QueensLandCruiser does Oz: Bush Mechanics on the Gibb

So continuing on the Gibb River Road:

Every side track had something special to offer but today this particular 4WD track off to Adcock Gorge gave us some grief. So we had a very issuing angle requiring Low4 and a very high margin for error; our case, tipping the troopy. We got up and over after some fowl language and waving of the arms but found with the use of our brakes the warning brake light came up on the dash. Up went the bonnet and our heart rate and found the brake fluid reservoir was completely empty, so assumed that we had broken a brake line somewhere Dave got under the car and spotted all the spitting fluid. Hmm, we thought, well honestly I was a bit pissed off and worried, not quite as simple as an ‘hmm’. The next major town was the little aboriginal community of Imintji which is the only town on the Gibb River that does mechanical work and thanking our lucky stars it was only 40km away. With no brakes and only gears to rely on, it was Tim and Nat’s time to shine. The CB radio paid for its self in this isolated piece of country with constant communication with Tim and Nat giving us the heads up on steep descents and the level of water through plenty of deep river crossings. It was a nervous drive but we knew the troppy could handle the small alteration. We rocked up to the local mechanic at Imintji about 2 hours later expecting ‘dodgeville’ but surprisingly met a very helpful mechanic offering a cheap fix up (crimp the brake line - $25) that would allow us to finish the Gibb, comfy waiting area with the AFL playing, and generally a happy and informative environment. He would have been the most polite and full of energy mechanic I’ve ever met which was a pleasant surprise when you’re on one of the most remote and rugged roads in Australia. He would have a very lucrative business; within 15 minutes of being there, 3 people turned up wanting tyre patches. You could tell that was his main business suggested by the thousands of tyres lying all around the workshop. So far so good, no tyres busted yet for our convoy.

We were so glad to find out that we could continue on our Gibb River Road adventure with only 3 brakes working. If things got that bad we could have limped to Derby but then would have missed out on the some of the major attractions.

Bells gorge was just north of Imintiji community which is one of the most popular gorges along the Gibb. About a 40km rough as guts track got us there and an average to hard walking track got us to the gorge. As expected the water was bloody freezing but was counteracted by our awesome blow up rafting board; that what we call ‘winning’.

Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek were the last gorges on our list to do. Another 50km rough as guts track off the Gibb which we were glad to see the last off, got us to some off the most amazing landscape I’ve ever seen.

Windjana Gorge is one of those places essential to experience the Kimberley region; it’s on every itinerary bourcher, every tourism advertisement, and apart of every guided tour. The Gorge is a little oasis in the middle of nowhere boasting almost rainforest like environment, an abundant of wildlife, and steady water during the dry.

This was a close Dave wanted to go

any one for the Beach in the middle of the Kimberley?

Nat and I

Good pointing there Tim

Tunnel Creek though was something spectacular; something that exceeded all expectation. From the beginning we heard of this wonderful place from other travellers and knew it was something we needed to see. Knowing we needed headlights and sturdy footwear and the fact that we were going to get wet sounded like a good combination.

It was about a kilometre walk through the whole tunnel with majority of it complete darkness all the while trolling around through metre deep water trying to find the direct line to the end.