Australia here we come!

5/5/12

We left Kununurra today but not before the girls visited the Saturday Flea market in a park opposite the Visitors Information Centre. While they were doing that I made some minor adjustments to the caravan wiring in a hope some power could get to the batteries and fridge in the caravan while we are driving. We filled up our gas bottle at Home Hardware. Then we went to Metaland and Mary-Anne bought a replacement jockey wheel bolt for the one that fell off. Then we drove a whole 119kms to the Dunham River Rest Area on the Great Northern Highway and set up camp for the day. We have two days to get to the place where we are leaving the caravans while we camp in the Bungle Bungles, so it was not such a big deal setting up so early. We had a relaxing afternoon just doing nothing and enjoying the large area the Rest Area is in.

6/5/12

Today we drove just over a 100kms to Spring Creek Rest Area which is virtually across the road from the entrance to the Bungle Bungles road. We set up in a solar panel friendly spot then we had lunch. The girls then started to organize and pack for our camping trip to the Bungle Bungles. Later in the afternoon we went for a walk down the hill and had a look at Spring Creek. There were a few campers and motor homes set up in the shade of the trees next to the creek. It was a lovely spot but not if you wanted your batteries fully charged. We inspected the toilets on the way back. They consisted of two toilet bowls about two feet off the ground and no toilet seat. They were long drop toilets which is just a hole bored into the ground. Karen hates these types of toilets. There could be spiders!!! We had another afternoon doing nothing and enjoying it. (Well, I did. Karen & Mary-Anne were still packing for the tent camping trip). After tea we did a bit of star gazing but could not find any satellites thanks to the bright moon.

7/5/12

Today we drove across the highway and stopped at Mabel Downs Cattle Station where we paid $20 per night to store our caravans while we camped for two nights in the Bungle Bungles. After unpacking both cars of items that we didn't need while camping we loaded up with tents, water and food and hit the 56km long track to the Bungle Bungles. I had heard the track was very rough and corrugated but we found it not too bad. Even so, it took 2 hours to reach the Visitors Centre. There Karen and Mary-Anne paid the camping fees and we were allocated sites 15 and 16 in the Kurrajong Camping area. We travelled a further 7kms to the camping area and found our sites. Now the hard work started putting up tents. To our amazement the tents went up quickly and did not fall down. In the afternoon Karen organised a fitness program for Mary-Anne and I that consisted of firstly a 2km walk to the Echidna Chasm. The track leading to the Chasm was covered with ankle breaking river rocks that had the hiking poles working overtime once more. As we entered the chasm the track narrowed and the towering 200 metre high ridges were only a metre apart. Looking up, the colour of the ridges changed to a brilliant golden red where the sun could reach and further down a darkish brown. We came to a section of the track that appeared to be blocked by fallen rocks but we were able to squeeze by them and continue eventually to a fantastic narrow dead end. The 200 metre high walls of conglomerate sandstone rock just towered over us and demanded that we sit and admire their grandeur. It was hard to tear ourselves away from this magnificent place but it was getting late and there was still the Osmand Lookout walk to do. We negoiated our way out of the Chasm and took a right turn to the Osmand Lookout which was only 500 metres away. After a moderately easy walk we arrived at the lookout. We gazed out at the grandeur of the Osmand Range and the sweep of Red Rock Creek as it drains into Osmand Creek. An information board explained that the Osmand Range was between 1.6 and 1.8 billion years old. The Bungle Bungles are much younger being only 360 million years old. Karen had planned for us to also visit Kungkalahayi lookout on the way back to the camp site but it was too late and we had missed the sunset. When we got back to our tents I set up the camp shower and the girls filled two 20 litre water buckets. We all had a great hot shower and felt good after being hot and sweaty after the walks. The moon was still fairly full when it rose and the dingoes started howling to let us know the moon was up. It was with a crescendo of wild dogs howling at the full moon that we all retired for the night totally exhausted but very clean.

8/5/12

We left the camp site after breakfast and drove 27kms to the car park at Piccaninny Creek. Today we are going on the Cathedral Gorge, Domes and Piccaninny Creek lookout walks totalling 7 kilometres of torturous, rough, steep tracks that would make young fit Olympic athletes beg for mercy. The Cathedral walk was very treacherous with many flat sloping rocks covered by fine slippery sand, but the scenery made up for the life threatening track. Again we were confronted by a massive amphitheather at the end where wet season rains create waterfalls that cascade down the high sandstone conglomerate walls turning the dry creek bed into a raging torrent filled waterway. We made our way out of the cool Gorge and proceeded on the Piccaninny Creek Lookout walk in full sun. The track was the bed of Piccaninny Creek which, for the first part, was over smoothed solid sandstone rock. Then we diverged onto the creek bed and made our way still in full sun to an elevated area that overlooked Piccaninny Creek as it flowed away from the Bungle Bungles Domes. The end result was not as impressive as had been imagined, but at least we can say we have seen it. The last walk was around some of the massive beehive shaped, orange and black striped domes. Their colours of the formations is unbelievable. About an hour later we arrived back at the car park and had lunch. Then we drove the 27kms back to the camp ground for a restful afternoon. At sunset we went to the Kungkalahayi Lookout and witnessed one of the most impressive colour shows a sunset can turn on. We had the Bungle Bungle Ranges on one side reflecting the golden sunlight of the setting sun and on the other was the sun itself displaying its awesome presence as it disappeared behind the Osmand Range. The changing colours reflected off the clouds were contrasted with the silhouette of Livistona Palms and other trees calling the top of the Osmand Range home. It was in near full darkness as we descended the lookout hill and made our way back to the car park. This is our last day in the Bungle Bungles and the sunset topped off a great trip. It was back to the camp ground for showers and tea and an early night.

9/5/12

We were all up early today and began packing after breakfast. We still had the 2 hour drive back to where we had stored our caravans before we could begin travelling to our intended destination of Halls Creek Caravan Park. The drive out was uneventful but very long and scenic. Eventually we arrived at Mable Downs and the chores of unloading the cars and pumping up tyres began. At about 12.30pm we had finished and hooked up the caravans and drove about 100kms to Halls Creek. We stopped at the Visitor Information Centre which is very well appointed and the lady was very helpful. We had a quick drive around town and found the Caravan Park and booked in for the night. It was wonderful to have electricity and airconditioning again. The girls did three days of washing and I re-arranged the items in the Prado. It was early to bed as we were all very tired from 2 days of hiking the Bungle Bungles.