Kimberley touring

Hi Theo

I will do a report when i get home - it takes me ages to get them done - you might have your BT and be ready to go by the time i get it finished. Now we have the MyBlog section on ExplorOz i can post them there.

My son said about the first gorge after Windjana that he went into last year was one of the best, but he couldn't remember which one (it may have been Lennard River Gorge). He thought that might have had a small area to turn. Hopefully some of the many who went along the GRR over the past couple of years will come on line tonight and help me out.

Mh

G'day ParentHens

Lucky ducks! We travelled the GRR in both 2006 and 2007. Having a 'lay six months' while we do some house renos, but we've been getting rgular updates from some friends in a group of seven BTs en route to the Kimberley at present. I think that they are in the western Kimberley this week... haven't got my latest update!

We made a short diversion towards the Barnett River Gorge last year. The sign said "3 km" I think. The first 1.5 km was good, but then the track was very rutted and broken up. Around that time, there had been a few BTs that had rolled, so I was a bit paranoid about that. When the track got worse and worse- even narrower and more rutted, I bit the bullet and decided that whatever aesthetic delights awaited us could stay there! A twenty point turn , and we were outta there. Went on to Mt Elizabeth Station, which was great, with some excellent 4WD tracks and great scenery. If you go there make sure you book in for the homestead dinner.

Enjoy.
BobH
PS what sort of battery / electrical problems have you been having?

Hi Bob

Thanks for the feedback. I don't fancy doing a 21 point turn with the F250! Jim got the van around with the Nissan when a track came to a sudden stop once, but the extra length will make it so much harder. What other places did you get into readily with the caravan?

We don't seem to be building up enough power in the batteries even with no load. I just rang an auto-sparky business in Karratha so we can take it there for them to test everything - i hope they can. We have a new fridge (130 litre Vitrifigo, same as the last one), and although it seems to draw more than the last on the ProStar reading, this may be because the battery voltage is a bit low. Ian from boatandcaravan tested the fridge to his satisfaction before he sent it to us two years ago, and apart from a couple of test runs, it hasn't been used. We came up through rain on the first day with the fridge running and minimal lights and water pump usage first night, so could understand low battery levels, but now we are in the sun, batteries should be fully charged. As the low voltage disconnect came on overnight after a day in full sun, we have turned off the fridge and disconnected everything else, and even in full sun all day today is only reading 13.4/13.5. The recently repaired solar panels seem to be working OK (our son has tested). The batteries only lost 1 point overnight according to the ProStar. I am reluctant to head north until we can at least run a fridge and a water pump.

Regards

Motherhen

Motherhen

Most of the other stops we made on the GRR were fairly tame without any dramas. However as you know all this is weather dependant.

Windjana Gorge/Tunnel Creek : no sweat

Lennard Gorge: haven't been there

Bell Gorge: ditto

Charnley River Station: Well maintained access road, about 40km from memory. Firewood supplied (that's one reason we went there, heard that fires weren't allowed at Bell gorge). A few scenic spots.

Mornington Wilderness Camp: Fantastic, but 90 km off the GRR- slowish going, but most of the road in was excellent last year. The last bit gets a bit rough. Not bad camping spots, and you can be close to good facilities if you wish, still with that remote feeling. Great drives to Sir John Gorge, Bluebush and Dimond Gorge. Wonderful photography opportunities. A chance to see a Gouldian Fincgh or two. (Much more reliable sighting at Australia Zoo! Crikey!)

Manning River Gorge: Fantastic, excellent campground about 10km in from the Mt Barnett Roadhouse. A great walk to the falls, after fording the river. They even supply floating polystyrene fruit boxes to carry your valuables across. Memorable.

Mt Elizabeth Station: Good access, probably better scenery than at Charnley River Station. And the previously mentioned homestead meals. Don't miss a trip to the Hann River.

El Questro: Great, commercial. The masses. Unfortunately you have to cop the high costs of a Voyages property. Still it's a 'must see' to cross off the list. Great walks. esp Zebidee Springs and Emma Gorge.

Home Valley: Maybe instead of ELQ. Don't stay at the homestead camping area, go on to the bush camping beside the Pentecost River. (avoid the basking saltwater crocs on the river banks... they love fresh chook!) They have almost new ablutions with flushing loos and showers, some excellent shade shelters that would make a good annex, and plenty of space, so you're only as close to others as you want to be. Godd fishing if you're game. Wonderful sunsets.

None of these places would present any access problems with the F truck.
There also appeared to be lots of other small areas you could camp off the road. Beside the Gibb River on the Kalumburu road is a popular, pristine spot if you are heading up that way. It's not far from the GRR turnoff.

Hope this is of some use.
Cheers
BobH

We have 2 more sleeps and we are heading up to the GRR as well. Sounds like it could be over run with BTs. Hope we catch up with a few to say hi. Can't help you motherhen with the access questions because we have'nt done the GRR beore and our rig is very small compared to most as we are driving a 100series wagon with a 14ft BT.

Thanks Theo, and thanks to Noel & Denise who i hope will soon be members. Did they get Leithals's BT?

Mh

Thanks Silver Fox - Lennard sounds like we wouldn't even want to take the F250 all the way in. A couple on the caravaners forum did Lennard and a few other spots on motor bikes which they carry - good idea for out of the way places. All the other spots seem OK for access. We'll take the short walk up the creek at Silent Grove too - thanks for the tip.

Mh