Broome & the Kimberley - Perth and West Coast Australia - page 478

WWOOFers are welcome and it's also the Kimberley School of Horsemanship , with lessons, rid-
ing camps and trail rides (two-hour sunset rides $99).
At the 40km mark, a rough track heads left 12km to several bush camp sites on the May
River . Windjana Gorge turn-off arrives at the 119km mark - your last chance to head back
to the highway. The scenery improves after crossing the Lennard River into Napier
Downs Station as the ancient King Leopold ranges loom straight ahead. Just after Inglis Gap
is the turn-off (a rough 50km) to the remote Mt Hart Wilderness Lodge ( 08-9191 4645; sites per
person $18, r per person incl dinner & breakfast $200; dry season) with grassy camp sites, pleasant
gorges, swimming and fishing holes. Seven kilometres past the Mt Hart turn-off brings the
narrow Lennard River Gorge (3km return walk).
March Fly Glen , at the 204km mark, despite its name, is a pleasant, shady picnic area
ringed by pandanus. Don't miss stunning Bell Gorge , 29km down a rough track, with a pic-
turesque waterfall and popular plunge pool; you can camp at Silent Grove (adult/child $11/2) .
Refuel (diesel only) and grab an ice cream at Imintji Store ( 08-9191 7471; 7am-4.30pm dry
season, shorter hours wet season) , your last chance for supplies. Next door is Over the Range Repairs (
08-9191 7887; 8am-5pm dry season) , where Neville is your best, if not only, hope of mech-
anical salvation on the whole Gibb.
Part of the Australian Wildlife Conser-vancy, the superb Mornington Wilderness Camp (
08-9191 7406; www.awc.org.au ; entry fee per vehicle $25, sites adult/child $17.50/8, safari tents incl full board s/d
$315/540; dry season) is as remote as it gets, lying on the Fitzroy River, a very rough, in-
credibly scenic 95km drive south of the Gibb's 247km mark. Nearly 400,000 hectares are
devoted to conserving the Kimberley's endangered fauna and there's excellent canoeing,
birdwatching and bushwalking. Choose from shady camp sites or spacious, raised tents
with verandahs. The bar and restaurant offer picnic hampers and the best cheese platter
this side of Margaret River.
Just 4km past Mornington's turn-off is the entrance to historic Charnley River Station (
08-9191 4646; www.charnleyriverstation.com ; camp sites d $35, rondavels & guesthouse incl full board s/d $230/310,
day visit $20) and its alluring gorges. Grassy camp sites come with hot showers, or you can
opt for full board up at the homestead. Meals and home-grown vegies are available.
Beautiful Galvans Gorge , with waterfall, swimming hole, rock wallabies and Wandjina
art, is the most accessible of all gorges, less than 1km from the road. Fuel up at Mt Barnett
Roadhouse ( 08-9191 7007; 8am-5pm) , at the 300km point, and get your camping permit if
choosing to stay at Manning River Gorge (per person $20) , 7km behind the roadhouse. The camp-
ground is often full of travellers waiting for fuel but at least there's a good swimming hole