Day Eight: Wednesday, 12th May 2021

Rose early from bed, photographed the sunrise, packed, breakfasted at 6:00 am, and departed Home Valley Station at 7:00 am.

Dimboola River, Home Valley Station

Sunrise, Home Valley Station

Bush Stone-Curlew (Burhinus grallarius)

The bush stone-curlew or bush thick-knee (Burhinus grallarius, obsolete name Burhinus magnirostris) is a large, ground-dwelling bird endemic to Australia. Its favoured habitat is open plains and woodlands, where it stalks slowly at night in search of invertebrates such as insects. Its grey-brown coloration is distinguished by dark streaks, its eyes are large and legs are long. It is capable of flight, but relies on the camouflage of its plumage to evade detection during the day; the bush curlew adopts a rigid posture when it becomes aware of an observer. Both sexes care for two eggs laid on the bare ground, usually sited near bush in a shaded position or next to a fallen branch.

Darwin Stick Insect (Eurycnema osiris) at Home Valley Station

The Darwin Stick Insect is one of Australia’s most spectacular stick insect species, which are known for their amazing ability to camouflage on their food and become almost invisible when they’re not moving. Their range extends across northern Australia, from Western Australia through to Queensland, where they are generally found feeding on species of Eucalypt and Acacia. 

Sad to see us leave Home Valley Station?!

Continuing in a broadly westerley direction along the Gibb River Road, we made our first sighting of a wild dingo. Well spotted Sue!

First sighting of a wild Dingo

The dingo (Canis familiaris; Canis familiaris dingo; Canis dingo; or Canis lupus dingo) is an ancient lineage of dog found in Australia. Its taxonomic classification is debated, and it is variously considered a form of domestic dog not warranting recognition as a subspecies; a subspecies of dog and/or wolf; or a full species in its own right.

The dingo is a medium-sized canine that possesses a lean, hardy body adapted for speed, agility, and stamina. It's habitat covers most of Australia, but they are absent in the southeast and Tasmania, and an area in the southwest. As Australia's largest extant terrestrial predator, dingoes prey on mammals up to the size of the large red kangaroo, in addition to birds, reptiles, fish, crabs, frogs, insects, and seeds. A dingo pack usually consists of a mated pair, their offspring from the current year, and sometimes offspring from the previous year.

Bamboo Creek, Gibb River Road

Gibb River Road

Northern Salmon Gum (Eucalyptus bigalerita)

The Northern Salmon Gum, also known as the Adelaide River White Gum, or Poplar Gum, is a species of tree that is endemic to north-western Australia. It has smooth bark, large triangular to more or less round adult leaves, flower buds in groups of seven, white flowers, and conical to hemispherical fruit. In Western Australia it occurs along watercourses and low-lying flats in the Kimberley region where it grows in sandy soils. The bright salmon trunk of this tree is most noticeable in early winter.

Quinine Bush (Petalostigma pubescens)

The Quinine Bush is a small, hardy, evergreen understory tree with dense foliage and bright orange fruits. It is a rainforest tree native to Papua New Guinea, Queensland, Northern Territory, New South Wales, and Western Australia.

Fruit of the Quinine Bush

In local medicine, pregnancy is said to be avoided by eating the fruit of the quinine bush. Ironically, it does not actually contain quinine, but is, apparently, very bitter to the taste..

Another wildflower

Bunch Speargrass (Heteropogon contortus)

Bunch Speargrass is a major resident of northern forested and woodland pastures in Australia. It is nutritious to stack when young, but becomes coarse and unpalatable with age. It requires regular burning to produce leafy new growth.

Another example of Kimberley Heather

And, another wildflower!

Welcome to Ellenbrae Station

We arrived at Ellenbrae Station (a pastoral lease of one million acres!) at about 10:30 am, after traversing the 5 kilometre-long driveway, with the attraction, at the end, of a cuppa and their famous scones and cream. 

Scones, jam cream, and cuppa at Ellenbrae Station!

Our group tucking-in

Ellenbrae Station Homestead

Ellenbrae Station homestead gradens

Ellenbrae Station brand

The Manager of the Station addressed us, speaking about station life and its work. Kimberley short horn cattle are run on the property, and nowadays they are an unmarked, unmanaged, heard. Each year, the bulls are caught and sold off to market. Interestingly, the Station brand, when applied up-side-down reads the same - a handy device in the dust and heat and flurry of branding time.

Ellenbrae homestead gardens

Outdoor bath house at Ellenbrae Station homestead featuring Karen

No! I'll stick with the bus, thank you! - Helen F

Improvised garden setting in the Elenbrae Station homestead

African Mahogany Tree (left) at Ellenbrae Station

The African Mahogany Tree is a large, usually deciduous, tree growing to 30 metres in height. It has a smooth thick trunk, up to 1 metre in diameter with dark grey bark. It has glossy pinnate mid-green leaves forming a thick canopy. It flowers in axillary panicles of small creamy white blossoms. Small woody capsules to 8 centimetres follow in the warmer months.

Fruit of the African Mahogany Tree

Replete and entertained, we returned along the driveway to the rough and corrugated Gibb River Road, and shortly after the compressor for the airconditioning failed. When we turned onto the Kalumburu Road towards Drysdale Station Homestead, we made a halt to gain respite from the heat. The temperature inside the bus was 37.5 degrees centigrade - outside is was a refreshing 26 degrees centigrade.

Kalumburu Road turnoff

Gibb River, from the Kalumburu road

The Kalumburu road

A very welcome sign!

In the morning we were advised that our destination for the day was Mitchell Falls Punamini Uunpuu Wilderness Lodge on the Mitchell Plateau. Unfortunately, the road was not open following damage caused during the Wet, but APT had arranged for the group to fly in small aircraft from Drysdale Station airstrip up to the Plateau. A secondary positive was that we were spared the rough trip along Warrender Road.

Drysdale Station airstrip

Arriving at Drysdale River Station, and having prepared small bags of clothes for two nights - all of our baggage was too much weight for the fixed wing aircraft - we packed the bus with all that was not required, and repaired to the airstrip.

We were allocated among four small planes - three six-seaters, and a four-seater. The latter aircraft, when attempting to start the engine, had no battery charge, so Noreen & Brian, and Helen & Anthony were left behind to await the return of one of the other planes. 

Drysdale Station airstrip terminal

Fungii near the airstrip terminal

Wildflowers near the airstrip terminal

Sundown from near the airstrip terminal

While we awaited our plane, I explored the immediate vicinity and discovered fungi, wildflowers, and the orange sky of the setting sun.

Mitchell River in the evening light

Open savanna country in the evening light

Eventually, some hours later, and after a flight during the setting of the sun, we four also arrived on the Mitchell Plateau - tired, grubby, but satisfied. This adventure had delivered another first in Helen's life adventures - a flight in a small aeroplane!

"Quoll" site at Mitchell Falls Wildreness Lodge

The creek and other accommodation sites at Mitchell Falls Winderness Lodge

Go to Day Nine