Kununurra and surrounds

We mentioned in our last post how excited we were that we would gain 1.5hrs crossing the border into WA!  Well this was short lived.  By gaining an hour and a half also means that the sun rises an hour and half earlier.  We have a little sparrow by the name of Sophie travelling with us who rises with the sun!  Yes so our days commence at around 5.15am.......... long days in WA.

So how have we filled in these long days?  Thankfully there is a little bit to do in and around Kununurra.  Below are some pics illustrating some of the local attractions

Ivanhoe crossing is just on the outskirts of town and you can normally cross the level with a 4WD but due to the massive wet season the north of Australia had last season the crossing is running too fast to cross

 

We then ventured out to Lake Argyle.  Lake Argyle was the ingenious conception of the famous Durack family, one of the first families to settle in the region.  Lake Argyle is a massive man made lake, and it's waters have the same navigational requirements for open sea.  It was developed to supply water for the Ord river irrigation system

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Argyle

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/durack-kimberley-michael-kim-10075

Jack and Sophie got to drive the boat.  Jack was a little reluctant at first but loved it once he got the hang of it

Yes there are freshwater crocodiles in Lake Argyle.  This one was sun baking on the banks!

Check out this pool!  Not a bad view.. It is part of the Lake Argyle resort, we did not stay here but gee we were tempted once we saw this pool

Off we ventured to El Questro Station for the day!  

A 3 and 4yr old do hinder what you can do at El Questro, as well as a raging grass fire in Emma Gorge, but we still managed to relax at Zebedee Springs.  

Thankfully we have been to El Questro prior to the kids and when Jack was 6mths old so we were not too disappointed.  

El Questro is a working cattle station that also markets itself as a Wilderness adventure park.  There is heaps to do in a short distance with magnificent gorges to explore and it is all within approx 80kms from Kununurra.  El Questro Station is at the eastern end of the famous Gibb River Rd.

http://www.elquestro.com.au/

If you have never been and you are thinking of heading to Kununurra you really should take the time to call into El Questro Station it is a lot of fun and heaps to to do and see.

 Jack, Sophie and I enjoying a warm waterfall at Zebedee Springs

No trip would be complete without turning Left out of El Questro Station and driving the 25kms to the Pentecost River crossing.  This is the beginning (or it could be the end pending which way you come from) of the Gibb River Rd. Once you cross the Pentecost you are in for some fun.

http://www.kimberleyaustralia.com/gibb-river-road.html

You can see the Cockburn ranges in the distance, these are a rich red in colour but due to the smoke haze they look a bit dull.  We will not be travelling the Gibb but staying on the bitumen heading Broome.  

We we leave Kununurra tomorrow and probably take a couple of days to get to Broome just in time to find a local pub to watch the Grand Final!  But seriously if we miss it who cares it is after all only Collingwood!