Crocidyllic

We met some travellers who had done their lap of Oz anticlockwise who warned us not to compare the gorges of the Kimberly to those of the Pilbara. As we walked through Windjana Gorge we were reminded of this good advice.  The orange grey limestone of this gorge does not provide the breathtaking contrast with the sky which is typical the gorges of the Pilbara, but is nevertheless beautiful in its own right.

Windjana is also rich in history which is well documented and readily imagined. This is the country of the Banuba, at the time of colonisation one of the most densely populated places in Australia. It was also one of the last frontiers of settlement, a settlement that was vigorously resisted by its inhabitants. Prominent among the resistance leaders was Jandamara, who during the 1890s led a successful campaign against the incursions of the colonisers. The formidable limestone walls of the Balili (Napier Range) with its intricate crevices and caves were his refuge, particularly in the vicinity of Bandilngan (Windjana Gorge) and Baraa (Tunnel Creek). As you walk through these places, it is easy to imagine Jandamarra and his band disappearing into the gorge walls when pursued by the hapless police. After many raids to try and capture or kill him, Jandamarra was finally shot by an equally skilled black tracker brought in from the Pilbara.

Another interesting contrast with the Pilbara is the presence of crocodiles. In the case of Windjana, only freshies, but nevertheless the girls seemed curiously less keen on swimming.

We'll see you when the dust settes. 

Tunnel Creek

Tunnel Creek

Entrance to Tunnel Creek

Colours in the Limestone, Tunnel Creek

Mertens monitor

Boab tree against the Napier Range

Entrance to Windjana Gorge

Mallee trying hard not to smile at a crocodile

Ritual sacrifice of the last born child

Windjana Gorge Resident

Tunnel Creek flowstone

Moonrise over Napier Range

Windjana Gorge