The Kimberly

Just wondering if anyone has any experience in the Kimberly? Any potential for good missions? What time of year? Where to go? Any ideas?
cheers

Crocodiles scare me. It’s a strong factor to think about.

yeah i don’t like them either but i think the big fuckers can be avoided if you stay far enough away from the sea. The drysdale looks like it has potential to me but i am yet to get my hands on a decent map. I imagine there would be many good options as this is clearly Australia’s other great wilderness, its just a matter of sussing out a feasible and safe route which is difficult when you have no knowledge of the landscape, river levels or weather patterns?

Yeah - in review my reply was rather glib ! It is a massive area and wilderness. I think this will be the hard thing (and the good thing) about getting info for there. I know a few folks who have done extended walk in Arnhem, but not in the Kimberly. I imagine that there’d be a few folks in WA who have the info but it’d be a small group.

I guess cyclone season is the time to avoid, for flood, storm and access reasons - the southern winter time would be best - maybe on the late cusp of the wet so there is still water draining off the landscape ?

duke, I asked on another forum for you http://forums.ski.com.au/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=599071&page=0#Post599071

some info.

Latest ‘Wild’ has an article which may be a starter…

Check Willis Walkabouts online – really good infor about top end stuff – not packrafting but other trips. He uses a lilo on his guided trips. He says top end trips are best in the wet.

Peggy and I are headed to Darwin and Eastern Kimberley next…March 1 to be exact.

Excellent Roman, I expect some blog updates ! Hope your antipodean travels are treating you well. Sorry about the weather !

Here’s the Willis’ Walkabouts Home page with stuff about Kakadu, Kimberley and Red Center:

http://www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au/index.htm?page=html/finke08gal.htm

and here’s what he has to say about the Wet up there:

http://www.bushwalkingholidays.com.au/index.htm?page=html/finke08gal.htm

We are going to Kakadu and maybe Bungle-Bungles w/packraft. I wrote him and tried to describe the concept of packrafting but he didn’t get it – or should I say, I couldn’t describe it well enough. Usually, people get it when they get in the boat, but rarely before, unless they have a creative mind or know of high-profile trips that have used them.

Eastern Kimberly trip: Down the Ord River and hiking into the Bungle Bungles in march.

Very Hot: 45 C.

Awesome Roman. I get embarrassed that you are leading the field over here ! I take it just freshwater crocs that far up (aside from your shoes ?)

Love to see any more pics and footage.

Roman,

In your video you are using a 4-piece Werner fiberglass paddle. What model is it? Did you have to get it custom made for the length you use?

Hi Richard,

yes it’s a stock 4 piece 215 cm paddle from Werner, a touring paddle called the Shuna:

http://www.wernerpaddles.com/paddles/touring/premium/shuna/

Croca Dial Dunde. Wicked!