Kimberley Adventure
Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 07:49
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Chambo
Hi everyone, We returned last weekend from or 6 week trip into the Kimberleys. We have a fantastic time with the usual problems of tyres, electrical and bearing dramas. We headed straight up to Alice and then the Tanami to
Halls Creek. Did the usual
places,
El Questro,
Mitchell Falls, Bungles, up to
Kalumburu back down to
Derby where we did the Horizontal Waterfalls. What a fantastic place that is. Took the shortcut to
Cape Leveque then
Broome. We did a heap more
places but this is just a snapshot. Came home via Wapet (Kidson) track from the 80 mile beach to
Kunawarritji. We were supposed to then head down via
Warburton to Ayres Rock but had bearing dramas so we headed straight along the
Gary Junction Road to Alice for repairs.
Some of the trip details
2000 GU 4.2 DT running Garrett GT28R
Ultimate Camper
12000k
Most expensive fuel
Kunawarritji, $3.20. Cost $384 to fill
Averaged 5k/lt or 20/100
Best 6.6 worst 3.5
$3800 in diesel
$1400 in repails plus $200 new battery
The
Kimberley is certainly a unique place and only wish we had more time to explore at a more leisurely pace. Anyone want to know about anything specific please ask away.
Cheers,
Glenn n Jude
Reply By: Member - John - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 09:10
Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 09:10
Chambo, very jealous. Looking to travel to 80 mile beach from
Kunawarritji via the Kidson next year, anything to be aware of on that track? Thanks in advance. John
AnswerID:
382356
Follow Up By: Chambo - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 09:35
Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 09:35
Hi John, It's a very interesting drive. Lots of changing conditions, be prepared to be polishing out some good scratches. It is very overgrown in many
places and would imagine it will only be worse next year. These is also some very rugged washouts which have to be driven around. They all have by pass roads but there is one in particular that the by pass road will be very easily missed travelling the way you're going. If you are towing a trailer and miss it you will be in trouble. We saw very little wild life and the
sand dunes should be called gravel dunes as they could be driven up in a commodore.
Allow 2 good solid driving days or 3 easy ones. Wonder what the price of fuel will be at
Kunawarritji by then !!!!
Cheers,
Chambo
FollowupID:
649903
Reply By: Member - John - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 10:10
Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 10:10
Glenn, thanks for the reply. Will be towing a trailer, escorting 4 motor bikes. Hopefully they will be able to sort out the bypass tracks before I get to them, LOL. Looking forward to the trip. Fuel,
well, we need it, so I am prepared to pay what ever it costs................unfortunately can't carry enough for the whole trip. Thanks once again, may
well ask some specific questions in a few days. John
AnswerID:
382363
Reply By: Outbackogre - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 12:23
Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 12:23
Hey Chambo, we hope to do a similar trip in a couple of years. Did you think that 6 weeks was enough time? I know there's always more to see, but was the time adequate for your expectations? Cheers. Rob.
AnswerID:
382376
Follow Up By: Chambo - Wednesday, Sep 09, 2009 at 08:14
Wednesday, Sep 09, 2009 at 08:14
Hi Rob, 6 weeks was ok but it was rushed. We left from
Melbourne and thrashed straight to Alice and then up the Tanami. The most we had in any one place was 3 nights.
Honeymoon Bay (McGowans), the fish stopped biting as soon as we got there lol.
Derby was 3 nights and
Broome. We had some long days driving and at times all you wanted to do was nothing but there was not enought time to do nothing. We did have a day of nothing at McGowans only because 2 of us had severe gastro on the same night. One from each party so figure that one out!!! Another 2 week would be better but that would still be rushed because you would just try to fit in more
places.
All in all it was a terrific adventure and would do it all again tomorrow but slower.
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
Chambo
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Follow Up By: Outbackogre - Wednesday, Sep 09, 2009 at 08:59
Wednesday, Sep 09, 2009 at 08:59
Thanks for the reply. Can't wait for the trip (long service leave rocks :-).
FollowupID:
650016
Reply By: Member - Lance S (VIC) - Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 16:58
Tuesday, Sep 08, 2009 at 16:58
Chambo,
We arrived home about 3 weeks ago after a 8 week
Kimberley adventure and yep its fantastic country up there. Looking at getting back up there in my retirement days and do the Horizontal Falls etc. Sounds like you had a great trip. Start organizing that trip report in detail and heaps of photos.
cheers,
Lance
AnswerID:
382399
Follow Up By: Member - Michael John T (VIC) - Wednesday, Sep 09, 2009 at 00:19
Wednesday, Sep 09, 2009 at 00:19
As part of a 14 week trip last year we spent a month north of
Broome and the Kimberlies (it was our 3rd trip there). WHEN you go take your time and visit all the stations as they have great gorges to visit. We managed 17 gorges and swam in them all. El Questo although very touristy has several gorges to walk through and worth several days to do them all. To me
Mitchell Falls just blows you away, I've been there twice and would go again tomorrow. If you are interested in fishing try Honey Moon Bay 25 kms from Kalumbaru, but you need a boat (and a 100 meters of rope to moor it). Its all
well worth going back to again and again...
Michael John, Vic.
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