We left the Mango (orange kayak), all five surfboards, and two of the bikes at Drysdale River Station for the short (distance) but long (time to drive) trip to the Mitchell Plateau. The road heads north for about 100km before we turn off for the final 86km to the camp ground. The whole trip took about 4 hours, including stopping a while to help a vehicle with a problem.
The track is slow (if you hadn’t worked that out), with corrugations you have to yell to be heard over. Despite this, the boys still did some maths and grammar in their work books. Can’t say it’s easy to read though!
At some point along this road, livistona palms began to abound. It starts as a mix of palms and eucalypts, bloodwoods and very low undergrowth, and then the palms eventually abound. It seems strange to be surrounded by palms in this arid place.

The road winds its way to the final reward of the campground – and the end of the road. Most people seem to drop their trailer back at the station and take just a tent. But Trevor has done well, and we’d never think of leaving him behind.
It was hot when we arrived, so after some down time, it was cool (I use the term loosely) and we wandered down the track to Little Mertens Falls.

Here we are cooling off at the top of the falls. It was a big drop to the base of the falls, but the flow was never going to wash us over.
Below – is Fergus in a small pool above the falls.

And then we went to the base of the falls for a swim in the huge pool below.

Tomorrow we continue to Mitchell Falls.

We had a great time at El Questro, but it’s good to be on the move again. We re-joined the Gibb River Road and soon came to the picture-postcard Cockburn Ranges. This is your classic Kimberley shot, and encompasses the rugged personality of the region.

As you can see, we got the added bonus of the smokey shot! With not much wind, the haze hangs about the ranges.

All the tourist brochures will have the next shot. Crossing the Pentecost River, with the Cockburn Ranges in the background – so I just had to take one too! Plus the smoke at no extra charge.

The next section of the Gibb River Road gives access to a number of stations, some that cater for travellers, but not much else to speak of (except the corrugations) till you get to the Kalumburu Road turnoff that takes you north, all the way to the Timor Sea.
The road changes to a dusty red dirt, and I must sing the virtues of Trevor the Trailer again. Not a spec of dirt gets through the seals – anywhere.
We drove on to Drysdale River Station, and then to Miners Pool just a few kilometres up the road. This was a perfect spot to camp, away from the hum of generators, right on the banks of the Drysdale River.

Fergus and I left camp this morning for an early walk of about 6km to see this adorable old tree. It is thought to be over 1000 years old, and it’s covered in gnarly character. It sits just beside the Pentecost River, and probably will for hundreds of years more. If only it could talk to us.

The highlight so far has definitely been Echidna Chasm and the Bungle Bungle NP. But today really captured our hearts. It was Zebedee Thermal Springs on El Questro Station.

Just a short walk (now that’s a bonus right there) and you arrive at the shady springs surrounded by pandanus and livistona palms. The springs are at a constant temperature of about 30 degrees all year round. That sounds too warm, but it was just perfect for floating around in a cascade of pools until our fingers were like prunes.
Positively idyllic.

It’s not all bad! I may have painted the wrong picture – we’ve seen some great stuff on this huge property, just a drop in the ocean of the Kimberley.
First, we went to El Questro Gorge – about 15min drive, a couple of creek crossings and then about 30min walk. You go from hot pounding sun, surrounded by long dry grass and sparse shade from scattered trees, to a palm filled gorge, walking along a dry river bed, that soon has pools that get bigger and bigger till you reach an oasis of crystal clear water and the temperature has gradually dropped to about 25 degrees. You would never think such a place could be hidden here.

There’s some rough tracks to explore by 4WD. We went past this great Boab (below), inscribed by the Duracks. It’s just at the entry to the Posh House.

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