The next morning we wake up pretty early, we’re getting ready for the Goorrandalng walk, it’s only about 2km and should be pretty easy. Not long before we leave, a 4×4 drives up to us, firstly I though they may be here to do the walk too, but as it turns out they are part of the road crew and wanted to warn us of them grading the road today. He asked if we enjoyed the storm last night and even he said it was a big one.
We do the walk and it is pretty stunning. Pity a bushfire has been through here really recently, as it might have been better not that long ago, but that’s life in the bush I guess.
Not long after we got back from the walk, the ranger came through, he did the rounds of the campground and stopped up, again were are the only ones here. He said even though they are preparing for the cyclone season, the storm yesterday was a big one and had washed big culverts in some of the roads. Fortunately the road crew had fixed up a couple on our way out.
As we drive out of the park, the creek crossing seems fine, but there are some large ponds of water both beside and in some places across the road we need to pass through. The dust is a lot better now though.
The WA border is only 3km up the road from the park entrance. We checked a few days ago when we first heard that WA still has a quarantine station. All fresh fruit and veg has to be binned, what is also annoying is honey needs to be binned too, so that 2-for-1 special on honey back in Darwin doesn’t seem like such a bargain now.
We turn up at the border and take the obligatory border photo shot, I can see just up the road the quarantine checkpoint (you can see it in the border photos), and there seems to be about 4 or 5 people all milling about, it early so they have no-one to inspect. They seem ready to pounce when someone arrives. We proceed to the checkpoint and the quarantine guys is nice enough, cracks a few jokes and inquire into our travels. It’s doesn’t take long, about 5mins and were through. Speaking of time though. We’ve found we’ve gained 1.5hrs. We arrived at 10am and we now find out it’s now only 8:30. It’s one thing getting on a plane in one timezone and then getting off in another. But driving 100m and gaining and hour and a half is another.
We checkin to the caravan park at Lake Argyle. Again, pick any site you like. We book in for the sunset cruise and are told be ready at 2:20pm, at this time we find out that this far east in WA, the sun sets at about 6pm.
Over to the pool, which I have to say is pretty nice with a spectacular view. This is probably the only image of the resort that looks anything like what they show you on their web site.
Greg picks us up in his bus at the allotted time and we drive the 1-2kms down to the lake boatramp. Here Matt shows us the emergency exits on the boat, and we start the cruise. First he shows us some rock wallabies that live on one of the island, then some small Roos on another (apparently a Harry Butler special).
After a quick swim beside one of the lake islands we set off again, this time we see a fresh water croc come up to the boat and swim around. Matt then drives around to the next bay and the kids feed bread to some fish. In what I’m pretty sure was the plan the freshie has followed us around and heads straight toward a school of feeding and distracted fish. Lunge, one catfish has just become the freshies dinner. Pretty impressive stuff.
We then motor to what feels like the middle of the lake and we take another swim, this one however has beer, wine and crackers with it. Now that’s the way to do it. So here we float about, chat with the other people on the cruise and eat dip and have a beer as the sun sets over the hills. Unfortunately there are a few clouds around, but it’s still beautiful and is one fantastic experience.
Cheers!
As it starts to get dark we power back to the boat ramp, probably at 20knots over a smooth as silk lake, with an impressive lightning storm off to the east.
I have virtually the same photo of that hill as you approach Argyle. Seeing the Freshie take out the cattie is a wow. They call them silver cobbler…quite good eating. Did the same thing at sunset on the lake…not a bad treat
Oh…btw…did they mention the really large freshies that also inhabit the Lake?? A few years ago I met a couple who were also in a very isolated region of the Kimberley…and a freshie actually attacked them…I saw the bite marks…still bleeding. My brother and I swam in exactly the same spot…but I guess we weren’t tasty enough for it to have a go at us
I’ve been told freshies will bight if they need to, but most times will get out of your way.
Just gotta get your head around understanding what the ‘needs’ of a croc are…whether or not they put a deal of thought into it…or just do things a bit spontaneously sometimes based on some random stimulus!!! But its a ticked bucket list thing when you can say you’ve swum with crocs….
I agree with Sean, that is a fantastic photo of the crock enjoying his cobbler. So pleased that at long last you are seeing some wild life, was getting worried in the NT as to where all the native fauna had disappeared too.
I agree also…. what a great thing for the kids to see first hand.
PK x
I just did a long post and it didn’t come out!! don’t know what i did wrong. Will try again.
I have just spent the last hours catching up on the blog. What an amazing adventure you four are having. I love all the stories and the photos. This will be a great reference for when Mike and i do the trip probably in about two years (if we can get away from the grand kids, will have to sneak away) The trip is such an education for your kids and something that they will remember for ever.
I cannot wait to see the Kimberley’s and Katherine Gorge, it has been a dream of ours for years.
Keep it all coming.
Do the dream while you can. I wouldn’t wait the two years. Kathrine was pretty impressive.