After completing the East end itinerary we set off West with the intention of stopping in Bungle Bungle Caravan Park, then one night in Wolf Creek, then a few more stops including Mimbi Caves, Fitzroy Crossing, Willare Roadhouse and Broome.
As usual, plans change. We drove Kununurra to Bungle Bungle Caravan Park for one night. It’s a great spot, but because it was the last night of the season, we missed out on the shuttle bus to the Bungle Bungle Range (the alternative is driving the 45km unsealed road in the motorhome, which wasn’t really an option), so it was just a stopover.
Bar one other family, a dissimulation of cockatoos (I looked it up, ok?), mob of kangaroos and an assortment of other collectives, we had the place all to ourselves!
There wasn’t anything to do except to watch the sunset and grab an early night.
Whilst speaking to the only family at the caravan park, they gave us the contact details of the Bill Aiken from Darngku Heritage Cruises, which was a great piece of information because every other tour seemed to have finished for the season.
So, an overnight in Fitzroy crossing and a not too early start from the car park of Danggu Gorge led us to meet our guide for the day, Bill, at the second gazebo as instructed over the phone the night before. We arrived before Bill and watched him take a seat at his table.
I said “Good Morning”
He said “Yes?”
I said “We’re here for the tour”
He said “And?”
It was an excellent start. But it did get better after he finished his rant about people turning up unannounced or hijacking spots. Weird first world problem in the Australian bush.
The trip was short, sweet and provided us with a bit of information about the ecosystem in the gorge, wildlife, plants and also some aboriginal culture. Worth the $35/person.
The Fitzroy Crossing Visitors Centre, finally open as it was a weekday, gaves us enough courage to drive the Dampier Peninsula, so we decided to mission back to Broome with a quick stop at the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park.
We arrived just a few minutes before 2pm as we'd aimed to get there for the afternoon feeding session. Chairs were laid out in an auditorium setting but it turns out it was just a waiting area as once the feeding started it was a (human) frenzy to get a good spot at the chain link fence.
Almost as if a daily occurrence, the salt water crocodiles came to the shore from the pond, though very slowly. Lots of commentary and lots of feeding. So apparently the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park is a sanctuary or refuge for misfit crocodiles. Though, they don't mention that the Park is actually classified as a farm and that their major income comes exported crocodile skin, as evidences by the souvenir shop.
After the feeding, we tagged along on the walking tour with a ridiculously large group. The larger pens provided for some entertainment, but having to watch the screen of the mobile phones held up as we crowded around the smaller pens just to get a glimpse (first world problems I know), was enough to send us away for an ice cream break.
Our one night in Broome was going to be at the Discovery Parks. Not the worst but it certainly won't be winning any awards. Disappointing, as the equivalent franchise in Kununurra was excellent. I can't imagine there are too many moving parts in running a good Caravan Site. Well placed plots, water and power, a dump station and a clean and usable ablution block. Broome only got a quarter right.
Dampier Peninsula tomorrow.
