We explored the surrounding area by vehicle, foot and bicycle today. First stop was at the top of the Bastion (330m, from a distance you would swear that it's a manmade fort) at the Five Rivers Lookout. A lovely spot from which you can see the Cambridge Gulf, including the five rivers: Durack, Pentecost, King, Forrest and Ord. There is also a fantastic BBQ area up there.
Second stop was The Grotto, about 36 km from Wyndham. It is a natural amphitheatre and ideal swimming spot. In the wet, a waterfall feeds the crystal clear deep pool at the base of 144 stone steps. There was no waterfall today, but it was still pretty. Lots of fig trees have established themselves in the wall of the grotto giving an ancient look.
After playing mountain goat, it was off to Telegraph Hill Lookout upon which the ruins of the old Coastal Wireless Station (1914-1920) stand. They have done a great job of making a walking path around the ruins with signage at appropriate spots. It looks like it would have been a great spot to live and work, but back then it would have been very isolated. From this lookout we could see the Marlgu Billabong which is located in a wetland of international importance. When we drove down to it there were many twitchers there with all their fancy binos and cameras as as it is home to a large range of native and migratory birds. There is even a shaded bird hide, and some of the lenses on the cameras there were HUGE.
Back to Wyndham where we had lunch and an LLD. Then onto the bikes to visit the Afghan Cemetery (1917-1944) that commemorates the cameleers who delivered freight to East Kimberley stations from the Port, prior to the arrival of motor transport. Most were from India, not Afghanistan as we had assumed and went home when the camel trains were replaced by trucks.
A quick stop at the Warriu Dreamtime Statues - giant bronze figures depicting an Aboriginal family and native animals. We also saw the Wyndham Picture Gardens but it was all closed up. The tourist info says that movies are screened every alternate Saturday night from April to October. It is allegedly the second oldest outdoor picture theatre in Australia.
With the exception of a couple of cemeteries and a few other sites on dirt roads, we have exhausted all there is to do here in Wyndham. It is nice to be in a sleepy little town after the hustle and bustle of Kununurra. Finished off the day with a drive up to the lookout to watch the sunset with an appropriate drink to wash away the dust from today.
WARNING - PICTURE OVERLOAD
Renovators delight at Wyndham
The only two murals at Wyndham
Views from the Bastion / Five Rivers Lookout
Some idiot must have been going too fast and went over the edge
Those fig tree roots
Climbing out of the Grotto
Lots of fruits/nuts on a boab on Telegraph Hill Lookout
Interesting facts about the Magpie Goose
Pretty
Marlgu Billabong
A little bit of Monet
Afgham camels silhouette
Afghan Cemetery
Warriu Dreamtime Statues (sun was in the wrong place for good photos)
Dingo pup looks a tad constipated
Drone shots at Five Rivers Lookout
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