2 nights at Fitzroy Crossing gives us the chance to take a boat trip along the stunning Geikie Gorge, in its own National Park. The gorge was named in honour of Sir Archibald Geikie, the Director General of Geological Survey for Great Britain and Ireland when it was given its European name in 1883. Sir Archibald never visited the gorge and in due course the traditional owners, the Bunuba people, hope that it will be more generally known by its Aboriginal name, Darngku.

The gorge has been formed by the Fitzroy River and the level of the river in the wet season can rise by up to 16.5 metres (54 ft). The flood level can be clearly seen on the walls where the abrasive action of the floodwaters on the limestone has scoured the surface white. The limestone was originally a reef formed not by corals but by algae and lime secreting organisms that are now extinct. The river water sustains an abundance of life including barramundi, sawfish and freshwater crocodiles all of which can be found in the gorge.

Again, a quandry, too many photos – well, here goes.

We thought a night’s stay in Hall Creek may be on the cards but we decided to just drive through – not the most attractive town in the Kimberley. However, it does have 2 points of interest – 1, a bin to dispose of live cane toads ! and 2, a statue commemorating the feat of Russian Jack, Ivan Fredericks (1864–1904), a goldminer of the Western Australian gold rush in the 1880s. In 1885, while working in the Halls Creek goldmines, he pushed his sick friend in a wheelbarrow 300 Kms through the Great Sandy Desert to Wyndham, the nearest town with a medical centre. He is buried in Fremantle Cemetery.

Fortunately, after a one night free camp at Mary Pool, we discover a great farm stay at Larrawa Station. 4 Kms of dirt road take you to the farmstead of a 500,000 acre working cattle station. We shared the camp with a guy who is travelling with his own home-made helicopter. He is trying to start a business selling filmed documentaries. It was quite strange parking the caravan next to a helicopter. Fresh farm eggs at $4 per doz and beautiful fresh and clean bore water were bonuses but best of all was the camp fire and stars. Also, we were adopted by the farm dog, Morse, for the afternoon.