Project Pajero
Where are we now!
Day 35-371-3 October
When we left the nomads, they were munching sambos at 5 River lookout in Wyndham and I had suggested they return to Kununurra via Ivanhoe Crossing and as SPOT indicated they took this advice. Just speaking with Tony while they hooked up the caravan back at Turkey Creek he tells me that they crossed Ivanhoe crossing but would not go back across it to get photos as it was over 100 metres wide and fast flowing water around side step deep. They didn’t want to chance it, Carol said she did get a photo out of the Pajero’s window and I should have these photos next week.
BTW – I have loaded all the photos thus far in the Gallery section of www.4wd.net.au (just look up on the menu list at the top of this page) go to Recent Trips and look for the folder titled Project Pajero.
After crossing the Ord river at Ivanhoe Crossing they stopped to talk to a couple of locals fishing off the causeway, they pointed out a fresh water crocodile that was watching them from up stream. Tony wondered how they fishermen had waded out so far across the causeway as he found it very slippery underfoot and mused at the sight of the them trying to make a hasty retreat in case the croc came any closer.
Next day with the caravan hooked up again to PP (Project Pajero) they took the Great Northern Hwy south to Warmun (or Turkey Creek) They paid the small fee of $10 per day to have their van stored under lock and key opposite the servo whilst they were visiting the Bungle Bungles. Only problem being, the servo had no unleaded fuel, but they did direct the nomads to the local Aboriginal Community where they were able to purchase fuel at $1.64 per litre.
So into the Bungles they headed. It’s about an hour’s drive on the highway then two hours over a rough track into the National Park. Signs advise at the entrance that only 4WDrives with high and low range should enter, so they were amused to pass a Wicked Camper van being driven by some backpackers heading back out of the Bungles – rentals will go anywhere!
The tracks was corrugated in parts, had a couple of rocky creek crossings and even one large 40 metre square bull dust hole which they had to plough through.
Camping at Wallardi camp site they once again used their easy to erect OZTENT and despite the effort required to get the heavy tent off the roof rack they love the ease with which this tent can be erected.
During their stay at the Bungles they have managed to see all of the best parts. They even splurged $295 each on a 30 minute helicopter flight over the massif. Tony was wrapped in the helicopter flight, declaring it as the only way to fly. Carol was also impressed but glad to get back on the ground after 30 mins before almost losing her lunch!
They also took numerous walks to most of the major features despite the 40 degree heat in the shade! Going into Cathedral Gorge where surprisingly the pool of water that we all know lays at the base of the gorge, had evaporated , a legacy of being so late in the season. They took walks around the domes to a smaller chasm and also to Piccaninny Creek which Carol described as beautiful and as being “Geologically very interesting”.
Driving to the far end of the Bungles they took the Mini Palms walk but warn that to get here you need to squeeze either through a very narrow slit in a rock, crawl under a rock shelf or squeeze between two large boulders, Tony suggested that larger people would find it near impossible to complete this task. The view into the gorge full of palms was beautiful. Another walk to the lookout near Mini Palms provided views over the Osmand Range said to be 4 times older than the Bungles at 1.6 Billion years (speaking of old things it is Tony’s 60th birthday on Monday 5 October happy birthday Tony, you are now officially retired and a true Grey Nomad!)
Their final walk was to one of my favourite locations, Echidna Chasm where the red cliffs close to within 1 metre and stretch upward for over 100 metres. They planned their walk for 11 am when the sun beamed down into the chasm, making for a dramatic vista.
I think T&C really enjoyed the Bungle Bungle massif.
Tony is very impressed with the Bridgestone tyres, he says after their hard drive over the rocks into and out of the Bungles there is absolutely no sign of scuffing, nicks or cuts. Looks like these tyres from Bridgestone are made of the right stuff for the outback tourer.
T&C are now heading down to Halls Creek and across to Fitzroy Crossing.
Day 33-34 29-30 September
Our happy nomads woke to the sound of calling birds and the drone of 4wdrives, it was 5am what the!!!!!!!
It seems in Kununurra everyone gets up early and heads out of the Caravan Park at the crack of dawn. This has T&C wondering where they were going, none of them were towing caravans. They assume they must all be local workers starting early to beat the heat of the afternoon.
For our nomads it was a relaxing day sort of. It involved a visit to the Hidden Valley National Park which is virtually on the doorstep of the town and then they dropped into the Zebra rock art gallery. I suggested they visit this place and even warned them it could cost them a bomb! Zebra rock is only found in two places in the world and one of them is in Australia, but it’s actually on an island in the middle of Lake Argyle! Zebra rock is not actually black white but it is striped, and coloured chocolate and white, a very beautiful rock indeed.
In the afternoon they took a 2.5 hour sunset cruise with Kununurra Cruises costing $95 each which included a good BBQ dinner whilst on the boat. They cruised around Lake Kununurra (Lily Lagoon) which is the one they are camped on and part way up the Ord river. Tony said they met some interesting people on the cruise, an American who said he had bowled over at least 40 kangaroos driving to and from home early in the morning (must be one of the 5 am starters) and an Aboriginal couple who had won the cruise in a competition. The elder said that the swimming beach on Lily Lagoon was renowned for its crocs and you wouldn’t catch him swimming there!
When I rang our happy couple on 30 September they atop 5 Rivers lookout at Wyndham commenting on the thick smoke haze that was blocking out their view, I suggested it was the Sydney dust storm which had reached them. They had also visited the Grotto with its 5oo steps down to the base of the falls where Tony scared the living daylights out of himself by almost stepping on a huge croc sunning itself, then Carol pointed out that it was just a large goanna.
They had also been out to Emma gorge on El Questro Station and taken the walk up to the plunge pool deep in the shadow of the tall cliff face. Tony suggested the swim was bracing, the water here is always freezing! Entry into Emma gorge cost $8.50 each but if you went on to El Questro Station then this was deducted off your $17 entry fee, no wonder its a place for the rich and famous!
With the 2 hour time difference between us now I left them munching their sambos on the Lookout and with the use of the SPOT Tracker suggested they follow the Old road back to Kununurra provided Ivanhoe Crossing was navigable, let me take a look at SPOT. Yep they crossed the Ivanhoe Crossing and stopped in at the Melon Farm by the look of, this SPOT tracker is marvellous.
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