There is a park in Kununurra called Celebrity Park where a number of trees that have been planted by famous people who have visited the township. The park is situated alongside the beautiful Lily Lagoon which as it’s name suggests is covered in pink lilies. Each tree has a plaque with details of the ‘famous’ person responsible for planting it. Many, not unsurprisingly, are Australian personalities who we have never heard of. Somewhere is Rolf Harris’ tree but we don’t find it. The most famous person we’ve heard of is Princess Anne who planted a tree here in 1985.
On from Kununurra to Wyndham, along the way passing a majestic escarpment running at 45 degrees to the road and stretching off into the distance. Wyndham is a small township (pop 1000) on the Ord River estuary 110km north of Kununurra. Geographically this is the northern most township in Western Australia and a significant port serving the cattle industry, the Ord Irrigation Project and many mining companies. The estuary is home to some of the largest saltwater crocodiles in the world although we have yet to see any ‘salities’ anywhere. Perhaps we may spot one here? The town is split into two, with the old town and wharf area across the mud flats of the estuary and the main, newer part further inland. The ‘old’ town has a hotel and a couple of shops, but it has obviously seen better days and some of the commercial buildings are either falling down or boarded up. The main part of town is surprisingly well served with two or three shops, a police station, civic building, petrol station, and a few other small businesses. The caravan park has a pool – and our first priority is a dip to cool down. The park itself is a little tired and unkempt, but we have the whole of the unpowered area to ourselves with views out onto the bush. Our second priority is to inspect the 2000-year-old boab tree at the rear of the park. With it’s 20m girth this is an impressive sight.
Another beautiful sunset with pink and orange skies over the bush beyond our van. Later we hear the crackle of dry grass on fire; there is a large bush fire raging about 300 yards from the other side of the camp site. We can see the flames leaping amongst the trees, a spectacular if somewhat scary sight. Fortunately the wind isn’t carrying it towards the caravan park and after watching it for a while we return to our van and another early night.