Kimberley Western Australia: We hiked, canoed and cruised
Trips from Kununurra
Kununurra is a beautiful town located in the Kimberley Western Australia. It is close to many hiking trails, canoeing the Ord River, and less than an hour’s drive to the stunning Lake Argyle.
We stayed at Discovery Park on the stunning Lake Kununurra, where we had a cabin close to the water.
After all the hours in the aeroplane, we needed a good walk. We took a late afternoon stroll through Mirima National Park near Kununurra. The park featured stunning rock formations and views.
The Pump House is a popular waterhole and dining spot with a beautiful outdoor setting. It’s a five-minute walk from our caravan park. Furthermore, it’s a nice place to enjoy a few drinks while watching the sunset over the Ord River.
We took a dirt road to see Mayiba, Molly Springs, Blackrock, Marlgu Billabong, and the Grotto. There were no waterfalls or billabongs, all the water had already dried up by then.
We travelled further to Wyndham. It’s a small town surrounded by the Cambridge Gulf, mangrove swamps, and mud flats. Wyndham is the oldest and was once the largest town in the Kimberley Western Australia. During the gold rush, Tennant Creek had six pubs. But today, the population is under a thousand and there is no pub. View from the Five Rivers Lookout.
On our journey back from Wyndham, we crossed the mighty Ord River using the Ivanhoe Crossing. It’s a popular spot for photos, picnics, and fishing for barramundi. However, swimming is not safe because of the danger of crocodiles.
Keep River National Park
Keep River National Park is not in the Kimberley Western Australia, it is in the Northern Territory about 70 kilometres from Kununurra and 420 from Darwin. The landscape is stunning and looks like a lusher Bungle Bungles. The walks are along sandstone escarpments, ridges, and gorges. There are two camping sites with basic facilities and fantastic hiking trails.
We went hiking at Keep River National Park. It was one of the most beautiful places we visited for hiking. It was everything. Flora: Boab trees, wattles, grevilleas and a lot of wildflowers. Fauna: kangaroos, wallabies, goannas and snakes. There is Rock art and ancient campsites to explore.
The Cockatoo Lagoon is a beautiful part of Keep River National Park. There are picnic areas. But you can’t swim in the lagoon. It’s because there can be both freshwater and saltwater crocodiles.
Then, after arriving at Cockatoo Lagoon, we took a nice walk downstream. There, we saw some “freshies,” or freshwater crocodiles.
Trip to the Bungle Bungles
The Bungle Bungles are famous for the beehive-shaped sandstone domes, which have striking stripes of orange and black. They were shaped over 350 million years through weathering and erosion. In addition to the domes, there are deep gorges and narrow chasms. Access to Bungle Bungles is not easy. The nearest town is Kununurra, which is about 300 kilometres away and the last 50 kilometres are very rough and can take more than 2 hours. The easiest way is to fly in.
We took a flight with Kingfisher Tours from Kununurra to the Bungle Bungles. Vanessa, our 20-year-old pilot, was great. She pointed out all the highlights. During the flight, we saw Lake Argyle, the diamond factory, and the rugged gorges.
When we landed at the Bungle Bungles Airstrip, we took a bus tour. It was guided and went through beehive-shaped domes, beautiful flora, and stunning rocks.
From the Piccaninny car park, we walked through the beehive rocks. Then, we went down a narrow passage between two rock walls before reaching the Cathedral Gorge.
The Red Rock Amphitheatre at Cathedral Gorge was a beautiful spot for a break and lunch. The towering rock formations offered cover from the sun. The tranquil atmosphere made it an ideal place to relax and rest before continuing the tour.
There were no other passengers on the flight. While we had the plane and the pilot for ourselves, we felt very secure with Venessa as our pilot and guide. Photo at the Bungle Bungles Airstrip.
Goodbye, wonderful Bungle Bungles in the Kimberley Western Australia; I hope we see you again.
We are flying over the Ord River. Below are areas with tropical fruits, chickpeas, sugarcane, chia seeds, and sandalwood.
Canoeing the Ord River
Then, our next adventure is a self-guided canoe trip down the Ord River. Organized by Go Wild Adventures Eco-Canoeing. Early in the morning, we are picked up from our accommodation. During the trip, we study a map of the river to learn about the dangerous spots along the way. After a safety briefing, we were sent off.
We started near the Argyle Dam outlet into the Ord River. The water flowed quickly, so we didn’t have to paddle. Our focus was on manoeuvring around the various hazards on the river.
We stopped for lunch at Sandy Beach, the halfway point. We focused on safely navigating the bends, so we didn’t take photos while paddling. There was only one dangerous moment. A speeding tourist boat suddenly came around the corner. It created large waves we had to manage.
The second part of our canoe tour was easier because the Ord River is much wider and there are no dangerous areas. But, paddling became harder due to a strong headwind.
Finally, we made it to the Pyramid Rock, where Macca, the tour manager, picked us up.
We had spent five hours on the water of the Ord River. We were sunburnt, a bit tired, and happy. But, unfortunately, there wasn’t any wine or beer to recover.
The way back
Macca took us on a tour of the beautiful area. He showed us the “romantic tents” where we could stay for the night. We tried bush tucker, including Green Tree Ants with a lemon flavour, and other food. In the end, we decided to sleep in a comfortable cabin and not in the tents because it had a hot shower and comfortable beds.
After a long day, we’re heading to Kununurra, enjoying the scenic views along the river.
Heading at full speed on the Ord River to Kununurra with Macca.
Macca dropped us off at the Discovery Park in Kununurra, just 20 metres from our cabin.
El Questro Emma Gorge resort
The El Questro Emma Gorge resort, in the Kimberley Western Australia, was our next place to stay, it is one of the top destinations in the Kimberley. It is a canvas tent. Of course, it has a private bathroom. It also has electricity, a fan, tea/coffee-making facilities, and room service. It’s a short walk to Emma’s restaurant, the pool, and the Emma Gorge trial.
While the trail to Emma Gorge was rocky in sections, it took us about an hour to complete it in each direction. However, bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat for the walk, and wear sturdy shoes. Also, make sure to bring your swimmers for a refreshing bath at the waterfall.
On the way up, there are several beautiful rocks and nice waterholes.
The waterfall in the Emma Gorge had dried up due to the dry season. We enjoyed a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear water. Later, we discovered a small thermal spring in the gorge with a water temperature of 30 degrees.
On our way back, we spotted a green tree snake, but a non-venomous reptile with a length of 2 metres.
The restaurant was excellent, but we preferred to eat at our place. We had our meals in the fresh air outside our tent. It was a peaceful atmosphere, and some cane toads joined us, which enhanced our dining experience.
Trips from the resort
From May to October, the Kimberley Western Australia receives little rain. However, some areas still have plenty of water and it requires a four-wheel drive to reach.
During our trip, we also visited Zebedee Hot Springs. This beautiful location is surrounded by Pandanus and Livistona palms. The water temperature at the springs ranges between 28 and 32 degrees. Day visitors can visit the springs from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily.
We walked the 9.6-kilometer Questro Gorge trail. The first section is a nice walk through palm and fern-covered areas before reaching a little creek. Then, hiking becomes quite challenging.
About halfway up the trail, there is a nice swimming hole. We attempted to reach this point twice, but the creek was too full.
Travel to Home Valley Station
While the road to the Saddleback Ridge was steep and narrow, we had a fantastic 360-degree view of the Kimberley Western Australia’s sandstone escarpments.
Then, our next accommodation was the Home Valley Station, about 120 km from Kununurra along the famous Gibb River Road. To get there, we had to cross the Pentecost River, which is below the Cockburn range. Crossing can be extremely difficult during the wet season when the river can be up to 60 metres wide.
Home Valley Station is a 249,000-ha working cattle station in the Kimberley Western Australia, resort. At the entrance to the Home Valley station, there are two massive Boab trees. There are all kinds of accommodations and numerous beautiful self-guided hiking trails.
The Bindoola Gorge Trail is a 2- to 3-hour return hike through Savannah plants, rocks, and sandstone slabs to a permanent waterhole.
The Cockburn Lookout Trail is a great walk at sunrise or late afternoon. The 1.8 km loop starts near the front gate of the tourist resort at Home Valley Station. The hiking trail has great views of the Cockburn Ranges and the meteorite crater.
The Mount Baldy Lookout Trail is one of several good walks. We loved hiking the 3.6-kilometre return walk. It starts near the front gate of Home Valley Station tourist resort. The summit offers spectacular panoramic views of the Cockburn Ranges.
Lake Argyle
Lake Argyle is Australia’s second-largest water reservoir, covering an area of 1,000 square kilometres. We stayed at Lake Argyle Tourist Village for a couple of days. It offers a range of accommodation options, boat tours, and other activities.
The Lake Argyle Tourist Village has an infinity pool. It has a breathtaking view of Lake Argyle and the surrounding landscape.
Later, we took a four-hour sunset cruise through Lake Argyle’s lakes and bays.
Before we went back, we had a dip in Lake Argyle and a cheese platter with complimentary drinks.
Finally, the last photo from our great trip to the Kimberley Western Australia. Sunset at Lake Argyle.
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