Gibb River Road - Drysdale Station to Bell Gorge

After our flight to Mitchell Falls we had a nice lunch at the Drysdale Station bar (Annie’s Bar) and chatted to Mick and Laura who we shared the flight with. Also took photos of our flight path.

 

Then it was time to move on so we headed back onto and down the Gibb River Road. We camped at Mount Elizabeth Station. It was a nice camp for the night but we did not bother with going to see their gorge there. It was a long slow trek and we wanted a break. We relaxed with a fire in a nice setting and were being observed by the wallabies.

In the morning, Thursday we planned to go into the Mornington Wilderness Park. You turn into their driveway which is a 88km road and in the first kilometer there is a radio you call them up from to find out if you can get in. We actually rang from Mount Barnett Roadhouse and it turned out they were full up.  We were told we could go into Chanley Station on the Gibb near their road in, stay overnight and be at their driveway early to get in. I knew the gorges at Chanley were also a long drive from their campsite. We felt that rather than exhaust ourselves with seeing everything this time, and as we would return one day for the drive to Mitchell Falls we would leave them as a double for our return.

So next stop was Galvans Gorge. It was a short walk into the gorge and was a really nice waterhole for a swim. There was some Aboriginal art as well.

Next was Adcock Gorge. We did not bother with a swim there as the water was not flowing and the water a little stagnant.

Then onto Silent Grove to camp. That is the campground used for people wanting to go and visit Bell Gorge. On the road in we came across Blake and Veronica who had a torn tyre. I gave them a hand to change the tyre and then went on into the camp. Next morning we walked into Bell Gorge. It was stunning.  I will let the pictures tell the story. There was a tour guide who we had a good chat to, a really nice guy. He gave us a bit of info. It is handy to listen into some of the talks the guides are giving their tour groups.   

 

 

 

 

 Views from the top of Bell Gorge

 

 That night we were round the campfire with Blake and Veronica and a lovely English family from Fremantle.

 

Mitchell Falls and Prince Regent River & NP

Next day we continued on up the Gibb. We were heading towards Mitchell Falls and so we left the Gibb River Road where it swings east and we went on the Kulumburu Road and it was a shocker. We camped that night at Drysdale River Station. Found out that the road continues in it’s terrible state and then gets worse from the turn off to Mitchell Falls. We were not keen to travel on those roads and possibly wreck the Cruiser so we opted for a great value flight of two hours which took us over the Prince Regent River and National Park, St George Basin and Mitchell Falls. It was spectacular and gorgeous. I was a bit disappointed to not get on the ground at Mitchell Falls so having at least seen it will tide me over till I can do it later.

 

Prince Regent River

 The Cascades. Early explorers and settlers using the river could get fresh water from there. Years ago an American woman on a cruise was taken by a croc when she swam there.

 St George Basin where the Prince Regent opens out to.

 

 

 

 Mount Trafalgar and Mount Wellington.

 My sister Bet just went on a Kimberley cruise two weeks earlier and it could well have been this boat below.

 

We shared the flight with a lovely young family, Mick and Laura and their two gorgeous girls from Darwin. Their little girl chose to join us in the photo.

I have so many great photos of this flight and my add more when I get time later.

 

Gibb River Road - Manning Gorge

On Saturday the 20^th June we travelled to Derby. The plan was to put the van in storage at the van park we were staying in ($5 per night) and go onto the Gibb River Road (Gibb) all the way to Mitchell Falls seeing gorges and falls on the way up and back. We didn’t want to spend more than about seven nights in the tent so our idea was to come back and pick up the van for the extra comfort and return to the Gibb and keep it at Windjana Gorge for a further three days.

We happened to have our site next door to people we met at Lake Argyle, two couples from Tasmania. They had just spent a night on the Gibb at Bell Gorge and also saw Windjana. In speaking to them we decided to not bother coming back and picking up the van and taking it back to Windjana. They recommended we could just do the lot in seven days in the tent and we would save a heap of kilometres and fuel and wear and tear on the van. We had already done the eastern end of the Gibb, El Questro etc.

So on the Monday the van went into storage and we hit the Gibb. The road was surprisingly good but caution was still required.

We arrived at Barnett Roadhouse, paid our camping fees and went on to Manning Gorge Campground. Set up camp and then went down to the river for a swim. It was a beautiful swimming hole. The quickest way to the gorge is to go across the water. For that purpose there is a tinny on a pully system so you can pull yourself across.

The next morning we took the walk to Manning Gorge. It was absolutely beautiful.

 

 The water was crystal clear.

There was even some rock art.