Posts Tagged With: lake argyle

Lake Argyle WA to Timber Creek NT

Last night was quite different to previous nights as there was no cooling breeze to off-set the heat.  It made getting up early just that bit easier, and we were fully packed up and on our way by 8.30 am.

Leaving Lake Argyle we again marveled at the spectacular scenery, especially as we made our way back to the Victoria Highway.

On the Road Again

On the Road Again

Spectacular WA Scenery

Spectacular WA Scenery

Back on the highway it was only a relatively short distance to the WA/NT Border.  It was totally underwhelming!  Whereas all traffic going into WA was stopped and searched by quarantine people, apart from having to slow down to 80 kph, we just kept driving into NT although we did stop for a photo opportunity.  Although the roads aren’t wonderful and are quite narrow and winding, the speed limit in NT is 130 kph!  Crazy!

WA NT Border

WA NT Border

130 kph Speed Limit in NT

130 kph Speed Limit in NT

 

Our first morning break was at Saddle Creek Rest Area, which had been recommended to us by fellow travellers at Lake Argyle.  We would definitely stay here.  We also had a quick look at the East Baines River Rest Area which was also recommended and it looked very suitable for free camping as well.

Morning Break at Saddle Creek Rest Area

Morning Break at Saddle Creek Rest Area

 

The scenery in NT is spectacular but has changed from what we had become used to in WA.  For a start, the mountains seemed to be formed differently and the rocks appear to be quite different.  Plus there is what seems to be “normal” grassland which would seem to be suitable for grazing, and we did see some large herds of cattle.  As in WA, there are also signs of huge burning off which usually seems to promote new green growth.  Ant hills (or maybe termite mounds) are everywhere, as are those peculiar looking boab trees.

Spectacular NT Scenery

Spectacular NT Scenery

Grasslands not Rocks

Grasslands not Rocks

Burning Off

Burning Off

 

Our final destination for the day was Timber Creek, which is only a small place but has two servos and two caravan parks, plus a few assorted shops.  As we are close to the Victoria River, the caravan park is green and tropical.  There is even a swimming pool here, although there are also crocodiles around so we don’t think we’ll be going anywhere near the water despite the 30+ degree heat

We have spent the afternoon under the awning with a cool drink and a good book, still wondering what the time is.  It’s tough being a traveller sometimes!

Arriving at Timber Creek

Arriving at Timber Creek

Caravan Parks Backs on to Victoria River

Caravan Parks Backs on to Victoria River

We Won't Go Swimming Here!

We Won’t Go Swimming Here!

 

Tomorrow we will be heading North East towards Katherine, and may, again, be out of phone and internet contact.

Categories: 2013 Big Adventure | Tags: ,

Lake Argyle – Day 3

We were in no real hurry to get started today so after breakfast I had another go at reducing the pink hue of the Ute and Fifth Wheeler, while Ann did some washing (which was dry in a couple of hours).

After lunch in the fiver, we joined the “Kimberley Durack Sunset Explorer Cruise on Lake Argyle”.

WOW !!!!!

Things started off with a very informative DVD on the construction of the Ord River Scheme way back in the 1960s and 1970s.  How visionary those responsible for this project were!  Kimberley Durack first proposed a dam on the Ord River in the 1950s on the Durack family’s Argyle Station.  It took a while to get underway and the experts who were brought in relocated the dam wall a little way from the originally proposed site, but the foresight to build this project was quite incredible.

After the DVD we boarded a bus for a quick drive over the dam wall with further expert commentary from John, the driver and then disembarking from the bus and boarding the “Kimberley Durack” tour boat at Bamboo Cove.

Graham, our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable about the Ord River, the general Lake Argyle area, the irrigation and hydro electric programs and more, plus he showed us a few of his wildlife friends along the way.  He also showed us some photos he had taken during the “double wet” in 2011 when they had twice the usual rainfall and staff were trapped at Lake Argyle Resort for 10 days.  He had some great real life stories to recount which made the tour all that more interesting.

During the cruise we had afternoon tea and later stopped so several hardy explorers could go for a swim in Lake Argyle.  We also enjoyed nibbles and a glass of champagne whilst watching the sunset.  Strangely, there was Telstra mobile phone reception out in the middle of the Lake some 30 km from the Argyle Diamond Mine but very few passengers had bothered to take their phones with them.

Then it was back to Lake Argyle Resort where we enjoyed a “Christmas in July” roast dinner with trifle for desert.  We finished the evening off with an extended chat to some fellow Victorian travellers who are going in the opposite direction to us.  It was great to be able to swap notes as to what lies ahead.

Finally it was back to the fiver for coffee and an early night.

Lake Argyle Tour

Lake Argyle Tour

Wildlife

Wildlife

Lake Argyle Tour

Lake Argyle Tour

Wildlife

Wildlife

Wildlife

Wildlife

Lake Argyle Reflections

Lake Argyle Reflections

Lake Argyle Serenity

Lake Argyle Serenity

Lake Argyle Tour Passengers

Lake Argyle Tour Passengers

Lake Argyle Tour Passenger

Lake Argyle Tour Passenger

Sunset at Lake Argyle

Sunset at Lake Argyle

Sunset at Lake Argyle

Sunset at Lake Argyle

Sunset at Lake Argyle

Sunset at Lake Argyle

Sunset at Lake Argyle

Sunset at Lake Argyle

Sunset at Lake Argyle

Sunset at Lake Argyle

 

Categories: 2013 Big Adventure | Tags:

Lake Argyle – Day 2

Another day in paradise on Saturday!  We made a leisurely start and did not much at all before lunch.

After a delicious lunch in the van, we jumped into the Ute and went for a bit of a drive around paradise.  Lake Argyle is huge and there are a number of lookouts and other opportunities to view the wide expanses of water that just seem to go on forever.  All against a spectacular rocky landscape over a billion years old and a beautiful clear blue sky.

Lake Argyle

Lake Argyle

Lake Argyle

Lake Argyle

Lake Argyle - Dam Wall

Lake Argyle – Dam Wall

Lake Argyle

Lake Argyle

Lake Argyle - Rear of Dam Wall

Lake Argyle – Rear of Dam Wall

 

Later in the afternoon we visited the Argyle Downs Museum.  The original Argyle Downs Homestead was built by Patsy Durack in 1895, and the Durack family played an important role in the development of this area.  The homestead was relocated to it current site in 1971 to avoid being flooded by the waters of Lake Argyle.  Apparently every rock was numbered and transported in 44 gallon drums and then the homestead was painstakingly reassembled to the original plans using the original materials.  Even a number of historically significant headstones were relocated.

While we were at the homestead there was a visit by several members of the Durack family, several of whom now reside interstate and overseas and including Donald Durack who was just a youngster when the site of the original home was flooded.  He gave the volunteer guides a bit of a thrill by identifying events in several photos that were on display – apparently his brother had taken some of the photos and Donald was able to recall where and under what circumstances the photos had been taken.

We later gave Jan, another visitor to the homestead, a lift back to the caravan park and she told us that she had bought several books written by members of the Durack family and had had them signed by Donald and other members of the family.  She was very excited about her day.

Argle Homestead

Argle Homestead

Gravestones in Argyle Homestead Garden

Gravestones in Argyle Homestead Garden

 

On our return to the caravan park we sat outside and enjoyed some live music in the beer garden over a cool drink or two before Ann whipped up another delicious dinner in the fiver.  One great thing about this place is that there don’t seem to be the annoying flies and mozzies that we have found at other places, so sitting outside is generally very pleasant.

Categories: 2013 Big Adventure | Tags:

Kununurra to Lake Argyle

After another glorious warm starry night, on Friday morning we packed up and were ready to hit the road early.

We turned off the Victoria Highway about 35 km from Kununurra for Lake Argyle.  The scenery for the next 40 km or so was spectacular, and being behind a slower vehicle meant that we could get a decent look at our surroundings.

By 10.30 am we were booked in at Lake Argyle Resort and Caravan Park, unhitched and having a cuppa under the awning.

And that’s pretty much all we did all day except go for a walk around the caravan park!  When you’re in paradise, doing nothing much is a great thing to do.

The Lake Argyle Resort is quite large and offers waterfront sites, luxury cabins, eco-tents, plus standard cabins and other powered and un-powered sites.  It has great facilities and serves as the base for many of the cruises and flights around the Lake.  Fishing is a popular pastime and quite a number of caravans and motorhomes in the caravan park have come equipped with boats of all sizes.  The caravan park is actually the site of the work camp built for the construction of the Ord River Dam, and is now being further developed for tourism.

We really do have a fantastic site here but most sites are great and there has been a lot of planning and infrastructure invested in this Resort.  All of this complimented by temperatures in the high 20s, clear deep blue skies, tropical gardens, sensational views and good friendly company. The only down side is that there is no mobile, internet or TV reception.

We have promised ourselves that we will come back here again!

Interesting Facts:

  • Lake Argyle is classed as an inland sea, covering over 1,000 square kilometres, and up to 2,000 square kilometres at flood capacity!
  • Lake Argyle is the largest body of fresh water in Australia and the largest man-made lake in the Southern hemisphere.
  • It was formed by the damming of the Ord River in 1971 and acts as a reservoir for the irrigation scheme in Kununurra.
  • Its hydro-electric plant supplies power for Kununurra, Wyndham and the Argyle Diamond Mine.
  • It is estimated to contain 25,000 crocodiles, 26 species of native fish, and one third of Australia’s bird species.
Turn Off Victoria Highway

Turn Off Victoria Highway

Magnificent Scenery

Magnificent Scenery

Magnificent Scenery

Magnificent Scenery

Magnificent Scenery

Magnificent Scenery

Set Up at Lake Argyle Resort

Set Up at Lake Argyle Resort

Bar & Beer Garden at Lake Argyle Resort

Bar & Beer Garden at Lake Argyle Resort

Infinity Swimming Pool at Lake Argyle Resort

Infinity Swimming Pool at Lake Argyle Resort

 

 

Categories: 2013 Big Adventure | Tags: ,

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