Week 42/52 - Windjana Gorge sunset

Welcome to week 42 of my 52 week Tour Downunder Western Australia.

This week we move on from Bell Gorge and visit the last gorge along The Gibb - Windjana Gorge, probably the best well known and most easily accessible Gorge along The Gibb River Road. The Windjana Gorge National Park preserves a section of a 350 million year old coral Devonian Reef where the Lennard River cuts through the Napier Range.

The DEC campground, which is located only 500 metres from the Gorge entrance, is perfectly located and near the Gorge entrance and again arriving mid morning will allow you to find a shady camp site.

The one kilometre return Savanna walk trail from the campground to the Gorge gives you information about the plants and animals of the savannah woodland. The entrance to Windjana Gorge is dramatic as you walk through a narrow cavern to enter the Gorge itself. Here is a photo walking to the Gorge.

From Western Australia

Once inside the Gorge the trail takes you along the river bank and then you walk out onto an open sandy area where you have an awe inspiring 360 degree view of the Gorge – it definitely has a “wow” factor, that I could not hope to adequately capture.........

From Western Australia

Windjana Gorge is the prime freshwater crocodile viewing area of the Kimberley, so there is no swimming here. The Gorge walk winds seven kilometres return along the Lennard River. You can see fossilized marine life forms within the limestone walls near the Gorge entrance and interpretive panels help you understand more about the Gorge.

From Western Australia

Late in the afternoon photographers gather on the edge of camp to capture the setting sun lighting up the sheer western cliff face of the Gorge. And yes, it really is this colour with the setting sun on it. How it could possibly change from grey as in the first photo - to this - astounded me - but I saw it with my own eyes. Just amazing.

From Western Australia

This one is taken with the early morning sun coming through the river entrance to the Gorge. I left my husband to cook breakfast while I went to get this shot. I don't know if you can see, but as I took the photo a flock of white cockatoos flew up to the entrance, turned in the sun, and then flew back - you might be able to see them in the sun about half way up the gorge wall....

From Western Australia

Windjana is part of a Devonian Reef and when you get into the gorge you can see fossilised marine life forms within the limestone rock face. This photo shows that part of the gorge wall. Interpretive panels help you understand more about the Gorge.

From Western Australia

Windjana Gorge is the prime freshwater crocodile viewing area of the Kimberley, so there is no swimming here. The Gorge walk winds seven kilometres return along the Lennard River. I might have got a little bit too close to this croc, but he just smiled at me - well it looks like a smile.......

From Western Australia

This photo shows you how close the campground is to that magnificent gorge wall, lit up here again by the late afternoon sun. We stayed for a few days - walked in the morning, and relaxed under the shade in the afternoons.

From Western Australia

This is the top part of a beautiful boab tree near our campsite. The boab is an icon of the Kimberley - the bulbs, where water is contained in their fibre, come in fantastic shapes which change as the tree gets older. I love the shape of the branches of this tree - it looks like a tree of life.

From Western Australia

Another sunset shot, taken walking from the camp to the gorge wall.

From Western Australia

My husband took one - its a photo of me in the Gorge - I thought it showed the height of the wall really well. Looks like I am walking along checking my LCD screen - I hope I was checking that I wasn't going to step on a croc!

From Western Australia

Thanks again everyone for looking - I hope you have enjoyed Windjana Gorge. I look forward to hearing from you.