Day 82 Thursday 13th September Bell Gorge – Winjana Gorge

Packed up early and drove the 10kms down to the gorge car park where we left  our van. The  1.5km walk in took approx. 1 hr. We took our lunch and spent a couple of hours swimming in the lovely waterhole at the bottom of the cascading waterfall. After challenging themselves at the couple of rock jumps  at Manning Gorge the previous day the girls were keen to build on this here, so we took on a couple of jumps, much to Leanne’s disgust as she again was pressured into jumping by the  girls and Jason!!!! We saw our first snake  of our trip in the rocks near the waterhole, a small gold coloured snake which one of the other tour guides identified as a Western Brown. Once back at the car we drove onto Windjana Gorge where we set up in the heat. Our plan for dinner tonight was spaghetti jaffles on the camp fire (this is all we had left in the way of food!) but unfortunately it was a total fire ban!!

Arriving at Silent Grove, which is a camping spot 10km from Bell Gorge.

 We met Mandy and Ben in Home Valley Station when we were about to leave, we again met them at Mitchell Falls, Haan River, Manning Gorge, Silent Grove. None of which was organised!

 

 Bell river, this view is from the top of Bell Gorge Falls

Bell Gorge Falls from the top

 Bell Gorge just another amazing place. We completed some jumps from the rocks again.

 Bell Gorge with Mandy and Ben

 

Resident Snake we found at Bell Gorge right where everyone was relaxing on the rocks. A tour operator suggested it was a Western Brown Snake and since reviewing pictures of similar snakes, it looks like this is what it was. A 43 YO man was killed in WA when bitten on the toe in Perth. It brings home how careful you have to be, with Snake bits. We were advised at Manning Gorge that if you are bitten in an remote area like Manning Gorge or Bell Gorge chances are you will not make it!

 The family at Bell Gorge