Day 35: A Day of Rest at Violet Valley Campground

After yesterdays adventure, today has been declared a day of rest. Our initial plan was to go back to Purnululu National Park and see Echidna Chasm and Mini Palms Gorge as our first day focus was always to see the domes and Cathedral Gorge.

There is absolutely no interest in going back over that road. Our neighbours who did manage to get to Echidna Chasm, said it was overcrowded and disappointing, as it only comes to life when the sun is directly overhead. 

Tomorrow we have around 430 km to cover to get to Fitzroy Crossing, so a rest is welcome.

Violet Valley is very isolated and peaceful. There seems to be plenty of wildlife, so a bit of a look around should keep us occupied.



We are not far from the entrance


The Bow river looking very calm


The crocs prefer to bask in the sun as the water is getting colder

There is lots of birdlife around, so I thought I would give the zoom lens a bit of a test.


This shag has obviously been fishing


A couple herons along the waterside



Not sure what this one is

After lunch a few vans started to arrive, mainly young families. The kids were keen to go for a swim and I noticed they were heading for the river near the causeway. I walked over and asked them if they realised there were crocodiles in the river, fortunately their parents were with them. I pointed just up the river and asked them if they could see this.



Swimming was quickly off the agenda.

The park is run by an Aboriginal Company, and seeing the maintenance crew arrive is like a scene out of Mad Max, obviously very suitable vehicles for a cattle property.


It has been a pretty lazy day and we have packed up all of our external gear this afternoon planning to get away early tomorrow for a long drive to Fitzroy Crossing.



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