Kimberleys Trip June 2014

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

Been back in Darwin a couple weeks from our trip around the Kimberleys, had a blast and didn't damage the Prado which is always a good thing.
Basically went from Darwin to Kunnunurra, El Questro, Drystale, Honeymoon Bay, Mitchell Falls, thru the Gibb River Road at all the gorges/falls to Broome, up to middle Lagoon and then back home. 4 weeks of excellent camping, fishing and 4WDing. Story with photos to follow.

Derek

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

Left Darwin the very next day after flying in from work, so quickly packed up the Prado that afternoon to leave the following morning to go to Kunnunurra, in my haste I forgot some items that I left on the table under the balcony eg: fishing stuff We were to meet up with some mates Juey and Wayne from Adelaide in Kunnunurra driving a 100 series with a camper trailer and dingy on top.

Some photos of around Kunnunurra.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Great pics so far Derek, will have to get there one day.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Looks Like Ivanhoe is permanently closed nowadays, glad I got to drive it when I did.

I must say I think the Kimberly is probably the favourite of all the places we have travelled, very special country.

Looking forward to remembering our trip through your report.

Cheers Andrew

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

After 3 days at Kununnurra (because my mates wanted to check some stuff out) we moved on to El Questro, we booked into a private camp site before we got there and when we checked it out it wasn't quite what we wanted (it was on a cliff top overlooking the river) we went back to reception and got a excellent site right next to the river. We stayed here for 3 days and did all the tracks and gorges here.
It was here that the brand new redback extreme 3" exhaust I had fitted a couple days before I left would rattle as its so close to the rear cross member above the rear diff that any small vibration it would tap the cross member.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

and more pics of El Questro camping ;

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

After 3 days of 4wding and fishing we left El Questro and headed to Pentacost Crossing and get that iconic river crossing photo.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

I flicked a lure around Pentacost but didn't get anything, then we stopped at Home Valley Station for a beer and look around, we bumped into the family that was camped next to us in Kunnunurra campground and had a good chat with them. They had to go back to Kunnunurra to fix their Generator, they are going on an around Australia trip for 2 years with 3 kids the youngest a baby. Not a good start for them with a brand new genie broken down.
The road to Drysdale River Station was in great condition and we rocked up there mid afternoon to shower and have some beers at the bar.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

Great pics so far Derek, will have to get there one day.

thanks Fifo, it is a great part of Australia

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

Looks Like Ivanhoe is permanently closed nowadays, glad I got to drive it when I did.

I must say I think the Kimberly is probably the favourite of all the places we have travelled, very special country.

Looking forward to remembering our trip through your report.

Cheers Andrew

Thanks Andrew, yes that area of Australia is my favourite as well, I've just put down a deposit on a Cub Brumby camper because of this trip, looking at doing this sort of living permantly

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

That night in Drysdale River Station camp ground was the coldest night we spent on the whole trip namely because I said to Helga we didn't need warm bedding in our swags, how wrong was I and Helga reminded me for the rest of the trip, it got to 2 degrees.
The next morning we left to make our way to Honeymoon Bay. It was a toss up over Honeymoon Bay or McGowans Island, having hear mixed reports on the 2 we decided Honeymoon Bay and if we didn't like it we then go to McGowan island.
The road for Drysdale to Kalumburu was rough with washouts everywhere, we stopped for a couple with a camper that had its suspension leaf spring let go and threw the camper on its roof, they were fine and another couple they were with had gone back to Kalumburu to get some U bolts need to fix the camper.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

Slow going but we made Honeymoon Bay and the 2 pics above is our camp right on the beach. Honeymoon Bay is one of my favourite spots and we will be back there for longer than the 5 days we were. We made the right choice with picking Honeymoon over McGowans, the bay is sheltered from the wind and the sunset at the end of the day fishing was magic.

[derek11 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close derek11]

The fishing at Honeymoon is out of this world, coming from Darwin I thought I was spoilt but it being almost untouched here was the best fishing I had.
Now it was here I realised that I forgot to take my rod and reel for fishing the big fish from the boat. All I remember to take in my haste was my flick stick with a small overhead reel, so not much line for the fish to run with and small drag system. The first fish I got was a good size Queenie and it was a struggle to bring that in. Imagine my surprise when the next fish that took about 20 minutes to get in because I didn't want to be busted off with my small line was a 110cm Spanish Mackerel










.

[Auscanclan Member Find all posts View Profile Close Auscanclan]

Wow derek11

I know it is one of the stops on my list but reading your story puts it up a bit higher to get there sooner

Great pics
Thanks for sharing

Auscanclan