Anyway, we headed out after a night in Derby. The thing to do there being to go down to the wharf at sunset...
..and what a surprise that there were unique sawfish in the river mouth.
At the start of the Gibb River Road we were met by the usual array of signs...
...and some pretty spectacular boab trees.
Again, the road was sealed initially, but this soon have way to gravel, although at this early part of the season it was in pretty good shape, and it didn't take long for the scenery to develop. These are the King Leopold ranges approaching...
..with the very recognisable Queen Victoria's head at Ingles Gap.
Our first port of call was Mt Hart Station, in the King Leopold Ranges Conservation Area. This is a one million acre ex cattle property.
The lodge was where the original homestead was, in the King Leopold ranges, 50 km north of the Gibb River Road on a single lane farm track with at least 20 creek crossings.
It took 1 1/2 hours to do the 50 km. The facilities were pretty traditional, not super flash, this is the reception and dining area, but they did have a nice al fresco bar to quench your thirst in.
The campsite was quite large, alongside the Barker River...
...with lots of bird life, like these crimson finches..
..and great bowerbirds..
..plus the odd hard to see freshie, and plenty of sand goannas.
The main attractions were the swimming holes and gorges. This is the one further downstream on the Barker River, aptly named Barker Pool...
..and this the longer Mt Mathew gorge with its string of pools.
This was our favourite spot there.
There were lots of red and blue dragonflies.
There was also a sunset hill to drive to, a fitting end to this stay
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