We certainly had an adventure today!

We were up at 6am and on the road by 7am so we could visit Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek. We drove along the Gibb River Road and there was some smoke (as they are back burning) but all good to keep going. We thought we would go to Tunnel Creek first as it was past Windjana Gorge.

So me being such a great navigator had Rog continue past Windjana National Park as there was no sign to Tunnel Creek so I assumed we had to continue on the Gibb River Road so after a further 55km down the road and no signs of Tunnel Creek I checked the map and realised that we did in fact have to turn at the Windjana turn off, so we had a lovely 110km detour today, plus an extra hour travel time (it didn't help when I was busting to go to the toilet and had to be a princess by not going in the bush and having to wait another hour). We then had the worry about not knowing if we were going to have enough petrol then to get to Tunnel Creek as we weren't sure how much of a detour we had done at the time.

The good things that came out of our detour....the dirt road was in great condition so we could pretty much drive at 110kmph, we spotted our first freshwater crocodile in a creek crossing (Josh saw it too and was very excited), we saw more of the Napier Ranges and Queen Victoria's Head (in the side of the ranges) and the kids both had a sleep in the car while we back tracked!

So we finally got back to the Windjana National Park turn off and the dirt road was so corrugated that we pretty much had to travel the 74km each way at 20kmph. So it was a very slow drive today. We decided to stop at Windjana Gorge first around 10:30am (as we still hadn't seen a sign to Tunnel Creek, so we wanted to make sure we were heading the right way!). We saw our first goanna while we were chatting to some people.

Windjana Gorge is another beautiful gorge which has been carved by the Lennard River through the Napier Range, which exposes the ancient reef system (The Devonian Reef was uplifted above sea level and eroded about 250 million years ago. Today the reefs are exposed in a series of limestone ranges extending for 300 kms long and up to 100 metres high). You walked through a narrow short tunnel and it opened up to a large sandy area with the river on one side and the large limestone ranges. The most exciting thing was seeing all the freshwater crocodiles in the river. Most of them were sunning themselves along the river bank but there were still a few having a cool off in the water. We think we saw about 80 crocodiles. They weren't interested in us at all. You walk along the river bank so close to them and most of them didn't even flinch, a few got scared and swam in the water to get away. The kids both thought it was great and loved seeing them. One of them made Josh & I jump, as we were walking back to the exit along the riverbank and we must have scared one as it flicked its tail and quickly swam away.

Next stop was Tunnel Creek around 12:30pm. It is a 750 metre long tunnel carved out of the limestone range by flowing water. The 1.5km return walk requires wading through water with a torch as it is pitch black. The tunnel is up to 12 metres high and 15 metres wide in parts. Near the centre of the cave the roof has collapsed and is an excellent place to observe the colony of fruit bats. I must admit I was scared doing this walk as the tunnel was dark and having to walk through water when you don't know what's around you was a bit freaky. Luckily the water was low today so most of the crossings were ankle deep and only the last one was just over knee high. It was pretty with formations of stalactites and limestone drips. About half way in when you shine your torch there are sparkling crystal formations. At the end of the tunnel is the creek and it looked very inviting for a swim but instead we looked at some Aboriginal rock art and then walked back. When we were back at the beginning we spotted a freshwater crocodile fast asleep in a little cave (thanks to a tour group that had just arrived). I was glad it was at the end of our walk. Josh and Bronte loved the walk and thought it was great to be walking in the water and wearing head torches. Josh also loved the bats but Rog & I were a bit freaked about one of the kids getting bitten (after the ACA story).

We all left in one piece and commenced our very slow 180km trip home. We saw lots of cows, eagles, kangaroos and birds on our drive and fire/smoke from the back burning. We got back to the caravan around 5:30pm so I quickly watched another beautiful red sunset and then we had left over spaghetti and meat balls for dinner.

Bronte did very well and didn't wake up last night (probably the first time in 3 years!). She only asked for her dummy this afternoon in the car and then again at bedtime tonight. Once again a few tears and it took longer to get her to sleep but she is now fast asleep and hopefully we have another good night.