Windjana Gorge National Park and Tunnel Creek - 01.08.2012

Off for a day drive down the infamous Gibb River Road, we headed for Windjana Gorge National park.

Windjana Gorge National Park is part of a 375 million-year-old Devonian reef system. Carved by the Lennard River, Windjana Gorge is over three kilometres long with 300 metre-high walls.

At the base of the gorge, deep freshwater pools surrounded by native fig, cadjeput and liechardt trees attract flocks of noisy corellas, fruit bats and fresh water crocodiles. The area is of great cultural importance to the local Bunuba people who once lived there, and was the base for Jandamurra, the Indigenous outlaw who led an armed rebellion against European settlers in the 1890s.

Crowey enters the gorge

so serene

huge walls

anyone for a swim?

is he smiling at me??

We loved Windjana Gorge. Down the road is Tunnel Creek National Park, Western Australia's oldest cave system so we soon set off for there. Part of the same ancient Devonian reef system as Windjana Gorge, the cave has been carved by the waters of Tunnel Creek flowing beneath the Napier Range.  

You walk 750 metres into the tunnel, wading about mid thigh deep, sometimes apparently it is waist-deep, through freshwater pools (with quite chilly water). The cave features many beautiful formations, including stalactites and stalagmites, and is also home to a variety of bats, olive pythons and freshwater crocodiles, though I did not see any of these, which I am not quite sure if that is a good or bad thing? It was so dark in the cave and a torch was required to see where you were going. The experience was amazing and as we came out the other side, just up to our left we also got to see some aboriginal art work. All in all we had a great day, seeing such beautiful scenery in the Kimberleys.

a well deserved cuppa