Kimberley Trip

[Cuppa]

The Gibb River Rd is accessed via the Great Northern Rd.
We were hoping to visit Wyndham via Ivanhoe crossing but you have to take the bitumen there too.

Ah yes, I'd got myself confused. We only travelled the western half of the Gibb, & I'd mistakenly remembered that the eastern end began at Ivanhoe crossing. We enjoyed watching 4wd's crossing it. Wonder why they closed it? maybe one too many washed off the edge?

[Avo]

here ya go Cuppa

Ivanhoe Crossing near Kununurra is a unique tourist attraction for the region which sees thousands of tourists every year lining up to drive across the Ord River.



Due to one of the biggest wet seasons on record the crossing has been closed for some time.

The tourist season has arrived again and plenty of tourists and locals are asking when Ivanhoe Crossing will re-open?

“In short, it’s unlikely that Ivanhoe Crossing will be open in the near future because the water levels over the road are currently too high says the Chief Executive for the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley, Gary Gaffney.

The water level from the Ord River is regulated by flows from the Diversion Dam (Ord River) and the Dunham River.

Watercorp have advised the Shire that they currently have no intention of varying their flow levels from the Diversion Dam. Additionally water from the Dunham River is un-regulated, so until water levels drop the water will continue to flow over Ivanhoe Crossing.

Council is also required to undertake engineering inspections of the crossing due to insurance and risk management. These can’t be undertaken until water levels decrease.

So it looks like it’ll be some time before the crossing is open again”.
- See more at: http://www.kimberleypage.com.au/2012....PxpydT09.dpuf

[TPC]

They have placed a huge bolder on the road to the crossing and looks like they don't plan to reopen it.

[TPC]

Had a great day today, had a 2hr flight over Lake Argyle, Bungles and Argyle Diamond Mine with Kimberley Air Tours.
Would recommend doing this, the pilot was very knowledgeable about the area and gave us a running commentary.

Tomorrow we head onto the Gibb River Road and will be out of coverage for the next 10 days.


Internet is not co-operating for me here but will try to load some photos.

Ivanhoe Crossing
Ivenhoe Crossing from air.jpg

Lake Argyle
Lake Argyle Damm Wall.jpgLake Argyle from air.jpgLake Argyle from air2.jpg

Bungles from air
Bungles from air.jpgBungles from air4.jpgBungles from air2.jpgBungles from air3.jpg

Argyle Diamond Mine
Argyle Diamond Mine.jpg


Tonight we had this visitor to out front of our campsite.
Freshwater Crocodile 2.jpg

[Cuppa]

Looks like you got down pretty low over the dam wall on Lake Argyle!
Could make out the boulders at each end of the Ivanhoe Crossing.
Enjoy the GRR & watch out for the Britz Troopies going too quick!

[TPC]

Looks like you got down pretty low over the dam wall on Lake Argyle!
Could make out the boulders at each end of the Ivanhoe Crossing.
Enjoy the GRR & watch out for the Britz Troopies going too quick!

The dam wall was taken from the lookout, we went for a drive to the lake after the flight, would have been a bit worried if the plane went that low.
I have been dodging those Britz Troopies for the last week, they usually don't leave you much room on the road.

[TPC]

After 10 days on the Gibb River Rd and 3 weeks into our holiday we have made it to Broome, we were meant to fly out to Horizontal Falls today and spend the night there but that was cancelled due to unseasonal rain, have rebooked that for the 24th.
We did not feel like setting up the campers up in the rain today so we booked into a B&B 30km out of Broome, it is a very strange place, a bit like the motels in some American movies where everybody gets murdered, think I might lock the door tonight.
I will write a bit about our travels and load some photos tomorrow.

[jack]

it is a very strange place, a bit like the motels in some American movies where everybody gets murdered, think I might lock the door tonight.
I will write a bit about our travels and load some photos tomorrow.

Well that depends on if you survive the night.

[Cuppa]

Don’t take a shower!

psycho.jpg

[93patrol]

make sure you head up to Wyndham and see the 3 rivers lookout, there are also some really good swimming holes up that way