Lake Argyle and Kununurra

The road out to the Lake takes you across the 'spillway' where the released water from the lake flows very fast as it heads towards Kununurra

During the wet season the water level was just below the roadway!!

downstream from the bridge

 Wow!!!!   There is no other word.  What a magnificent waterway.   This lake is the largest freshwater storage in Australia.  The capacity is 54 times Sydney Harbour and it usually holds about 16 times the harbour.  We drove to the various lookouts and then across the dam wall to the park down near the control station for the release of water from the lake into the river. 

downstream from the wall

the swimming pool at the caravan park

The water is still being released after the last wet season (was huge) as they need to lower the level before the coming wet season.  The water runs along the Ord river and through the gorge before going to the Kununurra Diversion Dam which releases water for the irrigation channels found around the town and out into the northern agricultural areas.  The plan is to greatly extend this area and there will certainly be water available.   The views over the dam were spectacular even though the mountains were shrouded in smoke that had carried from bushfires hundreds of miles away.

The original Argyle Downs homestead is now beneath the lake however a museum featuring much of the history of this iconic property is now situated on the way to the resort where we stayed.  The caravan park (resort) is only 70km out of Kununurra and with grassed roomy sites we certainly enjoyed our stay there.  We even had the chance to give the vehicles a wash and hose away the dust that accumulated during our drive out to Zebra Rock Mine, after all there was no shortage of water.

Having left Katherine on Sunday morning it was finally Thursday morning when we arrived in Kununurra (just over 500kms).  Only the first day did we do more than 100kms so the trip has been at a very relaxed pace.  Only way to go. 

Kununurra

Kununurra has a population of around 3,500 and is very green.  Lots of trees around the streets and certainly plenty of sprinklers going keeping lawns green.  We found the Tourist Information office and armed with lots of brochures set off to explore.  We drove out to Ivanhoe Crossing and well the photo tells the story of why the road is closed. 

The water comes from the Diversion Dam and will be running till after the next wet season so the road stays closed for quite some time.  We were surprised to see the young folk fishing there as we had been told that a family with their dog were walking on the causeway and the dog was taken by a crocodile!  Yes we paddled our feet right at the edge but not even up to our ankles.  There are some risks we are not willing to take.  The day finished off with sitting at the lake edge and watching the sunset. 

 Peaceful and serene were words that came to mind immediately however, what was that we saw lurking in the water?  Yes a crocodile was eyeing off some water birds , all that was showing were his eyes and nose.  We sat and watched him for ages whilst he moved around a little closer to the birds and then he just disappeared.  Where did he go, did he have water fowl for dinner?  Unfortunately it finally became dark (early here in the Kimberley) so we will never know what the outcome was but how great to have that experience.