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Ord River Cruise

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Notes:

We booked into the Kimberleyland Holiday Park in Kununurra as we wanted to go on an all day Ord River cruise.  The tour was booked at the Tour Office within the park itself.  On the day of the tour we were ready quite early and took a stroll along the foreshore of the resort taking in the views of the Lilly Creek Lagoon.  A bus picked us and a few other tourists up and took us to the tour boat where we boarded and set off on our cruise.  More passengers were picked up from another park which had river frontage and then we really started our tour.

A quick sprint took us to see the Pumphouse, the Ord River outfall for the irrigation system and the bridge/wall for the secondary dam before we headed upstream.   A detour took us into the Murchison River loop.  A quiet section of river with masses of water lillies and wildlife.   Our stopping point for lunch was a welcoming spot where the boat crew set up a delightful lunch.  Nearby was a small pond where local fish came to see us, eagerly awaiting our leftovers.   Back into the boat we continued on seeing lots of freshwater crocodiles, birdlife and even a colony of fruit bats (Flying Foxes).

The trip is a total of 55 kilometres, the first 40 kilometres has a rise of 3 metres with the last 15 kilometres having a rise of 10 metres, for a total rise of 13 metres.  During low flow seasons this last 15 kilometres may not be navigable due to the shallow depth of the water.

Arriving at the top dam wall we departed from the boat and got aboard our bus for a quick stop on the wall before heading off to the Durack Homestead.  This was relocated to its current location as it was to be submerged by the rising waters of the Ord River Dam.  The homestead was an interesting stop, detailing the history of the Durack family and the times they lived in.

Back on the bus, we headed for home.

Map:

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View from the caravan park - Lily Creek Lagoon View - Lily Creek Lagoon View - Lily Creek Lagoon
Lily Creek Lagoon, Comb-crested Jacana Lily Creek Lagoon, Straw-necked Ibis Grey-crowned Babbler
On our tour boat - the tour starts Dam wall and bridge, Victoria Highway Pumphouse - outfall to irrigation system
River view Dam wall and bridge Heading upstream at high speed
Ord River view Ord River view Pump Station for the first Irrigation scheme
Ord River view Ord River view
Freshwater crocodile - lurking
Comb-crested Jacana Great Egret
Ord River view Little Black Cormorant Great Egret
River view  River view - Lily pads Ord River view - Lily pads
River view - Lily pads River view - Lily pads Landing - Pied Cormorant
River view - Lily pads Ord River view Ord River view 
Ord River view Ord River view Ord River view
Ord River view Ord River view  Going fast down the river
Ord River view Ord River view  Ord River view 
River view - side spray from boat Ord River view Ord River view
River view River view River view
River view The boat Information on the Ord River
Information on the Ord River River view River view
Radjah Shelduck Freshwater crocodile - sunning itself River view
River view River view Freshwater crocodile - sunning itself
High in the tree - a Sea Eagle's nest River view River view
     
River view River view River view
     
Landing - Pied Cormorant with a fish dinner Landing - Pied Cormorant River view
     
River view River view Great Egret
     
River view Boab tree
     
Ord River view Freshwater crocodile Freshwater crocodile
     
Freshwater crocodile Freshwater crocodile Ord River view
     
Freshwater crocodile Freshwater crocodile Freshwater crocodile
     
Ord River view Freshwater crocodile Freshwater crocodile
     
Ord River view Ord River view Docking - lunch awaits
 
Lunch is served Fish pond - eager fish waiting for supper Fish pond - eager Catfish waiting for supper
 
Fish pond - eager Catfish waiting for supper  Fish pond - eager Catfish waiting for supper Fish pond
     
Back on board Ord River view Ord River view
     
Ord River view Ord River view Ord River view
     
Ord River view Ord River view Ord River view - rapid ascent starts
     
Ord River view - Elephant trunk Boab trees Boab trees
     
Ord River view Ord River view - Fruit Bats Fruit Bats
     
Fruit Bats Fruit Bats Fruit Bats
     
Fruit Bats What's that over there? Rock Wallaby
     
Rock Wallaby Rock Wallaby Comb-crested Jacana
   
Comb-crested Jacana Round the bend is the Top Dam wall The earth wall of the Ord River Top Dam
 
Passing another tour boat Pick up point with bus approaching The dam wall
   
Getting off the boat Another tour lands behind us Boat heading to Kununurra for a sunset cruise
     
The Ord River Dam Ord River Dam power station River view
     
Heading out to the Durack Homestead Durack gravestones Durack gravestones
     
Garden view Plaque commemorating the Durack Homestead Great Bower Bird nest
     
Great Bower Bird nest Great Bower Birds Durack Homestead
     
Durack Homestead Durack Homestead Durack Homestead
     
Durack Homestead Durack Homestead Durack Homestead
     
Durack Homestead, looking towards the graves Durack Homestead Heading out - back to Kununurra
     
Back to Kununurra Back to Kununurra Back to Kununurra
     
Crossing the Gascoyne River Crossing the Gascoyne River In the Bus - video on making the dam - I slept!

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