El Questro Stn to Kalumburu 30th July to 1st August

We were fortunate the grader was working on the Gibb River Rd from El Questro to just past Durack River where we stopped for lunch and met the grader driver’s wife.  She suggested to free camp on the Gibb River a couple of kilometres down the Kalumburu Rd.  It was a pretty camp for our overnight stop, however this is where the apparent dry wet the Kimberley’s had this last year showed, as a lot of the rivers water levels were low or dried up.  From here the road deteriorated progressively with our first inevitable sections of bone jarring corrugations.

Pentacost River Crossing

Lunch stop Durack River

 

 

 

Crossing the King Edward River

This was always going to be a test for the BT50 loaded, towing and with a boat on the roof.  She handled herself extremely well and this is where you see all the money you spend on modifications, suspension, upgrades pay off.

 

 

King Edward River camp (Munurru) was one of our definite places to stay.  The area was surprisingly quiet compared to everywhere we have been so far.  Most people use the camp as a base to leave their trailers set up and day trip into Mitchell Falls.  We visited Mitchell Falls on our previous trip and decided to bypass it this time.  The sites at Munurru were segregated, large and open with some shade and contained a concrete fire pit in each.  The most impressive change was the many double composting toilet setups which were doing their job well.  The waterfall had a significantly lower water level than previously but still held its swimming appeal. 



He said it would fit - I said it wouldn't.
Campsite Munurru - King Edward River

Refreshing in the King Edward River near Camp

 

 



Warming Up after Swimming in King Edward River




Munurru Aboriginal Rock Art

 

If staying at Munurru we recommend you take a short drive (approx. 5km) to the Aboriginal rock art near camp, it shows some of the best weather beaten recognisable images we have seen.

 

 

 

Corrugations Kalumburu Rd

The road to Kalumburu was in very poor maintenance travelling between 5 and 60kms per hour.  There are some potentially treacherous dips, creek washouts, corrugations, stones, rocks, boulders and wallabies.

 

 

The animals we are encountering this trip are showing bizarre behaviours.  On the road to Kalumburu travelling maximum 30kph a wallaby ran out of the bushes and into the side of the car ending its life.  Not out in front of the car with a possibility to avoid but straight into the passenger side at full speed.  He will always be remembered as he has left his large indentation in the running board.