Day 39

Derby - Geikie Gorge - Fitzroy Crossing

" I'm heading out where the water is much deeper, I'll save myself from saving you...."

We left Derby at 7.45 for an uneventful 260k trip to Fitzroy Crossing. We knew we'd miss the 11am Geikie Gorge tour so we checked into the Fitzroy River Lodge and had lunch and a swim in the pool to pass the time.

We drove out to Geikie Gorge at about 2pm via the old Fitzroy River crossing where it's a single river crossing through the water itself - this delighted the kids- being able to drive through the river itself.

The gorge floods every year without fail and the amount of water that rushes through in the wet season could fill the Sydney Harbour basin every 8 hours !! They have marks at the muster hut of where the water has peaked in the floods. In 2009 it was 2m above the hut itself - so 17 Metres above the standard river level!!

We took the hour long gorge tour on a barge and at 3pm it was just the perfect time to cruise. Lots of freshwater crocs still out on the banks sunning (62 apparently this trip!!) and the sheer limestone cliff faces are spectacular. The oxidized grey coloured stone blends into the white "polished" stone from the flood waters and somehow the red oxide from the Kimberley soil also makes an appearance having leached its way through the rock.

Following the cruise, we drove back into Fitzroy Crossing via the river crossing again and drove about the town itself. Nothing special to report about Fitzroy - just a typical Aussie Outback town. We also drove out to the Fitzroy Inn by the banks of the river where it has stood since it opened in 1897.

An early start again for the next few days as we plan our next leg of the trip through to Katherine in the NT. Lots of things to see and do which will mean a jam packed few days of driving and fun but we all can't wait !