​Back in the Kimberley 12-15 September 2017

We were back in boab country.

After a visit to the vehicle doctor in Broome for a check up and TLC, our car and van were declared fit and we headed back out on the road to Fitzroy Crossing albeit via Derby to buy some new tyres for the van (one side was scrubbing out ... hmmm).

Geikie Gorge was a place that captivated Lindsay's mum almost 50 years ago and so it was a place we wanted to visit. It plus Windjana Gorge, Tunnel Creek and the Mimbi Caves are all part an ancient barrier reef dating back 400 million years to the Devonian era. The geographic history is fascinating.

There were a few water crossings going in to the Tunnel Creek National Park but all pretty shallow. 

Some ancient scraps from the old reef. Blackened by Cyanobacteria and time.

We turned off the Great Northern onto the road into Tunnel Creek National Park and hopped out to explore. Man oh man! This so called Creek once flowed at the top of the Napier Range, but over time as the rock fractures enlarged, the creek became subterranean. The tunnel carved by the constant flow of water is about 1km long and can be 'walked'. We didn't have the right 'equipment' (you're walking through sometimes waist high water in the dark) nor did we have a guide. So we ventured only into the mouth of the tunnel which was pretty awesome in itself. I found jasper would you believe? Of course you would.

Descending to the mouth of the tunnel

All you have to do is clamber over and around these massive rocks guarding the entrance to the tunnel and you drop into the water of Tunnel creek. Quite intimidating - for me at least.

People coming out of the tunnel had a bit of a climb.

Recognise this? All the way up here.  I would dearly ike to properly study the geology and geography of this area.  OK well all over Australia!

The tunnel was once the hideout of aboriginal 'bushranger' and freedom fighter, Jandamarra/Pigeon. Aboriginals in the area were blackbirded or actually enslaved to work in the area. The area has a dark past even if it it somewhat romanticised today.

This is all part of that ancient reef. Up close it is quite overwhelming.