Day 52 El Questro to Wyndham

 As we had a few days up our sleeve, decided to head up to Wyndham for a while. Its only about a 70km run up the Northern Highway and we thought it would be a good place to set up and start cleaning out the dust from our adventures. There is only about 780 permanents in town now but it was once a booming meat works and shipping town with lots of interesting history. 

The next morning we were up early to drive back to Emma Gorge which is not that far from El Questro.

At the entrance , we came across this young dingo. I'm sure he would have got in the car  We were on the trail by about 6.30am as it is still hot here and also to avoid the hoards of tour groups that come to this gorge. It is the most accessible to get to ( not the easiest to walk into though) but all the tours stop here. Our efforts were rewarded as we were in first and had it ourselves for about 20mins. Its probably the most photographed of all the gorges and is used a lot in the promo's. Another of the Kimberley's wonders!

On the way back we stopped at the Grotto ( yes another gorge) . This one is dry with a waterhole at the bottom but easy walk to the top and a few photos was enough. 

Next on our tourist travels was was a drive in to the Old Halls Creek Trail from the 1800's - you can still see the cobblestone edges

Finally stop was out on the road to Diggers Rest Station where there is another of the prison boabs just like the one near Derby . You can turn off on the return journey to look at the local dam  and on a very nondescript side road. you will find some aboriginal rock art - very easy to miss but wonderful to see. 

We felt it wasn't the right thing to take any photos. 

Back into town to check out the new croc safe fishing jetty. It was low tide when we were there. Wyndham sits on the King River about 60km from the sea and its also where the 5 big rivers meet - King, Ord, Pentecost, Durack and the Forrest . Its  massive amount of water moving out to sea and you can see it at the lookout at Wyndham. 

Low Tide

5 Rivers lookout

High Tide

Best entertainment of the day was to drop into the "Bric and Brac Shop" . We hade a great chat to Pixie  who had lived there for 35 years and was originally from Casterton. What a character and if you wanted the local gossip , she was the one. My guess she was at least 80 and as sharp as a tack. Told us to go to the museum and see Brolga - "used to be one of our meat inspectors you know "

Our final day we followed Pixie's advice and went to the museum - so much to look at and read about the town - the boom days of the meat works from 1915-1985, the bombing during WW2 , the RFDS and the croc hunters of the district. Would have had to be very tough to survive !

Caravan park was a great little spot except for the mosquitoes - they were very friendly. 

The tourists are coming into town to check out the Croc Bakery ( yes tried the Barramundi pie ) and they also come to see the " oldest BOAB tree in captivity" Its a local joke as this tree sits in the caravan park - they think its somewhere around 1500-2000 years old. 

Great little spot - would recommend a visit .