The rugged Kimberley Region of Western Australia has limited access.   There are few roads, and most of them require 4 wheel drive vehicles.   During the rainy season, or The Wet, they are often impassable.   Broome is situated at the southern most tip of the magnificent Kimberley Region.   We decided to try putting a map here, so you know exactly where we are now.

Orange line below Broome and Fitzroy Crossing

In the northwest area of Australia, just above the orange line, is Broome on the Indian Ocean, and Fitzroy Crossing, today’s destination.   Wanting to see some of the Kimberley, we took a multi-day Kimberley Gorges Escape tour with Kimberley Wild.   We left from Broome, on the Indian Ocean.

Our Kimberley Wild tour vehicle

Along the road, we saw thousands of termite hills.

So many termite hills seen while driving

Termite hills have been very abundant since we drove into the northern half of Australia.   Our first tour destination was Fitzroy Crossing.   Here we are approaching the Fitzroy River and the bridge across the river.

Approaching Fitzroy River

This bridge was built in 1935 and improved in 1958.   Since it is covered with water and closed during the monsoon season, another higher bridge was built nearby.     This area of the Kimberley was, and still is, home to many of Australia’s aboriginal people.    The town of Fitzroy Crossing began in 1886 when Mr. McDonald started the Fossil Downs cattle station.   The cattle station was the result of a 3 year, 3,500 mile cattle drive from Goulburn, New South Wales.   The Fitzroy River is wide, but shallow now.

Fitzroy River is now wide and shallow

As we see here, much of the river bed is dry.

Much of Fitzroy River bed is dry

The climate here varies from semi arid in the winter (May through October) and monsoonal (December through March).   Leaving Fitzroy Crossing and the Fitzroy River,

Driving across bridge built in 1935

we find our sleeping accommodations for the night.   We will stay at Fitzroy River Lodge.  Here we had our choice of a motel room, a safari lodge, caravan bay, or a campsite.   Before leaving Broome, we reserved a Safari tent.   Ours is Number 12.

Sitting on the patio of our Safari Tent

In our safari tent we even have our own bathroom

Even a bathroom in our safari tent

We have our own shower in here also.   This is the camping area.

Camping area at Fitzroy River Lodge

We believe this is a Coolibah tree with the noticeable white branches.

Coolibah tree with white branches

We visit a gorge, which we will tell you about (and, of course, show you) next time.   Returning here, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner of grilled steak and grilled kangaroo, with various side dishes   This is the building where we ate our meals.

Our dining building

Chrissy, our guide prepared very tasty food for us.   Then we admired yet another beautiful Australian sunset.

Setting sun through clouds

We hope you take tours into the Kimberley when you are in this part of Australia.   It is beautiful here.