WA Border to Kununurra

Can we go fishing now?

We were in the Kimberley! Absolutely stunning scenery on the way in to Lake Argyle. Courtesy of the Western Time Zone, we arrived very early at the campground overlooking the lake. Lachie's first mission was to buy himself a fishing rod (which he spotted at reception as we checked in) with his busking money! We set up camp and checked out the absolutely stunning wet edge pool.

Possibly Australia's most scenic pool!

Ella said she wouldn't want to drop her favourite teddy over there!

The temperature was climbing at an alarming rate so we drove around and over the dam wall to a shady picnic area for lunch and a play in the sprinklers. Dave and the boys played some music and we all caught up on some postcards while we waited for it to cool down. The wait was in vain, so we drove around to Spillway Creek to check out the fishing prospects. Ella was not keen on fishing so the boys went off to try their luck – and Lachie’s new rod – while we went to the pool again. While there, we saw a school group from Darwin paddle in to the bay below. Ella was bemused. "So, did they paddle in their kayaks all the way from Darwin?" 

No fish were caught, but Lach did lighten his reel by about 30 metres with a huge snag on his first cast! The day seemed never ending and by the time the kids were in bed we decided to do the same. Unfortunately one of the lovely shady trees we were camped under attracted bats, and the other we had to nickname "The Percussion Tree" after an interrupted night!

Sooty Grunter and Sandy Lachlan!

Jackson, Dave and Lachie went fishing early next morning while Marcus and Ella tried to have a much needed sleep in. The heat is adding an extra dimension to the behaviour management, and we have had far too many nights of interrupted sleep. I caught up on some domestic duties until the fishermen returned having been beaten by the heat and a moth plague. Lachie caught a 31/2 pound sooty grunter and a huge 5 pound catfish, which he released. Catfish have been renamed Silver Cobbler here to create a market, which seems to have been successful. The rest of the day was spent in and out of the pool, trying to keep cool. We also visited the nearby Durack Homestead, which was rescued from the rising waters when Lake Argyle started filling and is now a museum. We bought a copy of Mary Durack’s book Kings in Grass Castles which we are keen to read.

Playing a tune on the Durack's piano

The lovely Durack Homestead

Achieving a record pack up (7:04 am!) the next morning was due to the time zone change more than good management, but we are always happy to take a record!

We arrived at the Hidden Valley Van Park in Kununurra at 8 a.m. and were set up under the mango trees by 8:30! Deciding to visit the nearby Mirima National Park before it got too hot, we started climbing to the lookout over the rock formations that are very similar to the Bungle Bungles. It was too hot before we'd taken 20 steps, but the striated rocks were incredible so we carried on.

Which way back?

We were all very pleased to visit an air-conditioned shopping centre to get groceries before more sightseeing. The kids wanted to stay in the airconditioned shop and become Coles employees for the day!

Yes, that does say "STRAY ANIMALS FOR THE NEXT
670 KM"!

Our neighbour at Lake Argyle swore black and blue that we could drive in the Blunderbuss to Emma Gorge on the notorious Gibb River Road, so we decided to attempt the first section. We realised pretty quickly as we bounced over the corrugations that we would be black and blue and that although the van might make it in there it would fall to bits and we would never get out! So we turned around after 2 kms and drove back to the Kununurra Diversion Dam, where, in peculiar Outback tradition, one signpost said “Swim Beach” and the next sign said “Warning. Crocodiles have been sighted in this area”. A few locals were paddling to ankle depth but as no-one was really swimming we decided to forgo the water and eat lunch under the sparse shade of a bare boab tree. The shade must have cooled the ambient temperature by about a degree, but no more! We heard on the radio as we returned to camp that the temperature was 37 degrees and the next day would be 38!

Stay tuned ...