13

Fitzroy crossing

300km south of Halls Creek we pull into Fitzroy Crossing. We had planned to go to the meteorite crater at Wolfe Creek but it was a 280km return trip on a rough road that even the locals have given up using. It was going to take us 10 hours!

We go direct to the conurbation of Fitzroy Crossing which for some two months of each year is marooned as an island and only accessible by helicopter. Luckily for our visit the rains were yet to come.

Geikie Gorge is hardly mentioned in the guidebooks but is a stunning limestone gorge

Before we leave Halls Creek it is worth mentioning security. We were advised to take EVERYTHING out of the car, the majority of cars with anything in them are broken into overnight. The security on our hotel room door seem to support that...

..as did this notice in the room:

" One of the great things about the Kimberley is the open and honest people we have here, although there are always exceptions.......

Please lock your doors and windows, ensure that your car is secured and your valuables are out of sight.

If you have items requiring additional security please contact reception for advice."

Geikie Gorge is hardly mentioned in the guidebooks but is a stunning limestone gorge

The sand bank that retains the water in the gorge in the dry season

'Billy no-mates'

The limestone cliffs are stunning in their formations. The stain at the base of the cliffs shows the flood level.

water has eroded and sculpted the limestone

these little birds, much like swifts build a new nest each year to keep their young away from snakes. The only down side is that the young have only one chance at flying, or they are crocodile food.

The nests are swept are each year by the flood waters.

Beautiful colours as the sun sets

We would love to receive your comments....to email us click here..

Index Home [ Back ] [ Next ]

[ Highlights - 1 ] [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ Pictures of the day ]

TOP | HOME | CONTACT
© Copyright 2005 KEBLAWBEN - Laurie & Kairen Wilson. All rights reserved
Many of the images on this page are copyright Laurie Wilson/Alamy
Stock photography by Laurie Wilson at Alamy
This page was last updated on 19-10-2005.

Fitzroy to Derby Our journey takes us on to the coast at Derby, via the Tourist Way and Gibb River Road. Some 300km of dirt Road and arid landscape.	not everyone makes it!
Tunnel Creek is a 800m long natural tunnel that you can walk through. It is normally knee deep in flowing water.	pretty rock formations at the entrance
The creek is dry and the entrance to tunnel dark and forbidding	there's crocodiles in there !!
the standing pools of water don't look inviting so we decide to give it a miss	we bravely explore the surrounding rocks

another one who didn't make it	Windjana Gorge
	more caves?
....no, just a very dry gorge. This is the end of the dry season and the water levels are very low.	we seem to be alone again...
...you're never alone in the Top End as we were warned.

Laurie like the crocs.....
these were baby crocodiles in what seemed to be a 'nursery' pool	this brings a whole new meaning to dying in your sleep!!!
A paper bark tree. The bark is almost waterproof and can also be used to wrap food in for cooking.	A really old boab tree by the side of the Gibb River Road. Must be well over a thousand years old.
	We passed thousands of them over the last two weeks so we thought we had better have a picture of a termite mound.
the road turns to tarmac (single track) for the last 40km. It is dead straight all the way.	The main administrative town of the region is reached.
the highlight is the jetty and the second highest tidal variation in the World (11m)	The jetty (now don't get excited!)
We met Ranger Peter and had a long chat with him. He'd only been here a week, but still gave us a great insight into outback life.	even the locals are saying that it's hotter than usual..phew!
	Another prison Boab tree. This was used as a stopping off point before prisoners were moved on to the grim looking prison in Derby.
the longest drinking trough in the World. Designed to water 500 cattle at once, to service the large droves that were on their way to Derby for shipping out.	Laurie works out the next day's activities (well there wasn't a lot else to do in Derby!)