A TASTE OF THE GIBB RIVER ROAD PART 3

Home Valley Station

We were a little sad to be leaving El Questro, it had been a great camp and we had really enjoyed the scenery and the silence, but new adventures were at hand and so we rejoined the Gibb River road, turned left and set off for Home Valley Station, not very far down the road.

There is now a surprising amount of traffic on the Gibb, far more than I had been told to expect and too many of them are travelling way too fast.  The section of road from the El Questro turnoff is very loose and rocky – and corrugated in parts as well. 

Many people, mainly young blokes in oldish 4wds travelling at 90 and 100 kph in the opposite direction are a major hazard, especially when they don’t slow at all or keep to the left when passing, throwing up rocks in all directions.

I was hit by a large stone, about the size of a sardine tin, it clipped the windscreen low down and then I believe, slid up the screen and bounced off the snorkel – had it hit the screen full on it would have come straight through. It wasn’t until later that I discovered it had cracked the screen – idiots, there’s no need for that !

While travelling along we caught sight of a dingo just about to amble across the road. I stopped and grabbed the camera, quietly getting out and slowly walking around the back of the car and trailer. The dingo had stopped and was looking at the car, when I appeared with the camera he stayed quite still in the grass, unafraid, just surveying the scene and looking quite inquisitive. Unfortunately I was not able to focus because of the grass and scrub and he turned and walked and then ran away.

I followed through the scrub trying to get a shot but the dingo was too quick and was gone. This was the third close encounter with a dingo this trip, the last two being in Kakadu and once again I was unable to get a clear photo. Clearly, there is no shortage of dingoes on the Gibb.

One good thing that I have learnt recently is that dingoes catch and kill feral cats, good to hear, although it remains troubling that we have seen cats in the middle of nowhere, apparently miles from civilisation – they are a worry.

And then we came to the Pentecost River crossing, a place I had wanted to visit for many years now. The crossing is tidal, being not that far from where the river meets the west arm of Cambridge Gulf and becomes one of the rivers to be seen doing so from the Five Rivers lookout on The Bastion at Wyndham.

The five rivers to be seen from The Bastion are the Pentecost, The King, The Durack, The Forest and the Ord.

The Pentecost was fairly shallow when we crossed.

Pentecost River Crossing, Cockburn Range in the background

Just past the turnoff to Home Valley Station is a spot we had been told looks back on the Cockburn Range and was a great photo opportunity. It is said to be an Aboriginal meeting place and a place where the boundary of two Aboriginal groups exists. There is a sign welcoming visitors to their country.

Aboriginal meeting place, more Cockburn Range

When we arrived there we met a German couple who were also admiring the view. We noticed (before them) that they had an almost flat tyre in their little hired camper.

The bloke seemed a little unsure of where to start - I should have kept driving - It was more than 30 degrees and very dusty - but in the interests of international relations I, with the help of his wife and some advice and assistance from him, got the job done.

Doing my bit for international relations backside up in the dirt !!

Home Valley Station is quite a fancy operation these days, certainly far better than I had read about and expected. Their caravan / camping area is nicely grassed and there is a first class swimming pool and a fancy restaurant and bar.

Of course fancy also equals relatively expensive, especially the restaurant. We also ate there a couple of times and the service and the quality of food is very good.

We spurned the luxury of the caravan park area and decided to camp on the banks of the Pentecost River about 7 or so Km from the main area.

Our campsite on the banks of the Pentecost River

The camping area has spectacular view of the Cockburn range. I just love the Cockburn range and can’t get enough of the general area. You will probably note that point from the number of photographs of the range.

There were quite a few crocodiles in the general area, but we understand that none had been known in the camping ground. During the day we could see the odd crocodile across the river, so caution is recommended when strolling along the river.

Afternoon light on part of the Cockburn Range, looking from the campsite

Camping is not permitted right on the river (wise) but was allowed in an area on the other side of a track along the river. We felt quite safe as did those in the ten or fifteen other sites.

The amenities were excellent, with plenty of septic toilets and plentiful really good showers with plenty of solar hot water.

Is that a log on the other side of the river?

A very bitey log !!

Home Valley Station is a large beef producer and also has quite a few longhorn cattle as well, for a reason I was not able to discover. They do look good though, maybe a little menacing!

An impressive amount of beef !

There is a boat launching ramp near the camp and while we were there, two other campers Lana and Pete, launched their boat and went after a barramundi.

They had not been fishing long when Lana hooked one. It was an impressive display as the large barra jumped out of the water a number of times before she was able to bring it to the side of the boat and Pete expertly slid it into the landing net.

The barra was over the legal size (I believe that 90 cm is the limit) and therefore had to be put back, but not until after Lana posed for a couple of photos with the fish.

Hooked Up !

I just missed the fish jumping !

Safely in the net

This picture is going straight to the pool room !!!

To his absolute credit, Pete “swam” the fish for quite some time to help it recover before releasing it. To do this he leaned over the side and moved the fish through the water by hand. 

Bearing in mind the presence of crocs and remembering that crocs love barra, this was an impressive action.  

One more pic of the Cockburn range

NEXT BLOG

More Home Valley Station

Regards