Zebra Rock Mine NT

Today we would travel just 60 kms to the Kimberley Zebra Rock Mine camp area.  Our hosts Ruth and Kim had been granted a lease just three years ago and they have lived there for two.  On 22^nd May this year they opened their rock shop and camp area and it is open 6am to 6pm each day from May to September.  What  a little oasis.  

 Walking towards the shop you cannot help but admire the pieces of Zebra rock on display outside the building.  So unique.  It was originally found in 1924 and named and is only found in the eastern Kimberley area, nowhere else in the world.  Kim had grown up on Argyle Station and has been in the area all his life working on properties etc and had wanted to find where this unique coloured rock could be found. 

Now working the mine full time and selling all around the world, between them they create beautiful platters, jewellery and carvings. 

We set up camp with the dry creek bed behind us and spent the latter afternoon fossicking along the creek bed picking up some interesting pieces of stone.  Our instructions are to simply use wet/dry sandpaper and shape and smooth the stone with gentle rubbing.  Some of the stones I picked up contain Manganese crystals and look like they were sprinkled with sparkle dust.  I have been told not to sand this area as the sparkle will be rubbed away so the idea is to simply shape around and smooth then spray with hairspray so we will see what happens.  Our first stop after setting up camp in Kununurra will be the hardware for some wet/dry sandpaper!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay out in the bush but next morning is pack up again and head for the border and WA.  I am sure I can hear my sister saying ‘at long last’.  The border is only about 10km down the highway so we ate the final apple as we went.  The last of the honey had been left at Zebra Rock Mine so we only have the hessian bags in the front of Destiny that we are not sure of. 

The very thorough inspection lass sought her boss’s advice on the bags and unfortunately for us they had to go.  Seems they could have been onion bags in a previous life and were not welcome in WA.  Also the foam box I was carrying fleece in also had to be sacrificed.  Fortunately the fleece could stay but I am sure that if it had contained much vegetable matter it would have to have been surrended also.  Something to remember for next time.