Thursday 26th July 2012 Derby (exploring Windjana Gorge & Tunnel Creek)

Up close and personal with some local Johnson Crocs

Trip Meter Reading Start – 9169
Trip Meter Reading Finish – 9541
Total Km Travelled –  372 km

Comments -  Luke Baker

Today we took Nan and Pop with us.  At Wynjana Gorge you can walk along the creek right next to Jhonson’s fresh water crocodiles.  At Tunnel creek we walked 750 metres through the mountain from one side to the other along a creek with a torch.  We had to walk through

Comments – Mum and Dad

A 472 km return trip from Derby into Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek via Gibb River Road was planned for the day. Anything under 500 k up here in the top end is considered a short day trip; we took off for an early 7.30 pm start so we could enjoy sunset at the Derby Jetty Cafe for dinner. Half of the road from the turn off onto the Gibb River Road to the turn off to Windjana Gorge was sealed; the unsealed parts were corrugated but not as bad as the eastern part of the Gibb River Road. An easy walk into the gorge and along the sandy river areas where we could get up close with the Johnson Crocs. Freshies are harmless unless they feel threatened so we kept a good 4 metres away.  Some we saw were up to 3 metres long.  They don’t get much bigger than that like the saltwater crocs that can get up to 7 metres.

The gorge was shady and pleasant to walk through.  As usual photos don’t do it justice.  The gorge is part of an ancient Devonian reef system created over 375 million years.  The gorge walls are over 100 metres high which were carved out by the flowing of the Lennard River over millions of years. 

Tunnel Creek National Park was a rough corrugated return 70km drive further along.  It has the oldest cave system in WA.  A creek flows through a huge water worn tunnel beneath the limestone of the Napier Range.

Water flowing over stone to create a beautiful curtain 

We walked 750 metres through the tunnel wading kneed deep through several permanent pools to seen ancient stalactites and stalagmites and beautiful curtains of glimmering flowstones.

TIP – take a really good led reliable torch and good sneakers as the cave is home to bats, olive pythons and the occasional freshwater crocodile.

Tunnell Creek - Of course Brucey had to fall in...Stop laughing Betty!

Poor old dad (Brucey) sunk in some mud as he was wearing crocs and fell in; it was the highlight of our day (too funny – poor dad lol).  Luke really loved exploring the cave it was so dark in there and for young boys a real adventure.

We treated ourselves to a hot shower at camp and a beaut restaurant experience at the Derby Cafe at the Jetty......If your on a budget and you want a treat, this is the place to go.   Meals range from $15 up to $36 and they are very generous in size (so can be shared).  Alcohol is BYO and there is no charge for corkage

Windjana Gorge

Fossilised mollusc in rock at Windjana Gorge