The taxi ride of a lifetime
GOING BUSH ON THE GIBB
Kiwi adventurers Reg and Jim are about to embark on one of Australia’s most amazing off-road safaris, ‘The Gibb’. And when I say safari, there will be no baboons on heads here Jim (see his passenger profile for the full story). This is station country. Land of the Aussie bush hat.
Driving 660 dusty kilometres along this old cattle droving trail, we’ll be giving Reg and Jim a real taste of what it takes to muster cattle and catch a barra. They’ll also get the chance to unwind a little too – exploring incredible gorges, relaxing in thermal springs and sharing stories around the camp fire.
Their adventure actually starts in the air, with a flight via the mighty Mitchell Falls to El Questro Wilderness Park – home to 5,000 head of cattle and our base for the first two days.
Fortunately for Reg and Jim, they won’t be put to work on the station. Instead, there’ll only need to muster the energy to climb aboard the cruise to Chamberlain Gorge and take a short walk through a tropical oasis for a soak in Zebedee Springs.
It’s all very sedate, that is until we reach Home Valley Station. The ‘all action’ cattle station offers the chance to kick up some dust in a real mini cattle muster, or reel in the elusive barramundi at one of the region’s top fishing spots. And when the dust settles, what better way to relax than with a cool beer as we watch the sunset turn the Cockburn Ranges from brilliant red to deep purple.
Day six brings another change of pace and scenery as we head to Imintji Wilderness Camp for a night under the stars and a day exploring the wonder of Windjana Gorge and Western Australia’s oldest cave system, Tunnel Creek.
Reg will be glad he didn’t bring his wife here. Although, it could be said the best cure for her reptile phobia would be wading through the waters of Tunnel Creek, home to olive pythons and fresh water crocodiles, not to mention bats!
But she’ll surely be wishing she was here when we reach our final destination, the phenomenal Horizontal Falls. It’s the only place in the world where water falls horizontally and we’ll be riding it in style by jet boat. A great way to end ‘The Gibb’!
This leg of the journey starts 01 June and will visit key destinations including Kununurra, El Questro Wilderness Park, Tunnel Creek National Park, Derby and Broome.
Kiwis mates, Reg Clothier and Jim McIntosh, have won the ride of a lifetime. Normally the boys travel with their wives but this time they’re striking out on a boys’ adventure across the outback.
Follow the winners journey here
