Day 9: Derby to Windjana

On paper, today should have been short and uneventful. For once it actually happened!

A slow rise and pack up from Derby with departure delayed only by the closest servo not opening until 9am. Oh well Shell, if you don't want my money, I'll give it to BP…

I had to promise not to leave Jen here for her to pose for this...

The start of the Gibb River Road and all the excitement that goes with it. Until you realise it's mostly Tarmac until the Windjana turn off. Not quite the wilderness adventure it used to be. But an easy run all the same which saw us to Windjana campsite not long after midday. Pausing just long enough to throw tents, beds and chairs out of the car we headed off to Tunnel Creek, about 20kms away.

A simple set up at Windjana campsite

I don't know what I was expecting from Tunnel Creek. What I got was a beautifully undeveloped 1.7km tunnel through a Devonian reef system that had been historically used as a hideout for the Aboriginal bushranger, Jandamarra. There were pools to wade through and stalactites to admire. What there weren't was swimming holes. Which apparently was enough to deter one group. Their loss.

Part of the Tunnel Creek Cave system. Yes, you do have to wade through the water.

Back to camp finds (as expected) quite a few more people here. Lots of kids happily charging around and not many dummy spits. We also have a fabulous view of the sun setting against the cliffs that form the Gorge outer walls (is there such a thing as a bad Kimberley sunset?). The camp area is also large enough that it has allowed people to spread out a bit. Now while toilets are sort of expected now at campsites on The Gibb, what came as a pleasant surprise for a National Parks run site is the inclusion of a shower block. Bliss!

Tomorrow will also be a short day with a walk through  Windjana  Gorge followed by a short drive to Bell Gorge where we can spend the rest of the day longing in a pool.