KUNUNURRA
We have returned again to Kununurra for a few days to catch up with Sal and investigate the local scene.

MOLLY SPRINGS is a local swimming hole which is located 30km from town along the road to Wyndham. An aboriginal site, but also a cute little waterfall and swim spot amongst the Pandanus palms. It was just unfortunate that we timed it the day after they had been through and fire bombed. The ash and smoldering tree branches added an unexpected element, however we still enjoyed the swim.

SUNDAY NITE @ THE PUMPHOUSE is wood fire pizza and live music night. We had heard great reports about this restaurant and decided we'd better check it out. Seated on the deck out over Lake Kununurra was lovely and the veggie pizza was smashing too.

STONECRAFT GALLERY, Riverfarm Rd has become our "local haunt". We always seem to find a fab little cafe that is warm, inviting and holds that genuine welcoming feel. This beautiful serene establishment is a cruisey 10km bike ride from Kununurra, out the Ivanhoe Rd. A family run business combining Zebra Rock artifacts, jewellery and scrum-diddley-umptious homebaked cakes and slices, tea, coffee and famous mango smoothies. All available to be consumed among the gorgeous palms and shady mango trees. You can sit and relax amid the atmosphere enjoying a piece of carrot cake or hummingbird cake (well thats our recommendation) or wander down to the workshop to see Col work magic with his narly hands, patience and a piece of sandpaper. The tough part was realising we had to peddle back into town after our tastebuds had been tantalized. Oh well, maybe that renders the decadence 'guilt free'!
Skipper Sal and First Mate Zoe (1yr-old border collie), generously took us for a spin up the UPPER ORD RIVER in their putt putt tinny to Sandy Beach. Though we had a few motor issues, and paddles on stand-by, the slow and steady ride afforded us the opportunity to soak up the beauty of the Packsaddle Ranges, enjoy a picnic and a swim as the locals do.
We then wandered out to another local spot, the Butterfly Cave. However we ran out of daylight and didn't realise with a torch in hand, climbing through a crevice would enable us to explore the cave more extensively. Sal had only just heard about this place herself, and the stories of snakes and pythons dropping from the roof didn't overly excite me or enhance my desire to venture further! I was thankful for sunset and the butterflies we saw.
The highlight of this particular stay in Kununurra, other than the awesome chats we had hanging out with Sal, was the day we spent relishing our jaunt along PACKSADDLE SPRINGS Walk. As it is a local walk, it's not really marked out, so it's more of a "choose your own adventure" using the meandering river as a guide. About an hour into the walk, the river hooks around on itself creating a U-shape around a large hill and rocky outcrop in the centre and massive rich deep crimson red cliff face and escarpment surrounding the outer rim of the river. From here the real fun began, clambering along rock face then selectively working our way across the cascades. Climbing further and further, to be awe struck by more and more waterfalls, rocky swim holes and breath taking scenery. The time spent actually walking was probably 3.5 hrs, the rest of the day we explored, fossicked, swam, and basked on the warm polished rocks like the lizards. It was splendiferous!!! Thanks Sal for the red hot tip!! For anyone heading to the area, we've posted the mud map and walk trail in the photo album section. This is one walk you don't wanna miss!
We're off now to Lake Arglyle and then back over the NT border headed for Darwin.