Leaving Kununurra

Well our time at Kununurra has come to an end.  We have seen and done so much here.  We had Haydan's Birthday on the 22nd and it was a nice day for him. We went to Celebrity Tree Park to see who had planted trees.  The boys were very impressed to find the tree Peter Brock planted and had to pose for a photo.  We had a caramel swirl chocolate mud cake - that Haydan chose - for his cake and sang him a happy birthday.  Then Glen managed to catch a Barra for dinner so it was a good day all round.  On Easter Sunday the kids woke up pleased to find the Easter Bunny had found the caravan!!!!  He had also left eggs around the caravan park so they got to join all the other kids in the park for an Easter Egg Hunt!!!!  We then spent the day exploring the out skirts of Kununurra.  We went to Molly Spring for yet another swim under a waterfall.  It was a great place to have our picnic lunch before we went on to Black Rock falls and Valentine Spring. Black Rock Falls was so beautiful.  You sat at the bottom of the waterfall and looked up to see water cascading down the rocks that have gone black from years of water washing over them.  We then had a swim at Valentine Spring to end the day.  Haydan loved it here as there were some kids he could swim with.  After all the waterfalls Haydan has swam at since we left I don't think a beach is going to cut it for him anymore.  

In the morning we are off the Lake Argyle for a few days then we will cross the boarder and spend a few days camping on our way to Katherine.  Will let you know all about our new adventures when we get there. 

 Happy Birthday to Haydan

Kids on Easter Morning

                                                         After the Easter Egg Hunt

Molly Spring

Kununurra

Well we have settled in at Kununurra and are taking things a bit easier.  We have a great campsite that over looks Lake Kununurra and the weather has been just beautiful.  In the evening we just sit back and watch yet another beautiful sunset.  We went back down the Gibb River Road on Tuesday as we ran out of time to do Emma Gorge last time and felt this was something that just couldn't be missed.  We were right!!!!  The kids ensured we were on our way by 7am so we stopped off for one more swim at Zebedee Springs.  Then we went on to tackle the 1.6km hike to Emma Gorge over some pretty rough terrain.  Haydan was a little trooper and walked the whole way there.  Once there we had a picnic lunch and Haydan had a short swim but the water was freezing so the rest of us chickened out.  Emma Gorge is just beautiful and well worth the hike!!!! On the way out Glen had to carry Haydan a bit of the way as his tired little legs just couldn't make it.  Around Kununurra we have been to the Sandalwood factory, Ivanhoe Crossing, Diversion Dam and the Zebra Rock Gallery.  At Ivanhoe crossing the water was just roaring down.  There is no way you can cross it at the moment as the water is as high as the signs around it.  It is just amazing to see how much water is around up here.  The Zebra Rock Gallery had some fantastic works of art made out of amazing Zebra Rock, but the highlight for us was the fish feeding.  We took some bread down and Haydan and Glen got spat at by the archer fish!!!! We saw a HUGE cat fish and Glen was even able to feed a turtle.  Today the boys went out for a hit of golf and Emmalisa and I were the caddies.  Once the round of golf was finished it was back to the campsite for a spot of fishing.  Haydan loved it and even though he caught nothing he would have sat on the bank for hours trying to catch a fish.  Still more to see around Kununurra so we will be here for a few more days yet. 

Sunset from the campsite

Emma Gorge

Getting ready to hike back out of Emma Gorge after Haydan's swim

Fish Feeding - Glen got to feed a turtle

Haydan's Super Swing - Just has to learn to hit the ball now (like his father)

The Boys enjoying some fishing

Wyndham

Well we just spent a few days at Wyndham.  Not sure what we were expecting but to say the town is laid back is an under statement.  When arriving at the caravan park we were told we could have any site we wanted and to just mind the donkey that roams around the park.  Yep, not what you like to trip over on a 2am toilet run!!!!!  The kids in usual form had us out and exploring town by 7am and we had pretty much done it all by 8:30, well that was everything that we didn't have to wait for to open.  Later that day we went and did the Croc Park Tour.  This was well worth it.  The guide was again very laid back and even lit up a smoke in the middle of the tour!!!!  However, it was quite informative and Haydan loved it when the crocs jumped out of the water for the food.  Emmalisa on the other hand just screamed and was not very impressed!!!!  That night we went and watched the sun set from the Five Rivers Lookout.  It was unreal!!!  The colours were amazing.  The next day we drove down the Gibb River Road to El Questro, Zebedee Springs, and Amalia Gorge.  The road condition was good but there was a lot of water over the roads at all the river and creek crossings.  We had to cross the Pentecost River to get to El Questro Station and this was quite deep.  The kids loved the 4WDing and Haydan couldn't believe it when we drove through the deep water.  Zebedee Springs was AWESOME.  We just lazed around in the hot springs for the morning and then went to Amalia Gorge.  We could only get half way into Amalia Gorge to a place called Ochre Pool.  That too was beautiful.  It was quite a long walk and a big effort with two kids (that we basically had to carry all the way) but well worth it when we got there for yet another swim under a waterfall!!!!  We had to miss Emma Gorge as we were all just too tired but we will go back later in the week.  Today we left Wyndham but not before a photo in front of the big crocodile.  We are now in Kununurra and will stay here over Easter.  It was a pretty big week for the kids so we will have a few days rest before heading out to explore again.

  Croc Park - Haydan was fascinated, Emmalisa was not impressed

Laura and Emmalisa - Sunset at Five Rivers Lookout

Crossing the Pentecost River

Glen and Emmalisa at Zebedee Springs

Amalia Gorge - Ochre Pool

The Big Croc - Wyndham

Broome to Wyndham

Well we left Broome on our big adventure on the 11th of April.  On the first day we stopped off at Willare Bridge to see the water right up.  The water was flowing very fast still.  We then travelled on to our first rest stop where Haydan had a bird come and eat rock melon right out of his hand!!!!  On the second day we travelled to Mary Pool.  We had to cross water to get to our campsite but it was worth it as we spent the afternoon in the nice cool flowing river.  We could have stayed there longer but the prickles at the campsite did us in so we moved on.  The next day we had a little trouble finding a place to camp as they were all closed due to all the rain that has been this up this way lately.  However we found a camp and the next day we called into Glen's work where Laura did an underground tour.  We then drove on to the Grotto near Wyndham where again we got to go for a swim.  Glen and Haydan even sat under a waterfall!!!!  We were then going to find one more campsite before heading into Wyndahm but again that didn't work out so we had a big drive to Wyndham.  When we got here the kids were very tired so it was dinner and bed for us all.  The drive so far has been amazing.  There is still so much water on the side of the roads in places and there was still water on the road in places between Broome and Fitzroy Crossing.  All I can say is Main Roads has a lot of work to do!!!!!

Leaving Broome

Emmalisa at Willare Bridge

Haydan and Glen feeding a bird

                                                        Kids swimming at Mary Pool

River Crossing

The waterfall at The Grotto that Glen and Haydan swam at

Next weeks adventures around Wyndham and off to Kununurra.

The Date Is Set!!!

Well the date is set, we are leaving town on the 11th of April. . . . hopefully.  When we set the date the roads were open and all was looking good, then a low forms and brings more rain!!!!  We are keeping an eye on the road conditions but all going to plan we should be right to get through.  We have spent the last week at the Roebuck Bay Caravan Park getting used to the park lifestyle and loving it.  We thought we would live it up for the last week and get a waterfront site and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the ocean.  Instead for the first 4 days we had a strong easterly coming straight at us plus a bit of rain!!!!!  Haydan is in his element as we can see the water park at Town Beach from the caravan so we have been spending quite a lot of time there.  Since the kids are up before the sun we have been for some nice beach walks in the morning and this morning we saw a beautiful sunrise.  

                        Haydan at sunrise overlooking Roebuck Bay - the view from our campsite.

Next weeks adventure - Broome to Wyndham