zebedee thermal pools at El Questro Station, free camping on the Pentecost River with only crocs for company, Home Valley Station and where we took a guided history and bush tucker tour, Ellenbrae Station and some amazing hot scones with jam and cream, Manning Gorge – a long hot trek but so worth it for the amazing swimming holes and Galvans Gorge – a short hot trek to another refreshing waterhole. Below are a selection of photos from these amazing places …..
Mt Barnett Roadhouse and Manning Gorge Camp – The first thing we bought at the Roadhouse (besides the camping permit) was a box of Bulla Chocolate Ice-creams! The days are getting hotter and the nights cooler so we try to travel during the heat of the day and do more physical things during the mornings. At Manning gorge we had a lovely bush camp far from anyone and our own fire pit. There was plenty of bird life and a group of wallaroos which jumped through the campsite in the early morning.
It was also full moon and we watched it rise majestically through the large Boab nearby. We decided to tackle the walk to the gorge the following morning. To get to the track you first have to swim the manning river which involves putting your gear into the plastic half barrels and towing it across. Luckily the water is not at all cold and the crocodiles are only small fresh water ones which are not interested in human breakfasts (there was one basking on a rock nearby not at all interested). The walk is 3 km in very dry hot scrub, climbing up and down rocky gorges to finally arrive at this huge swimming hole where the Manning Falls cascade down a black rock face. The rock face is sandstone which turns black with algal growth. High up we saw lots of kids and adults jumping off the rock face at least 10 metres to waterhole below which is obviously very deep. We swam the 80 metres across to the sandy beach at the back and look out through the falling water. We have seen photos taken when the water was still thundering down earlier in the season and it’s quite a sight. We had a little picnic and were back at camp by 11.30 to just hide out from the sun for the afternoon.
Feeling nice and cool after our swim at Galvans Gorge we hit the road again heading to a business called Over The Range Tyre Service. Nev does very good business in the dry season with all the tourists needing tyre repairs. He also has a range of memorabilia and is an all round nice guy.
Good Night – will report from our next stop the town of Derby – the start/finish of our Gibb River Road adventure!