Barra & Brownie at Mornington Sanctuary

DRIVE: Manning Gorge Campground to Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary (140km).

It seems like a day is plenty enough to explore one of the main gorges on the Gibb River Road. After that, we get itchy feet, pack up and move on.

We have brought forward our 3 night booking at Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary. On the way, we stop at Adcock Gorge and Galvins Gorge and enjoy short walks to explore them. At about 50km down the Gibb, we find the turn off for Mornington. It’s 80km from here into the sanctuary crossing gated cattle farming country.

Unlike the Gibb, the majority of the road in is a softer limestone base that is well graded. We reach Mornington at midday, check in and find ourselves a camping site.

CAMP: Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary / 3 Nights

Each afternoon, a tour bus comes in ferrying package wilderness tour groups to their ready made bedouin tents at the sanctuary. There’s a reception area, bar and restaurant with a tasty set menu board displaying tonight’s meal, Barramundi with polenta chips and vegetables followed by chocolate brownie. We quite fancy that but tonight they are booked out already as after catering for the tour groups, they only have about 6 meals left, already taken.

No worries, tomorrow is lamb so we book in for that instead. The bar area is nice so we buy a coldie and finally access some wifi. Whilst I am logging in, I hear 2 guests enquiring about tonights meal as there’s been a cancellation. They enquire but don’t make a booking so jack rabbit, I jump up straight after them in an obvious and desperate fashion and ask...”did you say you have a cancellation for the barramundi tonight?” Yes is the reply, “we’ll take it”. Jen was drooling at the mouth over the thought of a chocolate brownie.

Needless to say, dinner was exquisite but there were too many watching for me to lick the plate.

Now little stories like these may be trivial to you when you read them but for us, they represent a highlight in the day and an escape from the dry and the dust.

I always like to showcase the highlights so today barra and choc brownie it is.Read more