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  • Duncan Grant

Western Australia

A 54-day adventure by Duncan Read more
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  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Broome

    June 5, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We arrived in Broome, the unofficial capital of the Kimberley, in the PM of Sunday with the plan to set up camp and then call in to see Jan and her husband Dave . Jan did her nursing training with Angela 40 years ago. After meeting up with Jan and Dave we took a short walk across the dunes to meet up with a few of their neighbours to share a drink and watch the beautiful sunset. We were then treated to a magnificent evening meal at Jan and Dave's beautiful home. Jan organised to take us up the coast the next afternoon.
    We made plans of other attractions to see over the next few days. These included the usual first stop at the local visitors center, a stroll through old Chinatown, a visit to the very famous Cable Beach, a wander through the town's centre and a look at the pearl showrooms. We planned a movie night at the outdoor Sun Pictures - this outdoor cinema opened in 1916, and is the oldest operating outdoor picture garden in the world. We planned a visit to Matso's brewery where we could sample some of their award winning beers including an alcoholic ginger beer. We took a drive to Bedford park which overlooks spectacular Roebuck bay and saw a replica of a chest that belonged to William Dampier.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Cable Beach , Broome

    June 6, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    Cable Beach is named after the communications cable which linked Broome to Indonesia and is situated 6 km from the town's centre. The sand is pristine and the Indian Ocean a clear turquoise. You can enjoy a swim , participate in a variety of water sports, take a stroll, ride a camel at sunset or simply choose to sit back, in our case enjoy a cocktail at the Sunset bar, and take in a glowing sunset.Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    James Price Point

    June 6, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    We were lucky enough to have our personal tour guide, our friend Jan , to drive us up the dirt road to James Price Point. Along the way we stopped to enjoy the stark scenic changes from the beautiful turquoise water to contrasting red, craggy cliffs - stunning. We stopped along the way to examine many fossilized rock pieces - one of which is speculated to be an extremely large bird that had succumbed to its death and become fossilized into the rocks. Other areas appeared to be of large footprints belonging to some creature. Near Broome there is the site of the well known dinosaur footprints, however they are only visible at very low tide which did not line up with our Broome stay. We enjoyed a cool drink and a dip in the ocean, drying off with a stroll along the beach and a climb along the rocks. Thanks to Jan's running commentary we had the best tour possible.Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Derby

    June 8, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Derby, sitting on King Sound, is the departure point for tours to the Horizontal Falls and Buccaneer Archipelego and is the western terminus to the Gibb River Road. It specializes in the spectacular Boab tree, no other plant is more symbolic of the Kimberley than it. The boab greets you with their immense swollen trunks of various shapes and it cuts a striking silhouette against the sky. Derby is also famous for the colossal tides of King's Sound, sometimes changing 10 meters every six hours. We took a tour through the Kimberley School of the Air. Went to The Norval Gallery , set up by the artist Mark Norval, an exciting gallery in an old tin shed and features striking art work. Mark is an enthusiastic supporter of local Aboriginal artists and fights hard to generate funding for the many health initiatives in the Kimberley. In his book is a verse -
    " Every race of people has a culture to follow. If you lose culture you are floating you are lost ".
    Visited Mowanjum Aboriginal Art and Culture Centre - 100% Aboriginal owned, not for profit organisation which provides employment and income to many community members through the sale of art. Donny Woolagoodja was a driving force behind the resurgence of art at Mowanjum and was responsible for the design of the 35 meter high Wandjina man in the opening ceremony at the Sydney Olympic games. Donny was allowed to take someone there and he chose to take Mark Norval. We looked at the Old Derby Gaol and the 1500 year old Boab Prison Tree which are sad reminders of man's inhumanity to man -namely white man against the Aboriginal people. The Aboriginal prisoners were chained up here whilst on their way to the Derby goal. We went to the cemetery where in times gone by the Aboriginal people were buried over the back in unmarked graves , so different from the tomb stones above the grave sites of the white people. Whilst in Derby we decided to take a trip to the Horizontal Falls and to the three national parks with stunning gorges , once part of a western 'great barrier reef' in the Devonian era, 350 million years ago. These three parks are Windjana George, Tunnel Creek and Geikie Gorge.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    HorIzontal Falls , Derby

    June 8, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    After some thought we decided to take a trip to what is often described as an experience of a lifetime on the seaplane adventure to the Horizontal Falls. We flew from Derby on board the seaplane and flew over the coast and tidal mud flats to Talbot Bay. After a cuppa we boarded the fast boat equipped with FOUR 300:hp outboards , to experience an exhilarating thrill of many passes back and forth through the Horizontal Falls. The falls form due to the tidal passages of water into and out of the bay via two narrow openings in the cliffs. Due to the immense tidal surges which occur approximately every 6 hours, the level in one area will be higher than the other ,they will gradually equalise in depth and for a brief moment both side will be equal and then the reverse tidal surge will gradually commence-such an amazing concept. After our ride we cruised around the untouched bays and creeks . We were then shown our individual accommodation complete with a window overlooking the bay , perfect to view the moon from during the night. Dinner was a barramundi BBQ with salad eaten whilst we watched the sunset over Talbot Bay. Breakfast was followed by another few rides through the falls. We boarded our seaplane for a low level flight over the breath taking sight of the Buccaneer Archipelago-the coastline which is dotted with numerous islands and landforms in so many shapes and sizes. Wow factor unbelievable +++Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Tunnel Creek

    June 10, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    About 35 Kms from Windhana Gorge is Tunnel creek. This park offers a unique opportunity to explore a creek with permanent pools of fresh water as it tunnels 750 meters through the Napier Range. In the Dry, the full length is walkable, but parts are of knee deep water. With the only light being your touch light, mixed with the sound of the local bats was enough for Ange to make the easy decision to be happy with a walk as far as we could see daylight and the water not too deep.
    Tunnel Creek became the hideout of Jandamarra, an Indigenous freedom fighter. He was a Bunuba man living in the remote Northwest Kimberley. He was nicknamed " Pigeon " for his speed and agility by William Lukin, who claimed title to a million acres of Bunuba Land he called the Lennard River Station. Jandamarra learned how to ride horses, use a rifle and speak English giving him skills in both cultures. For more than a decade, Jandamarra's people had been resisting white pastoralist invasion of their lands. Torn between cultures Jandamarra chose to side with his own. Indigenous people were treated poorly with great pain and suffering, imprisoned ,kept in scorching summer heat and chained together by neck collars after being accused of raiding stock or simply being on pastoral land- what was their country .You can one day look up the tragic story of Jandamarra and his people and then sit and think of the inhumanity the indigenous people endured. The legacy of Jandamarrra is the challenge for us to achieve co -existence of indigenous people and those who choose to come to this land.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Windjana Gorge

    June 10, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    The park consists of a 3.5 km long gorge, the walls soaring 100m above the Lennard River. In the Wet this river is a surge of turbulent water but in the Dry it is a series of pools. It is home to freshwater crocodiles which we could see stunning themself along the river bank.Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Bell Gorge

    June 11, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    After a long trip over corrugated road with creek crossings we stopped at picturesque Bell Gorge. We walked along a stoney path lined with gums, boabs, and pandanus. After some rock hopping over small water ways we were greeted by the falls , and the magnificent displays of rock formations and color.Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Purnululu National Park -Bungle Bungles

    June 13, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Purnululu National Park is 304km from Kununurra. It covers an area of 239,723ha and has an adjacent conservation reserve. The Bungle Bungle Range, which includes the banded domes, covers 45,000ha of the park. Prior to the mid 1980's, the existence of the domes was known only to the local aborigines and very few whites, mostly stockmen. In 2003 this national park was World Heritage listed for two main features- the area's incredible natural beauty and its outstanding geological value.
    The Bungle Bungle Range is renowned for its amazing banded domes that make a striking sight rising up to 200 meters above the plain and giving way to reveal hidden gorges and pools. The orange and black beehive shaped domes are made of sandstone deposited about 360 million years ago. Erosion by creeks, rivers and weathering in the past 20 million years has carved out these domes, along with spectacular chasms and gorges, creating a surreal landscape.
    The dome's striking orange and grey bands are caused by the presence or absence of cyanobacteria. Dark bands indicate the presence of the cyanobacteria, which grows on layers of sandstone where moisture accumulates. The orange bands are oxidized iron compounds that have dried out too quickly for the cyanobacteria.
    Two of Purnululu's most stunning attractions - Cathedral George, aptly named due to its immense and inspiring circular amphitheatre is surrounded by towering cliffs and honeycomb type rock, and Echidna Chasm , which is a palm-fringed narrow gorge , Both are accessible by foot only.
    A definite bucket list tick off for us !    Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Lake Argyle - Ord River

    June 15, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    We spent several days in the wonderful town of Kununurra, an attractive town on Lake Kununurra on the Ord River. It is near the vast man made lake - Lake Argyle. Kununuarra is the Kimberley's gateway to the east. The word Kununurra is an Aboriginal name meaning 'the meeting of big waters' , and boy are there some big waters' here. The Ord River was damed in 1971 to form a storage reservoir supplying water to one of Australia's largest and most ambitious irrigation schemes. ' Argyle Downs', a one million acre cattle station, was flooded to create a vast and beautiful lake, the biggest man-made lake in Australia. It was a dream of pioneer pastoralist Kimberley Durack that led to its infancy which was later fully established. We took a full day tour which included a morning of spectacular cruising on the Ord River from Kununurra to Ord River dam. We had fantastic commentary from the skipper, of course his name was Grant. He not only gave us a history lesson, maths lesson -heaps of figures in regard the actual water storage , he was constantly spotting so many different birds, our favourite would have to be the magnificent sea eagles. Also fresh water crocs, wallabies and other wildlife. We then joined an afternoon cruise/ sunset / swim on Lake Argyle -and yes you guessed it another fabulous sunset watched whilst consuming wine and cheese. Lake Argyle covers a massive area approx 75 km long, 40 km wide and if you decided to take a walk around it, you would cover nearly 900 km, that's a decent morning's walk ! At capacity it holds approximately 20 times the size of Sydney Harbour - it is currently well above capacity. The entire system works on gravitational flow, which terminates into the farming irrigation channels. Some of the crops grown are , mangos, bananas, Chia, sandalwood, pawpaw, vegetables to name a few. there is a camp ground and resort at the small village town of Argyle, which boasts quite an amazing infinity pool. Some of the other attractions we visited whilst in Kununurra were , a sandalwood farm / shop, the Hoochery distillery-serving samples of their award winning rum. We drove north to look at Wyndham, geographically the northern most town of The West and visited the very touristy El Questro. As you would know the area is home to the Argyle diamond mine, home to the famous Argyle pink diamonds-Duncan was always a little too busy to go diamond shopping ! Kununurra and the surrounding region is such a beautiful and still relatively untouched land-we loved it.Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Geikie Gorge , Darngku

    June 15, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    After 100 years plans are currently underway to change Geikie Gorge to its traditional name of Darngku. Colonists named the gorge Geikie , after a Scottish geologist. At that time the traditional owners the Bunaba people , were still living there - their homeland. It is also a place of historical tragedy for the traditional owners, who were attacked by the colonists in the late 19th century. It is claimed by some that their remains are still hidden in the caves where they were shot and burnt.
    The Dept. of Conservation and Land Management ,
    together with the local Aboriginal cooperative respecting the traditional owners , run a tour to see and learn about Darngku. The flood waters of the massive Fitzroy River have carved the 30 meters deep gorge through the limestone at the junction of the Oscar and Geikie Rangers. The limestone ranges, formed the ancient barrier reef, wind across the country between 69 to 100 meters above the surrounding plains, in much the same way that a reef would have reared above the Devonian sea floor. Layers of fossils and limestone strata of an ancient reef are a crisscross section, showing glimpses of life in the Devonian period before reptiles and mammals evolved. The gorge is home to the freshwater Barramundi , Leichhard's sawfish and Coachwip stingray. It is also the home of freshwater crocodiles of which we saw several sunning themselves.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Kimberley Specials.

    June 16, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Kimberley moon rise -magic !
    Kimberley VERY used car-just left at the roadside.
    Kimberley VERY big saltwater crocodile.
    Kimberley big red dirt termite mound.
    Kimberley put another steak on the barbie -
    Brahman Bull - roadside on the Gibb River road.
    Kimberley cyclone warning road notice.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Kimberley Boab

    June 16, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    The Boab tree is everywhere and comes in so many shapes and sizes - love that no two the same.

     Grand Boab in leaf.
    Baby Boab
    Stubby Boab
    Boab with nuts
    Boab with mates
    Boab with head and with lost head !Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Kimberley flowers 2

    June 16, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    Stopping frequently so Angela can take a pic of another flower or shrub. Would like to have been here In about four weeks as many plants are showing a lot of buds and some flowers just beginning to bloom.Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    El Questro Gorge

    June 17, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We visited the famous and touristy El Questro Station with our favourite part being our walk into El Questro Gorge. This walk took several hours and at times a level 4 walk, lots of walking over and around rocks, boulders and water pools. There were a few lovely pools to take a refreshing dip in. There wasn't the volume of tourists here as the road in required a high clearance vehicle due to a deep creek crossing.Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Nitmiluk National Park

    June 20, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    The former Katherine National Park / Gorge has been renamed Nitmiluk, the name used by the traditional custodians the Jawoyn and Dagomen people.The river was the foundation to their culture as it provided an abundance of food and water.
    The gorge is located 30km from the township of Katherine and consists of 13 natural gorges carved through sandstone by the river, with rocks and boulders separating each gorge. We took a 2 hour boat trip through the lower gorges where we learned about the history of Nitmiluk National Park which wasn't returned to its traditional custodians till 1989.
    The traditional custodians have allowed a large area to be leased by national parks but there are areas of the land that have significant cultural importance and remain not open to the public.
    One large rock face was used in a movie that stared the first indigenous actor . The film was was called Jeddah ( pic attached )
    We saw freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves. ( pic attached ) We were shown some magnificent indigenous art on a rock face ( pic attached )
    There were areas of the rock face that were covered with plants -the modern day vertical garden. This is truly a magnificent place.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Daly Waters

    June 21, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    On our way to Tennant Creek we dropped in at the the famous original outback pub, Daly Waters-first licenced in 1938. It's main attraction for tourists is to view or add to the memorabilia decorating the pub. There are banknotes, caps, bras, rocks, sporting jumpers just to name a few- little gems left from every corner of the globe. Angela was at this pub 31 years ago and remembers it to be just how it is today. Word down the road at Barrow Creek pub is the Daly Waters pub and camp ground was sold recently for a neat 4.5 million big ones !!! Must be due to the designer underwear that adorns the walls !!!Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant
    1

    Tennant Creek - Devils Marbles

    June 21, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    The Devils Marbles near Tennant Creek, known as Karlu Karlu by the local Warumungu Aboriginals,are a collection of huge, red, rounded granite boulders scattered across a wide,shallow valley. The boulders formed millions of years ago when an upsurge of molten rock reached the surface and spread out in a solid layer. Erosion over millions of years, caused the large block of erupted granite to crack and split into rectangular blocks, progressing to erode the sharp corners to smooth and finally rounded edges . Many of the giant boulders are precariously balanced on top of one another. The area surrounding the boulders is somewhat flat which makes this huge rounded collection even more spectacular.Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Angela and Duncan on holidays

    June 22, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Having a rest after taking a walk.
    Cuddling up in the tent, first night camping.
    Duncan at a roadside lunch stop
    Ange at a roadside lunch stop.
    Ange having a little kick back in the shade.
    Roadside lunch stop at Tunnel Creek.Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Alice Springs

    June 23, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Located halfway between Adelaide and Darwin and 200Kms south from the geographic center of Australia between the East and West MacDonnell Ranges is Alice Springs. It is home to an array of galleries displaying outstanding examples of Aboriginal art. It serves as the perfect step off point to visit the red centre, and is home to the famous Henley on Todd-a day of fun where teams and individuals race in the dry bed of The Todd River during the Dry season. People race in bottomless tubs and yachts through the deep coarse sand. In the wet the Todd is in full flood and therefore the necessarity of the several bridges across the Todd in Alice.
    We visited the grave site of Reverend John Flynn who founded the royal Flying Doctors, bringing medical aid to the outback. His grave is marked by a large boulder that was brought to the site from the Devils Marbles-this did cause some unrest amongst the indigenous people who believe the stones from Karlu Karlu, Devils Marbles, to hold significant cultural significance . After sensitive discussions the stone remained , as it was believed that The Royal Flying Doctor service was for all people of the outback not just whites.
    We visited the Olive Pink botanical gardens-this arid region native flora reserve was founded in 1956 by Miss Pink ,an unconventional anthropologist and outspoken advocate for Aboriginal rights. She was also a noted botanical artist and a women ahead of her time in the promotion of Australian native plant cultivation. She also held knowledge in regard to bush tucker and medicinal plants.
    We were able to experience reptiles up close at the Alice Springs reptile center, including pythons, goannas, venomous snakes and the great little favourite-The Thorny Devil lizard.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    West MacDonnell Ranges

    June 25, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    The Mac Donnell Ranges stretch over 640kms running east-west through Alice Springs. They provide a picturesque backdrop to the town, lighting up each sunrise and sunset with a display of fiery reds, sunburnt oranges and deep purples.
    The Ranges are estimated to be 340 million years old and were formed when two tectonic plates collided, rocks deep beneath the earth's surface twisted and folded, thrusting upward to the sky. Wind, water, and time have exposed the skeleton of what was once a giant mountain range, much bigger than what is seen today.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Coober Pedy

    June 26, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Coober Pedy-the town in the desert, famous for underground living, which is like nowhere else on earth , and the opal.
    The original name of the area was Stuart Range Opal fields, it was later renamed Coober Pedy, supposedly from the Aboriginal words "kupa piti" which is assumed to mean white man in a hole.
    The appearance of the area is like an eerie moonscape type look- pitted with piles of prospecting sites, discarded from the search of the opal- seemly desolate and abandoned, which we both found depressing.
    Underground living had the advantage of escaping the extreme summer heat whilst combating the winter cool desert nights. The underground room temperatures remain a constant 23 to 25 degrees Celsius. We took a tour through an underground home which belonged to a women named Faye. She built her underground home in the 1960's by hand using a pick, shovel and wheelbarrow, initially by herself and later with the assistance of two women. There were three bedrooms, kitchen, lounge, bathroom, cellar , recreation area and seven air shafts. When she died in 2015 she wanted her home to be viewed by the general public and also to be lived in, both her wishes have been honoured. The cellar remains untouched since the day she left her unique home.
    We were told of her generosity to the township people of Coober Pedy-and to the Royal Flying Doctor service.    Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Ghost Gums

    June 27, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    The paintings of Aboriginal artist Albert Namatjura made the ghost gum one of Australia's best known trees. They are an icon of the outback where their pure white trunk and bright green leaves contrast starkly against the red landscape.Read more

  • Duncan GrantWestern AustraliaDuncan Grant

    Port Augusta

    June 28, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Back to almost the beginning at the Port Augusta road sign when we took the left turn toward WA on the Eyre Highway .
    We passed John Parkers " Old Canowie Station" once again , on our return trip.

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