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Perth to the Kimberley
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Perth to the Kimberley

A 177-day adventure by The Gypsies Read more
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  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    1Hey Nicky, look whose bird watching. Ha
    Our latest camp site, looking down on the Ord RiverIt gets cold at night here!!

    Kununurra - wildlife

    July 19, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    We found out today that our part for the truck - the fuel cooler - will not be here until next Friday 28th July. Very disappointed with that news. We've been here for way too long already !!!! But there is nothing we can do but suck it up and try to make the best of it. We might travel out of town again for a few days and try to find some interesting spots. We are a little worried about the fuel overheating issue and do not want to be stuck somewhere and need to be towed again, as that could be a very costly situation. We've been hearing horror stories of people breaking down on the Gibb River Rd and having to be brought out on flat bed trucks. One we heard about was going to cost $6000.

    There is very little to do while we wait, so I’ve been taking a few shots of the wildlife with my camera. It is just a Panasonic Lumix, point and shoot digital camera, about 6 years old and I’m a crap photographer and plenty get deleted.
    I have discovered I can add text to the body of the photo using the edit tools in the “Photos” app. All of them are taken on full zoom so are a bit blurry. So prepare to be fascinated by my amateur efforts!! :-)    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Taken from the helicopter with iPhoneThe Lookout over the Beehive structuresBus tour members walking to Cathedral GorgePart of Cathederal GorgeThe end of Cathedral Gorge. White beach sand!!Echidna ChasmOur tour Guide DJ - A real character and he really knows his stuff. 😄Exploring around our campsite

    Bungle Bungles East Kimberley

    July 26, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    We had a look at the famous Bungle Bungles in the Purnurlulu National Park. I did a bus tour, and Dave did a helicopter flight. The bus left at 7am and returned at 5pm, the road trip into the Bungles takes about 2.5 hours over the roughest of roads. The Beehive structures are amazing to see, as was Cathedral Gorge and Echidna Chasm.
    Dave flew over the Park and surrounds for 45 Minutes in a helicopter. Another bucket list thing done - expensive but worth it.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    The view from our campsite over Cape Domett
    Low tide - Cape DomettPetrified rocksWalking on the mud flatsThere are a lot of rocks like this - incredible colours when wetA Boab Forrest

    Cape Domett

    August 8, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Cape Domett 8 August

    We finally got the truck fixed and serviced and then went up to Cape Domett for a few days. A very scenic coastal camp in the Cambridge Gulf. Its very pretty here but the fishing hasn’t been fruitful and there is plenty of sand flies - nasty little biting sods! The trick is to put repellant on first thing in the morning and again through the day.
    The tides are huge, changing from high to low every 6 hours, at low tide you can walk for miles across the mud flats and in around the rocks and mangroves. Dave tried fishing off the rocks at high tide and caught a couple of small fish which he released and a huge sting ray which he had to cut loose.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Our campsite on the Duncan Rd - thank god they went to bed at sundown
    Stopped for lunch on the Nefri River2Camped with Tris, Claire and Abby in the bushBoth of us airing the tyres up before hitting Gt Nthn HwyParked and getting our bearings in Fitzroy Crossing

    Halls Creek / Fitzroy Crossing.

    August 18, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 38 °C

    We finally managed to leave Kununurra on Wednesday 16 Aug after being in this area for 52 days. Thank god we managed to free camp for 90% of the time, although we were approached by the rangers twice during that time. No fine though. Lucky us!
    We stayed in the Kununurra Showground Caravan Park for the last week and it was a good choice . The cheapest place in town - stay 7 nights and pay for 6 AND free washing machines. Everything got the biggest wash going! It was wonderful and we even managed to give the truck a wash while there.

    We arranged to meet Tristan, Claire and Abby near Halls Creek after Tristan phoned us and said they were heading our way. They are on a fairly rushed trip after spending time in Alice Springs for a wedding. It was great to catch up with them in a bush camp on the Tanami Rd just outside of Halls Creek.

    Tristan and Claire have gone off to see Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek in a National Park, not for us because of Putz. We will meet up with them again near the Fitzroy River tomorrow sometime.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    About to climb the steep bank
    Whoops! Just cant get up to the top.Nice spot for a break1Trying to catch a Barra

    Fitzroy River Camp

    August 19, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    We met up with Tristan, Claire and Abby again today on the Fitzroy River at Yungngora Aboriginal Community. Interesting place to drive through, the people were friendly but plenty of rubbish and car bodies about.
    We took the rd towards Camballin and followed Tristan down a side track to the river looking for a suitable camp for the night. The track was pretty rough and one dry creek crossing was entered via a very steep bank. No worries getting down it, but on the journey out it was a different story. We couldn't climb it. Dave said he couldn't engage the diff lockers - they just wouldn't engage. So long story short Tristan had to winch us up. It was an anxious time for me, but the blokes thought it was good fun.
    Then I forgot to shut the fridge drawer properly and it came sliding out and landed on the floor, incredibly, nothing but a jar of Curry paste broke. Amazing, because there was 6 bottles of Corona and numerous other jars with mustard and the like in. But it did look like a curry paste bomb had gone off!!!

    We eventually found a nice place to camp above the river and had a few drinks talking over the days events.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Old structure marked with the 1986 flood level
    The boys fishingMmmm where will we park our rigs?Claire and AbbyThe boys fishingDaves BarraTeaching Abby to fish with her own rodFishing further down riverTristan's Barra

    Fitzroy River Weir

    August 20, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Well this place is just magic!!! We rolled in here for a look and went wow! This is nice, let's stay here. It is an old weir and irrigation system that is no longer in use. The floods levels during the wet seasons were too destructive and rendered everything useless. See the photo of the building where I have marked the flood level of 1986. Umm that's a lot of water covering this whole area!

    Dave and Tristan started fishing straight away and over the course of the day pulled in dozens of Barramundi, too bad they were all undersized and released except one that just measured up. Barramundi for dinner.

    There is a lot of freshwater crocs basking on the banks of the river, considered harmless unless cornered. They certainly appear timid and move into the water quickly when they sense someone nearby.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Abby and Phoebe
    The camp at Myrooday CrossingMorning tea with the cows near a springTermite moundBush camp in a river bedTristan fishing at Sawfish pointThe first catch! A little catfishSunset at SawfishThe tide is coming in with a rush!Red Cross indicates our position near Sawfish Point

    Hanging out with the Hali's

    August 24, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Since leaving Fitzroy River Weir we have been bush bashing here there and everywhere following Tristan. We stopped in Camballin near the aboriginal community of Looma and did washing, had showers and topped up with water, then we all bought ice creams except Dave. Bliss!!!
    From there we travelled to the Myroodah Crossing on the Fitzroy River and set up camp. Not a bad spot but a long walk to the water from the camping area and the temp was around 38 degrees.
    We eventually reached the Great Northern Hwy and after stopping at the Willare Roadhouse for milk and bread continued north following tracks along the the Fitzroy River. We ended up going as far as the track would take us and set up camp near Sawfish Point on the opposite side of the the King Sound from Derby. The tide was out when we arrived and came in about 4pm as a sweeping wave about 1.5 metres high. The water level kept rising fast for an hour or so then started to recede much to our relief. There was a few worried faces for a while and "Do you think we should pack up and move?" Was mentioned a few times. Ha Ha.
    Of course the fishing rods came out but the fishing wasn't lucrative, except for Dave catching small medium and large cat fish. We couldn't be bothered with them as they are difficult to fillet due to their deadly spines and tough as leather skin.

    Happy 40th Birthday Nicky. Xxxxxxxx    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    "The Shack" as it is now
    Helmut Schmidt and the Shack in its hey dayPure luxury!!! LolBeer bottles/cans inserted in the brickwork

    Helmut Schmidt's Shack

    August 26, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    There is the ruins of an old shack in the middle of the riverbed here. It was built by a German migrant called Helmut Schmidt. A local Aboriginal man told us Helmut was a German fighter pilot in WW2 before coming to Australia and ending up as a commercial barramundi fisherman. He was quite a character, a real "bushie" and lived a hermit lifestyle here on the river, although he welcomed visitors if they wanted to visit him. Apparently he liked his beer warm and made his own bricks to build the "shack" using beer bottles and cans as filler in the concrete mix. When the river flooded, pretty much each wet season, he moved up to his second storey and carried on living as usual until the flood waters receded.

    I've added a downloaded photo of him in his "budgie smugglers" that was taken by a photographer who was visiting him. He looks like he could do with a good feed!    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Abby making mud stewAbby's first fishTristan the dad teaching AbbySawtooth SharkCroc wrecked potThe young boy caught the Sawtooth

    Another spot on the Fitzroy River

    August 27, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    After spending one night at Sawfish Point we moved about 15ks back down the river and set up camp for two nights. Dave put a big catfish as bait in an opera net that we had found in the hopes of attracting some Cherabin. No such luck, however when Tristan pulled it up the following morning it had been destroyed by a crocodile. We also found a big crocodile slide up the bank near the boys fishing spot. We worked out that it had come up to retrieve another discarded catfish left on the bank. We left a lot of chook pellet piles around but but only managed to catch one little one not much bigger than a king prawn.
    Dave went kayaking for a while and caught a Barramundi big enough for us all to have some as a pre dinner snack. He cooked it in the Weber in alfoil, it was delicious, and 4 year old Abby absolutely loved it. She's an adorable little girl who has her own fishing rod and actually caught her first fish yesterday, she was so excited, and then went on to catch another 3. All small and thrown back.
    Dave and Tristan have spent hours fishing here, kicking back in their seats down by the water and catching a number of different species, including a Sawtooth Shark, nothing worth keeping, but having a lot of fun together. They've been staying up doing night fishing and Cherabin hunting while we girls go off to bed. Tristan even hooked a crocodile last night!!!!!
    An aboriginal family came in on a day visit yesterday and were very friendly. They were looking for Cherabin as well, and had a couple of cast nets. They were brilliant at throwing those nets perfectly, so Tristan asked the oldest man, whose name we didn't catch, if he would teach him to cast like they were doing. After a couple of lessons he's turned into a pro!!

    The Hali's have gone off to Broome today on their way towards home. We've had an awesome time with them and thoroughly enjoyed their company. Thanks you guys. Xxxx    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Roebuck Plains swimming pool. What decadence. 😎💕
    Fishermans Basket80 Mile Beach sunsetEating spag bol and watching the sunsetA glass of red as the sun goes down

    Eighty Mile Beach

    August 31, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    After leaving the Fitzroy River area we drove towards Broome, but stayed at the Roebuck Plains Roadhouse Caravan Park which is about 30ks out. Very nice small park with a Tavern attached to the Roadhouse. Caught up with the washing - sheets, towels, mattress protector, floor mats and clothes. Ha. A mad cleaning fit. 😊
    An afternoon swim in the pool. Dinner in the tavern was a Fishermans Basket each. Huge meals at good prices. It felt almost 5 star after bush camping for the last couple of weeks. A trip into Broome the following morning to shop for food, drinks, fuel and a haircut for me.

    From there we drove to 80 Mile Beach. There is a fabulous caravan park here, however no dogs allowed, so we camped up the rd in a spot where others were doing the same. The beach is beautiful, long sweeping views of white beach and blue water. No seaweed at all. Lots of people tho, driving on the beach, fishing, walking and collecting shells. We only saw a couple of people swimming, possibly because of sharks, and box jellyfish stingers. I wont be going in to find out. 🦈😏    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies

    Coppins Gap

    September 3, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    Coppins Gap is about 60ks east of Marble Bar. It is one of the few breaks in 100 kilometres of rock wall. Very pretty here and a lovely swimming hole. I actually went for a dip, bloody freezing at first but ok after a while.

    We have met a nice couple here from Harvey, Lesley and Craig. They have both retired now but have spent 5 years in a very remote aboriginal community and are interesting to listen to. Lesley was the school principal and gives quite an insight into trying to understand some of the aboriginal thinking.

    Off to Carawine Gorge today. It is supposed to be good and perfect for kayaking.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Carrawine Gorge
    Here is where the water ran out. Time to explore on foot.Looking down on the camp after our climbThats our rig - way down there!Looking downstreamLooking upstreamClimbing down the dry waterfall faceI made it!

    Carawine Gorge

    September 8, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We loved this place. Perfect for kayaking, swimming and hiking up to the top of surrounding landscapes. The Gorge still has a lot of water in it and extends for about 3 kilometres. We enjoyed exploring in the the kayaks. We were camped opposite a vertical rock wall which formed one side of the Gorge, and climbed to the top of it, even though I was worrying and fretting, not about the climbing up, but about the coming down part. But I made it back safely thanks to Dave telling me where to put my feet and giving me his shoulder to hang onto. We did not climb the vertical face you can see in the photo, but found a way up the side where it would normally be a waterfall in the wet season. The view from up there was awesome.

    A couple of days later we climbed another rocky outcrop on the other side of our camp, more amazing views of the vast landscape around us. Once again I was a wimp on the downward climb, relying on my hero to lead the way. 💪😏

    We met up with Lesley and Craig again there, and spent a bit of time chatting and having a drink with them. Thoroughly enjoyed their company. Other than that, the the time there was spent cooking, washing and then reading. The little washing machine is great in places like this because there is plenty of fresh water.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Cray boat loading the morning catch
    Windswept on the jettyPort Gregory foreshoreThe forshore's semi circular reefHut Lagoon - Pink Lake

    Port Gregory

    September 9, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    We came here thinking we might be able to do some kayaking inside the semi circular reef, however it was seriously windy and cold and not particularly inviting for any kind of water activities. No free camping around here, so we stayed in the Caravan Park for two nights.
    From the jetty we watched a couple of cray boats come in and unload their catch, one had three crates and the other had two. Apparently they have just about reached their quota for the season so don't need to go out each day.
    The area is known for its Pink Lake which gets its colour from the blooms of a microscopic algae. The algae is cultivated and harvested in the Hutt Lagoon and the various carotenoids (the pink producing bits) are sold worldwide for use in dietary supplements.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Getting fuel in Marble Bar behind another Iveco 4x4. You'd think it was planned. 🚛😊
    Getting the boats down for a paddleBread cooked in the weber. Squashed by the lid. 🙄

    Tambina Creek

    September 10, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    We left Marble Bar after staying one night in the Caravan Park, and took the Marble Bar - Hillside Rd heading towards the Gt Nthn Hwy. We stopped for lunch at Tambina Creek, a place marked on the WikiCamps app. We were not expecting much and were pleasantly surprised to find it really nice, with water enough for kayaking. No one here but us. I don't think this Rd gets too busy with tourists, as the only thing around here are stations and mines.Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Indee Station
    Artistic talent put to good useIndee CampsiteWhim Creek PubInside the pubPolitically incorrect toilet sign for the disabled. 😂Whim Creek Pub's resident peacock.Johns birthday.Johns birthday

    Indee Station and Whim Creek Pub

    September 14, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    We stayed one night at Indee Station. Had a pleasant couple of hours having a drink and snacks with the owners and other campers at happy hour. We called in here to meet the owners Colin and Betty who are known to some of my family members. It was a nice stay, lovely hospitable people.

    Had lunch at the Whim Creek Pub, an iconic pub located halfway between Roebourne and Port Hedland. It dates back to the 1890's. Originally a tin structure that was destroyed more than once by cyclones, it's been rebuilt to stand the test of time and is once again popular with travellers, miners and locals in the area.

    We rang John to wish him a happy 61st birthday and he invited us to dinner in Dampier at his daughters house. We ate like kings and enjoyed a great night catching up. The meal starter was Morton Bay Bugs wrapped in Prosciutto and Sautéed Banana Prawns followed by a main meal of Fillet Steak and Salad, then Icecream Cake. Yum!!!!

    We are now at Cleaverville beach campsite for a few days.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    It's bloody hot up here. 😓
    Cleaverville kayak fishingDaves catchCleavervilleDave, Myself, Kelly and KerryKelly, Tex and KerryKelly and TexLisa's 40th birthday

    Cleaverville and Karratha

    September 21, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Cleaverville is a coastal camping ground just south of Karratha and Dampier. Dave went fishing in his kayak and caught dinner, a stripey seaperch and a trevally. He absolutely loved it at Cleaverville, even after being stitched up by sand flies and having to take antihistamines to get through the days, and then sleep at night.

    Next stop Karratha and Dampier. We spent 5 days there staying with Kelly my niece and her two boys. Lisa, who is Kelly's sister had her 40th birthday at a venue in Karratha, so we went along and enjoyed catching up with everyone. I have nephews Jack and Lou living here as well and we loved meeting their families as well as my little great nephews and nieces whom I've mostly only seen on Facebook in the past.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Miaree Pool
    Miaree Pool40 Mile Beah40 Mile Beach - a moonscapeA glimpse of 40 Mile Beach

    Miaree Pool and 40 Mile Beach

    September 23, 2017, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Pulled up at Miaree Pool for the night on our way South, heading towards 40 Mile. It's a lovely campsite on the Maitland River and just off the North West Coastal Highway. Our Grey Nomad neighbours made it clear through their body language that they didn't want us parking near them, so we found a better spot a bit further down stream. Putz and I went for a swim in the river and I got chatting to a lady from Albany who knows of my relatives down there. She went to school with cousin Robin.

    Just a few kilometres further south was 40 Mile Beach - our next stop. We stayed two nights, an interesting landscape, hardly any beach, but lots of reef and mangroves. No good for fishing as it was way too windy for the kayaks and quite cold as well.    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    "A Killer' Meat for a week or three!
    The original HomesteadPre dinner drinksThe kitchen and dining room.Kerry's cottagePoddy calvesThe chook yard

    Mardie

    September 27, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We had a lovely 2 days at Mardie Station staying with my sister in law Kerry who has been the cook for the station for the past 10 years. She's like part of the furniture there and loved by everyone. Really enjoyed staying there and meeting the managers Richard and Lindy and their children and chatting with the crew who are there for mustering. We tried to be a bit useful by weeding Kerry's garden and helping out a little with the cooking and washing.

    I actually visited this station about 40 years ago whilst married to Alan. He was working for the APB at the time and was up there as part of a team taking part in dingo control. The old homestead where we ate dinner on the verandah, is still there, although in a state of disrepair and not lived in anymore. Kerry told us it is to be restored very soon by the owners - a Chinese Company. It's a magnificent old building    Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    Yarded cattle after mustering
    Yaleen Station from D and J's verandahYoung Douglas waitin for Grandad DougDave trying to look busy 😉The new camp kitchen, not yet in use.

    Yaleen Station

    September 30, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We spent a lovely couple of days with Doug, Judy, Michelle and young Douglas at Yaleen Station near Pannawonica. They were very busy, Doug in the workshop and Judy in the kitchen. It is mustering time which means vehicles always need fixing and mouths need to be fed. We all left on Friday morning, as they were going to Perth on leave and we were heading to Shark Bay.Read more

  • The GypsiesPerth to the KimberleyThe Gypsies
    "Kidfest" 😉
    "The crew" at Big LagoonDay trip to Herald's Bight Shark Bay1Whoops! Bogged!!! Plenty of spectators. ☺️After a dip min the artesion hot tub - water is about 40degreesView from Eagle Bluff1"Selfie"Shark Bay water front

    Shark Bay

    October 6, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    We stayed in Shark Bay for 6 days with Karl, Julie, Ben, Nia and Darren and his family. Darren's mate was in Thailand and had offered the use of his house, So a fishing trip / family holiday had been organised. Thoroughly enjoyed catching up with the family.Read more

    Trip end
    October 6, 2017
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