DAY 81 - KUNUNURRA – KEEP and MIRIMA NATIONAL PARKS

19 May 2008

DAY 81 Pilbara – Kimberley Trip

KUNUNURRA – KEEP and MIRIMA NATIONAL PARKS

Today is our last day in Kununurra. So we decided to go over the border to Northern Territory to see Keep National Park.

We were only able to go as far as Gurrandalng campsite as the road further ahead is closed due to severe road damage.

The campsite is nice. From here we were able to go on a 2km walk that weaves through sandstone rock formations.

The Gurrandalng Walk, otherwise referred to as Brolga Dreaming, is considered to be the park’s most dramatic landscape.



It is truly dramatic and diverse and is of cultural significance to the Mirriwong and Gadgerang people.

You weave your way through conglomerate sandstone honeycomb domes, spinifex cushions and diverse woodlands. Then tall livistona palms appear as one climbs higher.

You come to an area that has a dreamtime significance for the local people. The story is that during dreamtime two aboriginals travelled from the sea to the area. They collected grass and bushes to make a big nest. They started to jump around and make noises like the brolga. As the country listened they changed into brolgas.

There were parts of the area reminiscent of Purnululu domes.

Tropical Red Box was growing out of cracks in the rock. It was a truly spectacular landscape that had its own uniqueness.

We then drove back down and had a short walk to Ginger Hill. There is a stone structure on top typical of ones built by Aborigines in the area. It is a bird hide bout 1m high and with an internal diameter of 1.5m. It is covered with twigs. An Aboriginal would sit in the hide and entice the bird with a lure. When the bird perched on the hide they would spear it.

After lunch we returned to Kununurra via the quarantine station. We had left our vegetables at the campsite to avoid losing them during this crossing. They checked our fridge and sent us on our way.

Our next stop was Mirima National Park - a little gem right in Kununurra. It has interesting sandstone outcrops that are of significance to the local Aborigines. We followed the well sign posted Looking at Plants trail and continued on to Derbe-gerring banan lookout trail.

At this stage we re-assessed what we were doing and decided to go to the Salad Bar Café to stock up on some local produce and then went on to Zebra Rock Gallery. As we were there just before sunset Elephant Rock was beautifully lit up.

We returned back to the campsite via the lovely boab trees alongside the road.

I am now sitting outside trying to catch up with posting to the blog.