16 GIBB RIVER ROAD PART 1

One of the Iconic 4WD tracks in Australia is the Gibb River Road and many people cross from Kunanurra to Derby via this route every year.  One of the big attractions are the great side trips that you can do along the way... All depending on the condition of the road and whether it is open?

Well that's a good start!  Looking good for a clear run if it doesn't rain!  Our first camp was on the banks of the Pentacost River.  Well renowned for the river crossing and the crocs.  We watched the crocs for 3 days, sunning themselves on the opposite bank of the river, and one evening I saw 5 of them swimming near our camp. But it was a great camp spot, all by ourselves and so peaceful.

Although these riverside camps do sometimes come with problems to solve.  This one being that the ground was quite uneven......hmm what to do .....improvise !

It worked fine!    

After bush camping for a few days and then many Kls of dusty roads it was nice to arrive in this little oasis.

We sampled their scones before we headed out to one of their camp spots where we had the usual??  amenities.

The Amenities block.  Looks rustic but very nice.

This is the Donkey!

Well I guess at least we can get a hot shower.

even though the walls don't quite go all the way to the roof!   Or ........wait for it......

A Bath!!    Some of these places are interesting to say the least.

Leaving Gibb River Road we headed North up the Kulumburu road hoping to go to the Mitchell Falls but we had been told the road was terrible.

Well that's a good sign!   

We have now done so many river crossings, I can't believe I was so nervous the first time I did one.

Admittedly they have all been pretty low due to the lack of a wet season this year.

and we weren't the only ones crossing the river.

Getting to some of the places we have seen has required some pretty rugged hiking, not nice flat walking trails, more like mini mountain climbing at times.

This is an easy part of the track to the Mitchell River Falls.

We have seen lots of bird life up here, but not a lot of other animal life, but we did hear Dingos and Wild Pigs during the night when we were camped at the falls.  As we were driving away though we came across 2 curious dingos. Managed to catch this one before he went back into the bushes.

After the Falls we headed back to the Gibb River Road and actually found another great campsite on the banks of the Gibb River!  I just love this outdoor life as Dave does all the cooking!!

There are just so many gorges and great spots to visit along here - I will put all the scenic pics in Part 2

but this was from one place.... Looks like a cave man?

No just Dave exploring the caves in one of the waterholes!  

While we have been travelling our meals have been pretty varied and we are always trying out new ideas in the camp oven.  Bought a pizza tray to fit inside it and came up with.....

Camp Oven Nachos!!!   A Winner!

Even though the Gibb is a dirt road, it's also very pretty and at times you don't mind the dust.

We detoured south at the end of the Gibb to go check out Winjana Gorge and tunnel creek and were not disappointed.  This was one shot taken just after we emerged from the narrow rocky entrance to the gorge..

Around every corner up here is a surprise!

Two other things that I have found really interesting as well are the Termite mounds that change from one area to another.  Some are huge. This lot looked like a family group!

Of fat Bulbous monsters!!  I have a weird imagination I know!

And Boab Trees.  There are so many up here and all so very different. This one could be 100's of years old.

So back to the bitumen - won't say I'm going to miss the dust.

Which way to go?

This way I think!!!

Check out part 2 for some of our favourite pics along the Gibb.