Friday 15th August 2014 – Warm Sunny Windy

We have arrived in Halls Creek after camping at Wolfe Creek Crater. The drive over was very scenic with the colours really outstanding.  We had to pull up and give up some veg and poor Mizuna had to go.  Just before we joined the main highway, there were two girls (back-packers) sitting on the Tanami hoping for a ride.  Nearly everyone on the Tanami is in a 4wd with or without a camper trailer and stacked to the roof – no room, so I don’t like their chances.

 

We saw our first Kimberley cattle on the way in.

 

 

 

 

We restocked in town at the IGA Express, everything was double the price we normally pay. We called into the information centre which was really more a tourist shop, there was virtually no information available.  They had two free booklets on the region which we on the counter top and these are really paid advertising copies.  We bought our annual WA pass for entry to the National Parks and the person on reception didn’t bother to tell us that the Bungle Bungle camping is book online only, so the only information given is what you ask if you know.  Just as well that we have done research ourselves.

Glen at China Wall which is a quartz seam exposed.  There are a few of these seams and the line runs all the way to Bungle Bungles some 207 klms north of here.

 

 

 

We then visited Old Hall’s Creek, the original township where gold was first discovered.

There isn’t much left of the old township and it appeared to have been re-built for tourist viewing, I didn’t both to take photos.

Photo of the Black Elvire River along which Old Hall’s Creek was settled.

 

 

 

 

Palm Spring, a natural spring which is crystal clear.  There was a huge amount of bird life flitting in and around the spring.  There are freshwater croc’s in there and fish.  You could camp beside the spring, but it was right on the road, so we headed up to Sawpit Gorge (I think I called it Sawtooth Gorge yesterday … typo).  Sawpit Gorge was absolutely beautiful, we couldn’t get a spot in the gorge as three were already packed in and it was late when we got there.  We camped above the gorge to get a early start to ring home today and catch up with Julian & Crystal and say hi to Avani & Macy.

Our camp, the camp view, and maybe a fossil? – Looks like a fern imprint to me.

We’re off to refuel and head north to the Bungle Bungle NP for 5 nights of exploring the park.