Testimonial for Adventure Wild
Llewenna Hilton-Butt
Year of Tour: 2023
Kimberley Trip with ‘Adventure Wild’
22 June- 3 July 2022
Up bright and early
Lugged bags to the bus
Picked up all the passengers
Without any fuss.
Off up the road
Willare for morning tea
Optional confirmed
And time for a pee.
Next stop was a prison
A giant boab tree
Thirteen metres around
Real history to see.
At Tunnel Creek we wandered
Without a mishap
Tried to fit a size 20 bum
Through a size 10 gap.
We paddled and clambered
Used head torches to view
Lots of helping hands
Rocks green and pink hues.
Driving through the country
Boabs did abound
Big, medium and small
Trunks fat, smooth and round.
Along from the campsite
Windjana’s great rocks
Gave a great vista
With several freshwater crocs.
Mossy and Jenny
Had the camp sorted out
Swag demo was given
And tents all about.
A sit round the campfire
Info was shared
Dinner was ready
Margaret nearly spared.
Non-return from the shower
Margaret caused some concern
A search party set out
To ensure her return.
Our first camp pack up
Went quite well
Without Mosssy’s instructions
It could have been hell.
The Kimberley massage
Was in to gear
We shuddered and shook
From our toes to our ears.
Lunch at Bell’s Gorge
A picturesque spot
Some lounged in the water
As the day was quite hot.
Cars, trucks and motor-bikes
We ate their dust
Those corrugations certainly
Worked out the bust.
Billabong reflections
Met us at Mt Barnett
The showers were cold
But at least they were wet.
Across the billabong
In freezing water
Some “ummed” and “aahhed”
Should they really ought’a.
Manning Gorge was reached
By climbing and scrambling
The swim worthwhile
Even after ambling.
Some went to the river
Melaleucas so calm
A wander through the shallows
A marvellous balm.
Animal tracks in the dust
And black cockatoos
Flocks of galahs
And cattle without moos.
Ellenbrae Station
An oasis in the dust
Big scones and cream
Mango frappe a must.
The vegetation changed
Boabs became sparse
Gibb River corrugations
Were still shaking our… (arms).
Cockburn Ranges
Got all the cameras clicking
Pentecost River
Gave the tyres a licking.
First in the line
For Zebedee Springs
The warm water a soak
A tonic for things.
Ell Questro Gorge
Was our next challenge
Rock faces, wasp nest
Nearly everyone managed.
A Chamberlain Gorge cruise
And champagne wish
No crocs, instead spat on
By little Archer Fish.
A sleep in at El Questro
A welcome relief
It seems the corellas
Didn’t get the brief.
Off to Emma Gorge
And more rocks to traverse
A small croc under the ledge
Just wouldn’t reverse.
Pigeon Hole Lookout
With magnificent sunset
Drinks, nibbles and chatter
With new friends we met.
Some travelled to Wyndam
And saw five rivers meet
A magnificent confluence
Near the ocean did greet.
Others to the airstrip
To board a small plane
Flew to Mitchell Plateau
Without any strain.
Four wheel drive to the heliport
Hovered to the falls
Spectacular views
Of the cascades for all.
Waded the river
Over more rocks and tracks
Lunch at Little Merton
Then donned the backpacks.
The flight to Kununurra
On the memory left a mark
Arrived at the campsite
Well after dark.
Kelly’s Hill Lookout
Sandalwood and Zebra rocks
Galleries and souvenirs
Some bought shiny pink rocks.
Bungle Bungle campsite
Had a loo with a view
Look up at the stars
There are a million or two.
The Bungle beehives
Spectacular to see
Stripes and colours amazing
Nature’s own beauty.
The cathedral was massive
Echidna Chasm charming
The road was so bumpy
It was quite alarming.
A quartz China wall
Halls Creek morning tea
Fitzroy Crossing for petrol
Then a billabong spree.
A private campsite
The toilet not far
We turned off the lights
And gazed at the stars.
We did our last pack up
Geikie Gorge beckoned
The road was much longer
Than anyone reckoned.
The trip, not just travel
Characters play a part
Some notes they were taken Right from the start.
Alison was quiet
And took everything in
She loves this great world
That we all live in.
Annette another quiet one
Always pitched in
Enjoyed a good laugh
When she got a word in.
Quick to the wiping up
Ben didn’t miss out
The few stumbles he had
Didn’t cause him to shout.
Carly, like Houdini
Disappeared quite a lot
Follow the smoke signals
Or sometimes her cough.
When on tricky rocks
Darryl is the man
Always there willing
To lend you a hand.
Inge had travelled
Half way round the world
To do this great trip
That started with pearls.
Jenny’s catering skills
Were second to none
After a long day driving
Even she had a sore bum.
We could all hear Leone
She said how it was
Always willing to help
No matter the cause.
A bush poet at heart
And a few little ditties
Lex was quick to help out
And always quite witty.
Linda had big strides
Over rocks and the streams
When a rockadile bit her
She didn’t even scream.
Marg had been here before
At a much lower cost
At the campsite the first night
She did become lost.
Meg confirmed details
And liked to sleep in
Was waiting for a big night
With flash shoes to dance in.
Megan loved nature
Loved all the birds
She also loves singing
As we often heard.
Mossy climbed the truck
Rolled around with the swags
Came out with one liners
Oh, what a dag.
Narelle shakes her head
When Lex has a say
53 years together
Love makes her stay.
Sue liked to paddle
But not a keen swimmer
Did plenty of walking
A great appetite at dinner.
Zona’s a dynamo
And swims like a fish
Lots of waterholes to splash in
Delivered her wish.
A recommendation
For the next group
Bring a good sports bra
To avoid corrugation droop.
A sound we will remember
Is the early morning zip
Or when someone next door
Really lets one rip.
Another little ritual
The cigarette sized swag
Best on the last morning
Without sleeping bag.
Twelve days now over
Full of Kimberley culture
We were totally immersed
In history and nature.
I had a great trip
And hope you did too
Just one thing to say
To all, a big thank you.
Happy and safe travels.
Llewenna