The Big Lap 2014

Tuesday June 10

In the morning, we went driving out to Diggers Rest station. Stopped on the way to see the dam which supplies Wyndham, aboriginal cave paintings and the Prison boab tree. The station homestead was just a rough house where we met the caretakers and had a cup of pannikin tea with them. Then we drove out across the paddocks to their billabong and had our sangers. Wide open spaces and magnificent towering Kimberley mountains like something in a western movie.

After that, we went over to Marglu billabong – absolutely stunning! Thousands of water birds of every kind fishing, perching, walking on lily-pads, catching insects – all living in harmony. A magic place.

We drove from there over to the Parry Farm homestay where we had afternoon tea (very nice) and because it was so beautiful, went back to the billabong before driving 'home' and having barra and chips for tea from the pub in town.

Another day of different experiences and magnificent scenery.

Wednesday, June 11

A big day.

We left early for a trip along the Gibb River Road.

First stop was Emma Gorge resort, where we aid our $12 pp fee to enter the El Questro-owned areas. The Emma Gorge resort is very classy and picturesque (no camping here). Then we drove in to Zebedee Thermal Springs. Oh, how gorgeous!!! Little pools (personal bath-tubs) fed by mini waterfalls of 28-32 degree water, surrounded by mossy rocks, cycads and water plants, with massive orange rock walls reaching to the sky all around. You have to get here early, before all the 'bathtubs' are claimed by people who don't want to give them up. Small wonder!

From there, we continued to El Questro. The road to their turnoff is bitumen, but the road in is 16 km of corrugations. You can camp there ($20 pp per night for an unpowered site!), and from there, take walks and tours to the many gorges, waterfalls and swimming holes on the property. We were not inclined to stay, (a) because we wouldn't wreck our van on the corrugations, and (b) because it was so commercial.

We had been advised that Home Valley was a more laid-back option, so we continued on the 'real' Gibb River road – gravel, rocky water crossings and corrugations – to there and had barra and steak for lunch. You can camp out there as well, although the walks and experiences there are not as spectacular as those at El Questro.

We returned to Emma Gorge, where Ian did the gorge walk – magnificent, but difficult – and I stayed at the resort cafe reading and enjoying coffee and mud cake instead. :). My knees are not up to the difficult stuff.

Another marvellous day. So much beauty, so much magnificent scenery. We are so privileged to be here.