After enjoying one more beautiful Kimberley sunrise on day twenty-one, we packed up camp at Munurru Campground and made our way back to Drysdale Station to top up our fuel and water before continuing on.
We headed to the Gibb River Free Camp to try our luck at a camp spot. As we slowly drove through the campground, we were beginning to think we might have missed out before a friendly fellow traveller waved us down and let us know there was one last campsite available just a little further along.
It was a tight squeeze, but after some careful manoeuvring we managed to settle into what turned out to be a great spot overlooking the river.
The campsite overlooked beautiful white sand, crystal-clear water and peaceful river views.
Before long we were cooling off with a quick swim. The river is believed to be home only to freshwater crocodiles, but we stayed pretty wary and kept to shallow water. No full relaxation and definitely no carefree floating with these sorts of spots.
As the sun disappeared, we lit the fire, enjoyed dinner under the stars and reflected on another day travelling through this incredible part of the country.
On day twenty-two we packed up early once again and headed towards Mount Elizabeth Station, a drive that we really enjoyed.
With fewer vehicles travelling early in the morning, there was far less dust hanging in the air, allowing us to really appreciate the scenery around us. Red dirt roads, crystal-clear river crossings and untouched Kimberley landscapes stretched as far as we could see.
Mount Elizabeth Station sits around 30 kilometres off the Gibb River Road, and what a fantastic place it is.
The station has a welcoming little shop serving good coffee, fresh lamingtons and some of the best pies we've had on the trip so far. It also doubles as a bar and stocks a freezer full of meals, making it a great stop for travellers passing through.
Guests staying at Mount Elizabeth can also explore the Old Homestead and two nearby gorges, Wunnamurra Gorge and Warla Gorge.
Unfortunately, access to Wunnamurra Gorge requires a challenging four-wheel-drive track, and our temporary loss of four-wheel drive following the CV shaft failure meant it was off the cards.
Thankfully, Warla Gorge remained accessible and didn't disappoint. After driving the narrow ten-kilometre access track through rocky country, we arrived at a peaceful little gorge.
We only had a quick dip as we were on a time schedule to get back, shower and eat before the final State of Origin game kicked off.
The Mount Elizabeth Station’s shop also serves as a restaurant, and as we arrived on woodfired pizza on the menu we were licking our lips. The meatlovers and hawaiian pizzas were delicious.
Although benefitting from some poor referring decisions across the series, NSW deserved the win. Unfortunately they were too good in game three.
Day twenty-three also happened to be a special occasion. Happy Birthday to Leigh's mum, Lyn!
Still adjusting to Western Australia's time zone, we found ourselves awake early before packing up camp and grabbing a couple of coffees from the station shop.
From there we travelled through Mount Barnett Roadhouse before arriving at Manning Gorge Campground.
Getting there early paid off once again, as we managed to secure a great campsite beneath a large shady tree, with its own fire pit and just a short walk from the river.
There was another white sandy beach and it immediately gave the place a tropical feel. After setting up camp, we couldn't resist jumping straight into the crystal-clear water, surrounded by towering melaleuca trees.
Later that morning we set off on the five-kilometre return walk to Manning Gorge.
The adventure begins before the hike even starts. To reach the walking track, you first have to cross the river using plastic drums that have been cut in half to float your bags across while you swim beside them. It's a unique and fun experience and definitely one we'll remember.
The walk itself winds through the rugged Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges before climbing across rocky escarpments where we were fortunate enough to spot ancient Aboriginal rock art.
We were fortunate to visit this place and respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners, the Ngarinyin people, and their continuing connection to Country.
Eventually the trail opened up to reveal the magnificent Manning Gorge.
The gorge and its surroundings were amazing. The waterfall poured into the swimming hole below, sandy riverbanks invited people to relax, native plants filled the air and laughter echoed throughout the gorge as fellow travellers enjoyed this remarkable place.
Manning Gorge truly exceeded our expectations.
That evening we returned to camp, grabbed a few nibbles and drinks and settled onto the sandy beach beside the river to watch another Kimberley sunset.
It was the perfect way to end another incredible chapter of our adventure through one of Australia's most spectacular landscapes.
We had a less action-packed day twenty-four. After waking early and going for a walk we smashed three coffees and a cooked breakfast before spending the first part of the day catching up on work.
Then in the afternoon, we went and set up on the bank of the beach for some swimming, reading and chilling.
It was nice to slow down today, and we felt very grateful to live in this amazing country.