Westward, ever westward

Monday, July 14:

Left Manbulloo Station for a free camp (national park $3.30 per person) at Sullivan’s Camp. We pulled up, found a spot and a chap wandered over for a chat. He was Wayne and his wife was Sue and they were from Newcastle. Next in came another van. The driver asked is he could pull in behind us but leaving lots of room. No worries. His name was tom and his wife’s name was Sue. So we were dubbed Sue1, Sue 2 and Sue 3 in order of arrival.

Wayne played the ukele and pulled it out. The next couple who arrived in a campervan hopped out and she grabbed her ukele toos so we had dueling ukeles in the camp that night. We all sat together and had drinks before turning in for the night. All the Sues were heading west so we will probably meet up again. 

Tuesday, July 14:

Moved on to the next free camp  - which was the last one before the WA border and Kununurra. Called  the Saddle our backyard was a giant cliff face which changed colours as the sun set. Next to us was another Vietnam Vet so we had drinks together and had a great chat.

Wednesday, July 16:

It was only a short hop the border and the quarantine check then onto Kununurra where we had booked into Hidden Valley which was the cheapest park and had received good reviews on Wiki Camp.

After setting up on a nice grassy site – though it took a bit to get into the site – we looked through the brochures to see which tours we would book. We decided on the one I had already picked with Kimberley air and Triple J – a flight on a seaplane and a trip along the length of the ord river form the wall back to Kununurra - $595 each but great value. 

We couldn’t get both on the same day so had to stay an extra night.  In the need we were glad as it would have been one exhausting day.

Went shopping then flopped into their beautiful pool.

Tom and Sue 3 were also in the park so we had drinks with them each night we were there. They are from Mooroopna and were good fun.

View across Kununurra.

Thursday, July 17:

We spent the morning driving around  and re-visited places such as Ivanhoe Crossing, Packsaddle Rd where we purchased some delicious bananas. Then decided it was too hot so flopped again in the pool.

Friday, July 18:

Boat trip up the Ord and Lake Kununarra. Picked up at 11.30am and didn’t return until after 5.30pm. This was an amazing trip with owner Geoff who has lived and worked in Kununurra since the 1980s. Saw lots of corcs (fresh water) wallabies, birds and of course scenery which is so difficult to capture on the camera. His boat was powered by 3 outboards – 350 each and burns lots and lots of fuel.

Agile Wallabies.

A back water on the Ord River.

Saturday, July 19:

Picked up at 7.30 by our pilot Kathie and her driver for our flight with Kimberley Air. We madly took photos but I’m sure they won’t do everything we saw justice. We took off from the airport; went to pick up two passengers at Lake Argyle so did a sea landing and takeoff and then it was south over the Bngle Bundles and argyle diamond Mine before landing back on Lake Argyle where Kathie laid out morning tea for us all.  Another takeover and a shot hoop to let our Lake Argyle passengers off and then it was another see take off back to the airport. It was great fun and great value for money.

The Hoochery and Sandalwood factory then shopping at IGA.

The islands in Lake Argyll.

The Bungle Bungles from the air.

Indian Sandlewood plantations at Kununurra.

Sunday, July 20:

 Left Kunnunura at 9 and arrived at Wyndham at 10.30am just in time for the market in the caravan park and then took off after lunch to Port Wyndham, the jetty, museum and the ore loading piers.