Day Thirteen: Monday, 17th May 2021
Our last day on tour. We had received good news that Tunnell Creek was accessible, and so made an early start, hitting the road at 7:10 am, heading west, then southwest, on the Gibb River Road.
Bell Creek
Napier Range
Pair of Brolgas (Antigone rubicunda)
The brolga, formerly known as the native companion, is a bird in the crane family that has also been given the name, Australian crane. The brolga is a common, gregarious wetland bird species of tropical and south-eastern Australia and New Guinea. The nest is built of wetland vegetation, either on an elevated piece of land, or floating on shallow water in marshland, and usually two eggs are laid, which take 32 days to incubate. The adult diet is omnivorous, and includes plant matter, invertebrates, and small vertebrates
Brolgas in flight
Queen Victoria's head
As we approached Carpenters Gap in the Napier Ranges, we sighted a rock formation that looks, from some angles, like a sculpture of Queen Victoria's head. Shortly after, we stopped at the Pass for a photo opportunity.
At Carpenters Gap
At Carpenters Gap
At Carpenters Gap
At Carpenters Gap
Shortly after, we turned southwards onto Leopold Downs Road, passed through Windjana Gorge National Park, and arrived at Tunnel Creek National Park, where we changed, left everything not waterproof locked on the bus, and set off to Tunnel Creek along an easy path to the entrance of the tunnel.
Napier Range
Path to the tunnell under the Napier Range
Nearly at the entrance
Just scamble over a few rocks
And we are there at the entry point
Rock art near the entry
And in we go!
A wading point
No light beyond
Stalactites
Stalactites and Stalacmites
and, again!
Reflections!
Potential stalacmite?!
Reflections in Tunnel Cave
Now for a little more wading!
And, now a swim!
Nearing the end of the return journey
And, a little closer!
And, the end - or, the beginning!!
Napier Range
Jandamarra, known to European settlers as Pigeon, was an Aboriginal Australian man of the Bunuba people who led one of many organised, armed, insurrections against the European colonisation of Australia. Initially utilised as a tracker for the police, he became a fugitive when he was forced to capture his own people. He led a three-year campaign against police and European settlers, achieving legendary status for his hit-and-run tactics, and his abilities to hide and disappear. Jandamarra was eventually killed by another tracker at Tunnel Creek on 1 April 1897. His body was buried by his family at the Napier Range, where it was placed inside a boab tree.
Exhilarated, and proud of completing the return hike, scramble, wade, and swim, along Tunnel Creek and through Tunnel Cave, we headed to the Windjana Gorge National Park where we would have lunch, and walk out for the final hike of our tour.
Black, volcanic rock of the Napier Range
Windjana Gorge
Keyhole entry to Windjana Gorge
Archerfish - again!
A large freshie!
and another large freshie!
Fossilized nautiloid!
Windjana Gorge lagoon
The immensity of Windjana Gorge!
Towering canyon wall of Windjana Gorge!
We left Windjana Gorge at 1:55 pm, returning to the Great Northern Highway for the duration of the long drive to Broome, and passing places that we had been past on earlier days: Ellendale Rest Area; Willare Bridge Roadhouse; and Roebuck Plains Roadhouse. We arrived in Broome as the sun was setting, and checked-in again at Cable Beach Club Spa and Resort.
Ray & Brian O
Foreground: Angela, Colleen, & Kaylene. Background: Helen W, Leon, & Sue
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