On the afternoon before we set off, I noticed cracks in both of the trailer front spring hangers. I rang all the engineering shops in town but Kununurra shuts down at 4 or 4.30pm. We didn't feel like hanging around next day trying to find someone to weld them up so we headed off anyway on the long drive.
As predicted, the 4wd access rd from the highway to the visitors centre took over 2 hours to drive. This park has lots of good information about distances and travel times, as well as rules like "you must take your camper trailer directly to the campsite and leave it there." It all makes sense though. There are fairly long drives between the main features at either end of the park, and there is a temptation to drive straight to one gorge and do a walk as soon as you arrive. At peak period, there would not be enough parking space at the start of the walks. So we headed to camp where I made a few video recordings of Fabian's audition pieces for the PAU ensembles.
Next day, we drove to the Cathedral Gorge walk early as it was reputed to be more exposed. As it turned out it really doesn't matter. All the walks are hot near the carpark and cool and shaded at the end. The domes are fantastic to look at, but I also marveled at the termites building nest right to the top of some domes and other cliffs. Fabian picked up his first goanna on the way in. The great form of Cathedral gorge is unphotographable.
The pool was clear but you are not allowed to swim in it. We got treated to a didgeridoo performance by a tour group operator on the last tour for the year. They had two guides and just one person on the tour. Although it was 40 plus degrees outside, it was beautifully cool at the end of the gorge. The walk up Picaninni Creek afterwards was hot but rewarding.
In the middle of the day, we drove back past our camp to echidna chasm right at the other end of the park. We paused at camp just long enough to refill the water bottles and pick up the trumpet. Echidna Chasm is a long windy crack 100m deep that you can walk through touching the sides in most places.
Near the end is a small amphitheatre where we had lunch before recording Fabian's audition pieces again - this time with LOTS of reverb. While Fabian was playing, Greg, the didge-playing tour guide turned up so they had a little jam. It sounded great. After a final walk to Mini palms Gorge, we were all Purnululued-out.
New Birds - long tailed finch
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