Geikie Gorge, Kimberley region WA

Geikie Gorge, on the Fitzroy River within Geikie Gorge National Park (just 18 kms out of Fitzroy Crossing) is amazing. We did a boat trip and got to sit right up the front because we had Amelia with us. The guide knew heaps about the area including flora, fauna and traditional owners the Bunaba. The traditional name for the area is Darngku and the Conservation authorities are working to have the place officially take on it's traditional name. The title Geikie was given in 1883 after Sir Archibald Geikie who was Director General of the Geological Society for Great Britain and Ireland..... but the scientist in question has not even visited Australia- let alone "his" gorge!

 

The small island in the middle is protected due to its cultural importance to the traditional owners- the Bunaba people.

 

The "Face" watches over the mighty Fitzroy River.

The flood waters of the Fitzroy have carved out a 30 metre high gorge out of the ancient limestone reef. The limestone reef was not caused by coral but by ancient algae and lime secreting organisims (not unlike stromatolites) which are since extinct. It was formed during the Devonian period, stretches from near Windjana Gorge through to Fitzroy Crossing and the reef is up to 2 kms thick in parts. During the wet season the water can rise by up to 16.5 metres and evidence of this is found on the limestone walls, where clear water marks have caused "cleaning" of the limestone. The cliffs range from orange/red and black in colour to a pale white closer to the water level. 

The river gums and paperbarks lining the brilliant water are serene and stand in silent witness to the action which must occur every so often when a boat passes. 

Unfortunately a pest plant- the passionfruit plant from South America is killing the native flora. It's a climber that takes over native species and is causing problems with the gums as its highly flammable and whilst the gums can resist fire at thier base, when the passionfruit plant grows high into the trees branches they become more damaged when fire does occur. They are the very green climber in the above photo.

The general public are not allowed in the western end- although the Barramundi are plentiful. The keen fishermen have to go downstream for that- they can grow up to 1.9 metres and be 60-80 kilograms in weight! Freshwater mangroves are amazing, as are the pandanas plants, growing from the limestone cliffs. 

Amelia was fascinated by the red dragonflies and the small freshwater crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks.

The mud (bottle) rock pidgeon nests made high up on the limestone cliffs (and overhangs) were special, the birds make them there so as to avoid the olive pythons- they main predator (which also target the baby crocodiles). Apparently they haven't created new nests this year as they started but then an unexpected downpour (probably that monsoonal type rain we had in Broome) occured and they stopped nest building and haven't started again.