Next day was a very touristy day- shopping stops and rum tasting. But it started off with a drive along the Cockburn Range. Along the way we saw wild horses roam free in the bush.
Leaving the Gibb River Road we stopped at a road sign. Our fellow Australian travelers got real excited about having their pictures taken underneath that sign. As we could not understand their joy about a road sign they started to explain that the „doing The Gibb“ is on the bucket list of things to do in your lifetime for many Australians. We had not realized how special this part of the trip is to many people, for us the whole holiday is one stunning place after the next.
Once a stock road that connected the stations in the outback with the main road the Gibb River Road was used to get cattle out from station land. The road was very difficult to navigate and even though many parts have been improved you still see lots of blown tires along the road. The outback you reach via The Gibb is still remote and the drive is challenging and should only be attempted by those who know what they are doing. Especially the river crossings, and there are quite a few of those, are not to be underestimated.
Once we left the Gibb behind we drove towards Kununurra. The city of Kununurra is one of only three towns in the Kimberly to have a population of over 2.000 people. It is estimated that the number of people ranges from 7.000 in wet season to 14.000 people during dry season. The town‘s name comes from the Miriuwung name „Goonoonoorrang“ and means „meeting of big waters“.
Even though the city is small compared to European standards being in Kununurra felt like being back in civilization after days in the outback.
In Kununurra we did a tasting of rums and gin at the Hoochery Distillery.
Right next to the distillery was a cotton field- the first I had ever seen before. So I had to take a picture.
Highlight for the day was driving across the Ivanhoe crossing over the Ord River. This area is crock area and we were hoping to see salties but could not find any.
The road used to be the main travel route between Darwin and Windham. You need to navigate your way carefully across the river between the poles- again not for the faint- hearted.
We put up tent that night at Lake Argyle for the next two days.
