Clarrie, a local Wunambal elder born and raised in the remote community of Kalumburu, showed us around his land. He showed us some magnificent Kalumburu rock art, dated by archeologists to be over 30,000 years old. He also told stories of when the community was strafed by Japanese planes during WWII, showed how his people made hand-stencil paintings, and how to make and throw a spear.
We arrived back in Derby from Purnululu/Bungle Bungle to collect our caravan from the Kimberly Entrance Caravan Park, do some washing and stock up on supplies. The people running the park are lovely.
Continue reading Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Danggu Geikie Gorge WA
The Bungle Bungle Range is in the Purnululu National Park World Heritage Area. The famous Beehive Domes are only one part of the Bungle Bungle Range. “Purnululu” is based on the Jaru/Djaru word for the type of rock forming the range. According to one explanation of the origin of “Bungle Bungle”, when asked by explorers what the range was called, the Aboriginal man thought they were pointing to the grass, which was of a type known as Bundle Bundle. His response was misheard as Bungle Bungle, which stuck.
Continue reading Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park, WA
At Kooljaman/Cape Leveque we toured one of the pearl farms and watched this pearl being ‘born’. All of the oyster is used: the meat, the shell and of course the pearls.
Karijini National Park is truly amazing. The land is dry and desolate, but the gorges are stunningly beautiful.
Leaving the beautiful Ningaloo Reef behind we headed north to Karratha where our car was booked in for a service. We stopped on the way at a free overnight roadside camp called Quartz Hill on the Onslow Road, Talandji. It’s not signposted but being the only hill on a very flat landscape it’s easy to spot from a distance. The sunset was stunning and the moon over the hill was eerily beautiful.
Celebrating my 60th Birthday swimming with Whale Sharks on the Ningaloo Reef with friends and family was amazing. Best 60th EVER!
THe long paddock 