We camped at Windjana in the supposedly quite section till a bunch of Germans pulled up right beside us and proceeded to piss us off by smoking (yes it wafted right onto us) then lighting a smelly fire in the fire pit right behind our camper. Luckily the guy with the guitar did not get it out to top it off.

We walked from the campsite to the start of the Windjana gorge walk as it was only a about 200M from the campsite. It was amazing how many people drove to the start and back to their campsites while we were there! The main attraction here is easy access to lots of fresh water crocodiles close up. The water is permanent here in spots and there were plenty of crocodiles on display in and out of the water. They almost look like they are smiling at you. Sharon still felt a bit crook in the tummy and went back to camp. I continued on knowing the last 1KM was closed but soldered on to see what I could find.

on the bank

and in the water

Looking back to the start of the walk

About half way in (7KM return) there was a huge colony of bats hanging in the trees. They are weird creatures and make a hell of a racket. A few photo’s later and a bit more walking I came to the closed section. Walking in the river bed was hard in soft sand and the reef from Devonian times towers above you all the way but looks about the same so I retraced back past even more crocodiles out sunning themselves and back to camp quite hot now as the sun was getting it’s kick in it.

Like smalldogs with wings One of the trees they filled

We packed up to so we could cool down on the drive to Tunnel Creek about 30KM away down a rather good gravel road. At Tunnel Creek you can walk through an almost 1KM long limestone cave system through the range. You have to take head torches and sandles as you need to wade through the water to about thigh height on me. The formations in the cave are very spectacular. About half way along the roof has collapsed in one section and a colony of different bats hung on the ceiling squawkin and carrying on. Apparently here you can find the Ghost Bat, a carnivores bat that eats frogs and ‘other small stuff’, it hides in the dark so it is rarely seen.

I needed my hat out of the way!

Sharon entering the cave (RH side)

Entrance and where the bats ‘hang around’

I see bats

Tunnel Creek was really good as it was quite different and Sharon learnt how to take long exposure shots off some guy near the bats. Apparently her shots were better than his after he showed her how. There are plenty of fish and shrimps in the water of the cave and you have to be a bit careful as freshies are found in here some times. Tunnel Creek was visitor central with huge numbers of people coming and going. A lot of day trippers from Derby and people coming through the back way on the gravel road. The campsite at Windjana was also quite busy with 25 cars in the ‘quite area’ and heaps in the ‘noisy generator’ campsite as well.

We drove back to Windjana for lunch in the shade and then headed to Derby for a couple of days.