The Kimberley National Parks WA
Geikie
Gorge
National
Park
The
Geikie
Gorge
National
Park,
situated
16km
from
Fitzroy
Crossing,
covers
an
area
of
3,136ha.
This
exquisite
gorge
has
been
formed
by
the
Fitzroy
River,
which
over
the
years
has
sliced
through
an
ancient
limestone
barrier
reef
it
is
14km
long
and
approximately
30m
high.
Flood
action
reaching
a
height
of
16m
above
the
normal
level
has
left
the
cliffs
white
and
fossil
deposits
are
visible.
Geikie
Gorge
contains
permanent
fresh
water
throughout
its
length
and
supports
sawfish,
stingrays,
freshwater
crocodiles
and
many
other
varieties
of
fish,
bird
life
and
animals.
A
Cruise
up
the
Gorge
with
one
of
the
Park
Rangers
will
offer
an
insight
into
the
park's features
as
well
as
a
relaxing
view
of
nature
at
work.
The
park
normally
opens
in
early
to
mid
April
after
the
mighty
Fitzroy
River
has
subsided.
Daily
boat
tours
of
the
Gorge
leave
at
9.00am
and
3.00pm
sharp.
(April
October).
Private
watercraft
are
not
allowed
in
the
Gorge
immediately
prior
to
these
tours.
Half
day
Aboriginal
tours
conducted
by
Darngku
Heritage
Tours
include
a
gorge
cruise.
Windjana
Gorge
National
Park
The
Windjana
Gorge
National
Park,
covering
an
area
of
2,134ha,
consists
of
a
3.5km
long
gorge
formed
by
the
Lennard
River,
which
snakes
its
way
through
an
ancient
limestone
reef,
approximately
350
million
years
old.
The
river
only
flows
for
short
periods
in
the
Green
Season
and
isolated
pools
support
an
abundance
of
animals
including
birds
and
fish.
Freshwater
crocodiles
can
often
be
seen
sunning
themselves
in
the
afternoon.
With
its
sheer
cliffs,
water
and
natural
vegetation,
Windjana
Gorge
offers
a
number
of
interesting
walks,
and
the
opportunity
to
closely
examine
the
barrier
reef
which
was
formed
under
the
ocean
in
the
Devonian
geological
period.
Trailside
signs
interpret
features
in
the
gorge and
on
the
savannah
grassland
outside.
Access
to
the
Park
is
via
a
good
dry
weather
gravel
and
dirt
road.
In
the
Green
Season,
check
with
the
Shire
of
Derby
West
Kimberley
or
the
Derby
Tourist
Bureau
for
road
weather
conditions.
From
April
to
October, Rangers
are
based
at
Windjana
Gorge.
The
camping
facilities
provided
include
toilets,
showers
and
rubbish
bins.
There
are
separate
areas
for
camping,
caravans
and
coach
tours.
Power
is
not
available
but
wood
can
be
purchased
from
the
ranger
to
whom
a
camping
fee
of $5
must
be
paid.
Light
aircraft
access
available.
Tunnel
Creek
National
Park
Situated
184km
east
of
Derby,
the
Tunnel
Creek
National
Park
extends
over
a
91ha
area.
Although
small
compared
to
other
Kimberley
parks,
it
offers
the
unique
opportunity
to
explore
a
creek
as
it
tunnels
through
the
Napier
Range,
south
of
Windjana
Gorge.
The
tunnel
is
750m
long
and
contains
permanent
pools
of
fresh
water.
For
those
carrying
a
torch,
the
walk
through
to
the
other
entrance
is
fascinating
and
includes
a
short
wade
through
cold
water.
The
walk
is
broken
into
two
parts
by
a
roof collapse
from
the
top
of
the
range
about
half
way,
offering
extra
light
and
fresh
air.
Near
the
North
entrance
to
the
tunnel
cave
paintings
can
be
seen
and
at
the
other,
the
black
dolorite
and
basalt
rocks
used
by
the
natives
for
making stone
axes.
Tunnel
Creek
is
classed
as
a
"day
visit"
only
park
and
visitors
are
requested
not
to
camp.
Pigeons
Cave
at
Tunnel
Creek
was
the
hideout
of
an
Aboriginal
outlaw
who
was
active
in
the
region
between
1894
an
1897.
Pigeon
Heritage
Trail
features
sites
of
significance
in
the
life
of
the
Aboriginal
outlaw
Jandamaura
better
known
as
"Pigeon".
Wolfe
Creek
Meteorite
Crater
National
Park
130km
south
of
Halls
Creek
on
the
Tanami
Road,
is
Wollfe
Creek
Meteorite
Crater
National
Park,
covering
an
area
of
1
460
ha.
Formed
by
a
giant
meteorite.
which
crashed
to
earth
thousands
of
years
ago,
the
crater
measures
800m
wide
and
25m
deep. The
second
largest
meteorite
crater
in
the
world
access
can
be
gained
by
an
unsealed
road
off
Highway
1.
The
road
is
generally
passable
from
May
to
November
but
a
check
with
the
Halls
Creek
Shire
Office
for
a
road
condition
report
is
recommended throughout
the
year.
This
3000
square
km
National
Park
is
hailed
as
one
of
Australia
s
greatest
natural
wonders.
The
ecology
of
the
park
is
very
delicately
balanced
and
the
striped
beehive
like
rock
formations
are
extremely
fragile.
They
have
thin
outerskins
of
black
lichen
and
orange
silica
which,
if
broken,
will
expose
the
soft
sandstone
beneath
to
the
torrential
rains
of
the
green
season
resulting
in
erosion.
Vegetation
in
the
area
contrasts
from
unique
Bungle
Bungle
Fan
Palm,
to
tough
eucalypts
and
spinifex
in
the
plains.
and
open
areas.
At
the
southern
end
of
the
park
is
Piccaninny
Creek
where
the
spectacular
formations
and
side
gorges
are
awe-inspiring.
Vehicle
access
is
extremely
difficult
and
limited
to
4WD
with
good
clearance.
No
caravans
or
trailers
allowed.
Visitors
are
requested
to
stay
on
authorized
tracks.
New
tracks
can
cause
huge
erosion
gullies
in
the
Green
Season,
destroying
large
tracts
of
land
and
preventing
access.
Due
to
seasonality
and
the
fragility
of
internal
roads,
this
national
park
is
closed
during
January, February
and
March.
The
period
may
be
extended
dependent
on
weather
conditions.
There
are
three
camping
areas
inside
the
park,
Kurrajong,
Walardi
and
Bellburn.
All
have
drinking
water,
and
toilets
and
Bellburn
is
specifically
used
by
tour
operators.
Visitors
are
asked
to
be
self
sufficient
and
refrain
from
lighting
camp
fires
and
take
all
rubbish
with
them.
Mirima
National
Park
This
National
Park
covers
an
area
of
1817ha
and
is
adjacent
to
the
Kununurra
township.
Often
described
as
a
mini
Bungle
Bungle,
it
is
a
rugged
area
of
sandstone
hills
and
valleys
approximately
300
million
years
old.
Mirima
National
Park
is
of
great
significance
to
the
Aboriginal
people
in
the
area
and
examples
of
ancient
Aboriginal
rock
art
can
be
found
there.
There
are
several
pleasant
walks
marked
along
the
valley
and
ridges,
which
offer
spectacular
views
of
both
the
Park
and
Kununurra.
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