When the tires has been fixed and has been put back to the truck, we were back in the road. And we had a quick stop in a local community that can be found along Gibb River Road which named as Imintji. The place also offers camping site which is great for nearby attractions such as Bell Gorge, Tunnel Creek, Windjana Gorge and others. It also offers community store and diesel fuel gasoline, a better place to be while surviving in Gibb River Road. And one more thing, they have arts centre to spend sometime on but at the time of our visit it was already closed for the season. These photos are part of Day 8 (Bell Gorge and Windjana Gorge) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.
Chromatic Outlook (Post#46) : Over the Range “Tyre and Mechanical Repairs”
After we left Mount Barnett Roadhouse and had been in Gibb River Road for around half an hour, we stopped again. This time, we went to a motor repair shop. Then, we got off and realized that there was need to be done with the tire of the truck. At the repair shop, while we were waiting, we enjoyed looking at the photos of the owner of the shop and the beautiful places within the range of Gibb River Road or around Kimberley. These photos are part of Day 8 (Bell Gorge and Windjana Gorge) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.
It was our 7th Day and the adventure destination was Manning Gorge. The group had breakfast but did not break the camp that morning. Scotty, our guide explained something in the group even before the walk starts. He explained in the group that there are options to choose. First option was walking to the gorge will be the same walk going back to the camp and the second option was walking to the gorge while swimming back to the camp. Since I was not really a good swimmer at all, I chose the first option and we were just few to chose the first option, the rest chose the second. Since there were two groups in the camp, the other group came from Broome joined us in the activity.
Then, we started the walk after passing Manning Creek using a small boat. At first the walk was easy but because the sun was up, we felt the warm in our bodies. We thought that the walk was a short one but it took us more than an hour to reach the gorge. There are parts of the trail that were too rugged because of rocks and boulders stray along the trail but still pretty well-marked and visible to which most of the group or individual can follow the track.
Along the walking trail
When we were almost near in Manning Gorge we had a bit of trek as we descent towards the gorge. When we reached the gorge, I felt that we discovered a remote paradise from nothing in the wilderness to something amazing. Along the walking trail, I never imagined that there is a magnificent waterhole at the end of the walk. Because I was too mesmerized in the waterhole and my surroundings, I took a lot of photos that I felt that I did not want to miss anything. Someone can say, why don’t you take a video of it? To be honest, I was not really a fan of taking or recording videos, but sometimes in some of my travels I did capture videos. The reason I preferred photos than videos is because photo is like frozen time, taking photo means capturing a second or a moment.
Aboriginal Arts in Rocks in Manning Gorge
As I approached the main waterhole where the waterfalls tracks is visible, during my descent I saw some Aboriginal Arts drawn in a rock wall which significantly shows that the place has been lived by ancient people.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Manning Gorge
At first, I didn’t have a plan to swim in Manning Gorge waterhole as I can see that its depth was not for me. But our guide Scotty invited me to get into the water and the rest of the group did the same thing. They showed to me that there was a shallow area in the waterhole that I can stand. When I saw the lighter color of the waterhole, I decided to join the group with a thought that the whole group were there that can help me and assist me so I can enjoy the water too.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
At Manning Gorge Waterhole
We spent hours in the gorge. But before lunch time, we decided to return to the camp. As mentioned earlier, the group divided into two. One group will return to the camp the same way reaching the gorge which was walking back to the same trail and I joined that group. The second group was group that will swim from Manning Gorge following the Manning Creek towards the camp.
We reached the camp an hour earlier from the other group that swam through Manning Creek, then altogether had lunch at the camp site. After lunch, we went to Mount Barnett Roadhouse to refill our truck since the previous day was unsuccessful as it was already closed.
At Mount Barnett Roadhouse – Looking at the information about Toad in Western Australia
We returned to the camp to spent the rest of the days. For the group to maximize the resting time in the camp, some of the group went at Manning Creek to swim and play which just beside the camp, I joined the group and had fun. And some just rested in the tent to rest and sleep.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Soaking myself in Manning Creek near the camp
We spent another night in the camp. And since there were two groups in the same camp, it was kind of fun because there were lots of people having dinner altogether, helping out together in preparing and cooking the food. Even in cleaning up the mess we made during the dinner. I kind of like of that way of mingling with people though we were strangers at all personally but it feels like we were a big one family at that time.
We took Gibb River Road for days to reach other parts of Kimberly Wilderness. And based on experience while wandering on this unsealed and dirt track, this road goes to the last true wilderness on earth. The road is the gateway to be able to explore amazing wilderness that Kimberly Region is hiding. The road is restricted to 4WD vehicle, opens in dry season, closed in wet and rainy days as this road easily gets flooded. It is advisable to check the road condition before passing it. Traveling this road is not for the faint heart but for the brave one. These photos are part of Day 4 (The Bungle Bungles and El Questro) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.
Chromatic Outlook (Post#45) : Little Bungle Bungles at Kings Canyon (NT, Australia)
When I had a chance to do a walk or trek in Kings Canyon in Northern Territory, Australia along the trail we found something which they usually called as “Little Bungle Bungles”. It resembles “The Bungle Bungles” in Purnululu National Park if you are looking into it from the top or from the air. Honestly when I saw it, I had been curious what its like for real. And I got my interest to see it one day. After three years that I had been in Red Centre, I returned to Australia in 2016 and got a chance to see this amazing landmarks. I featured these photos since I haven’t taken the flight tour over the park to be able to see it from the top. These photos are part of Day 3 (Kings Canyon) of 3 Days Red Centre Adventure Tour April 2013.
View At My Window (Post#35) : Escarpment Walls (West of Bungle Bungle Range)
During our first day in Purnululu National Park, after taking part in Echidna Chasm Walk, I thought that the adventure was over for the day but then our guide still gave us a chance to see the Escarpment Walls which is the Western part of Bungle Bungle Range during the sunset that was amazing to see at the ridge that we trekked shortly. The color was amazing pinkish or combination of red and orange. The color was changing while the sunset was happening. These photos are part of Day 3 (Purnululu National Park) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.
Echidna Chasm is one of the highlights of Purnululu National Park which can be found at the western part of Bungle Bungle Range. This part of the park gives the visitor a chance to walk in a narrow chasm to witness or observe a weak point or fault and how it was developed into a chasm. There were few steps provided along the chasm walk to ease the steps to reach the end. And experience few boulders found along the chasm that had been fell while chasm was developed happened millions years ago. These photos are part of Day 3 (Purnululu National Park) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.
When we reached Purnululu National Park, aside from Bungle Bungle Range (main feature of the park) to see, Osmond Range is there as well, a dry and rugged range which located on the western part of the park. When we entered the park’s vicinity, after driving along unsealed road for an hour, we stopped to witness Osmond Range. These photos are part of Day 3 (Purnululu National Park) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.
Transportation (Post#14) : Purnululu, WA – Overland Truck
Going to remote and desolate places in Kimberly in Western Australia does have requirements as not all roads are sealed roads. There are restricted roads which called to be unsealed roads or dirt tracks where only an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and 4X4 vehicle are allowed to or can access to. And the first Overland Truck we took were able to manage to travel from Darwin to El Questro Station. These photos are part of Day 3 (Purnululu National Park) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.
Name Of The Place (Post#45) : Purnululu National Park
Purnululu National Park sometimes confused with Bungle Bungle Range. But to be exact, Bungle Bungle Range is located within Purnululu National Park. But it is not a big issue to interchange it. It is recognized as World Heritage Site in 2003 because of its exceptional natural beauty that I witnessed myself for being in the park in two days exploring some part of it. The photo is part of Day 3 (Purnululu National Park) of 9 Days Darwin to Broome Overland Adventure Tour October 2016.
You must be logged in to post a comment.