11 July 2006. Tranquil Bay, our last chance to commune with the ancient rocks of the Kimberley. This spot has some of the very oldest rock. This stunning landscape really must be experienced to be appreciated!
May 2012 archive
Kimberley moon
10 July 2006. One of my favourite sights: a full moon rising over a Kimberley sunset.
Aboriginal rock paintings, Bigge Island
10 July 2006. On Bigge Island, we visited two areas with Aboriginal rock paintings. At this spot, one required crawling and shuffling along on our backs. Here we saw some of the so-called Bradshaw paintings. Both locations had some of the best preserved paintings that I have seen (many spots on the mainland are more …
A saltwater crocodile slept here
10 July 2006. Sterna Island is the breeding ground for a zillion terns of several species: Roseate, Crested and Lesser Crested. At least one crocodile lives here, as evidenced by a mark where it rested on shore and then slid into the sea. All the birds must provide an everlasting banquet for the croc!
Turtle tracks, Bigge Island, Kimberley coast
10 July 2006. Wiyuru (Bigge Island), tracks of a large turtle that had come ashore to lay eggs. We were very careful to avoid the next area at the top of the tracks.
Sunrise, Kimberley coast
10 July 2006. Kimberley sunrise, the colours enhanced by smoke haze in the air from the lingering bushfires on the mainland.
King Cascade, Prince Regent River, Kimberley coast
8 July 2006. Overnight we travelled to St George Basin. After an early breakfast, we boarded the Explorer for a run up the mangrove-lined Prince Regent River to King Cascade, a spot that must be really spectacular in the wet season. The photo shows only a portion of the cascade, which is festooned with ferns …
Sunset on Port George IV, Kimberley Coast
7 July 2006. After a full day of exploring, we were taken to a lovely beach on Port George IV, where a barbecue was set up and we dined on grilled crocodile, kangaroo, and local fish, as well as the more mundane beef and chicken, plus an array of fresh salads. The photo shows the …
Sheep Island, Kimberley Coast
7 July 2006. Sheep Island was once used by European settlers as a place for keeping sheep. The 19th-century attempts by Europeans to settle in the area are tragic stories of misplaced optimism (fueled by, in many cases, outright lies by promoters). This photo shows some of the Kimberley’s famous boab trees. Not all of …
Wandjini paintings, Raft Point, Kimberley coast
6 July 2006. At Raft Point, we climbed a steep slope to arrive at some rock overhangs where we could clearly see paintings of the Wandjini. Those who saw the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics would have seen a depiction of one of the Wandjini, named Namarali, along with tall, slender, tasselled Gwion-Gwion figures. …