Sun. 5/8.

Move on to Derby today. Easy drive – even more caravans – scenery mainly low scrub & trees with an occasional Boab. Stop to look at the prison Boab tree on the outskirts of Derby. Also the Mayalls Bore & longest watering trough in the southern hemisphere apparently! After lunch do a bit of a tour & get some info. Go for a walk along the jetty & watch people pulling in their crab pots on the incoming tide.

                                                        Prison Boab Tree in Derby.

Mon. 6/8.

Make an early start to Windjana Gorge & Tunnel Creek for the day. First part of the journey is along the Gibb River road & most of it is bitumen but only  one car wide so have to take to the gravel when there is oncoming traffic. Couple of patches of gravel but not too bad. After turning onto the Windjana road the going gets a lot rougher – deeply corrugated gravel – quite a slow drive to the gorge. Go for long walk along the river bed of the gorge – very good. See our first crocs (freshies so not too worrying) sunbathing on the sand bank. Still quite a bit of water in the river so a number of birds there too. Have lunch & then onto Tunnel creek along an even rougher road. This one had lost most of its gravel so was a rocky & stony track. There were also a couple of severe dips for the unwary! Luckily at Tunnel Creek we arrived at the same time as a tour group so were able to tag along at the back to see the best way to go. Water only came up just over the knee so not too bad but it was very cold! Interesting walk & good to do. Stop & have a look at the ruins of the police station on our return trip. Back to Derby for fish & chips & a few photos of the sunset.

                                                           Windjana Gorge.

                                                              Tunnel Creek.

                                        Fresh water crocodile in Windjana Gorge.

Tues. 7/8.

Another early start & off to Fitzroy Crossing. Have a good drive & able to get there for lunch. Decide to go out for the afternoon tour of Geikie Gorge. Go for a short walk to the gorge before going on the boat trip which was very interesting. Great scenery & lots to see & more crocs! On the way back to camp have a look at the Crossing Inn – decide not to go for a beer but quite a unique place!

                                                                         Geikie Gorge.