Travelling along the Gibb River Road the next day we found the road was in pretty good condition only a few corrugations and in some sections wide enough to be a dirt highway. Some people drove like it was a highway barely slowing down approaching us. One thing for sure there was lots of dust especially when a road train drove past but the road had patches of bitumen and we were generally surprised at how good the road conditions were.

Road train approaching on the Gibb RR

Our View after the road train passed

Boab on the Gibb RR

As we drove along the road we cme to a sign saying Queen Victoria Head and it wasn’t until we got a bit closer that we could see the silouette of the old Queen in the rock.

Can you see the Queen?

Along the road we came to Mt Hart Wilderness Lodge and the signs at the gate looked inviting so we decided to take the 49km detour into the station and check it out. The road in crossed more than ten creeks and curved in through the hills of black dolerite rock. The Station management had recently been taken over by Kimberley Wilderness Adventures a joint venture of a few parties including APT a large bus and tour company and there was significant upgrade of the facilities. We were pleased to find the camp ground was shady with a lot of space along the river and okay facilities.

The entrance to Mt Hart

one of many creek crossings into Mt Hart

At Mt Hart we happened to be camped near a family we had met in Broome the Young Family. They have an eight year ol and two six year olds.  Our children all had a ball playing with their children in their caravan and then toasting marsh mellows by the fire. The men had serious conversations about travelling speed and tyre pressures – everyone was talking tyres as there were a lot of peple have several punctures.

Along the way we had met many people who all had varying opinion as to the tyre pressure to run and the ideal speed to travel. We are fortunate not having time pressures and we are happy to cruse at our own pace. Dave and Andrew were in agreement that the tyres should be lowered and that less damage was likely if you slowed down. Our average speed on the Gibb was 60-70kph and the tyres were at 28psi.

Mt Hart campsite

Mt Hart has a couple of river swim holes close to camp and a couple of less spectacular gorges which were short drives on 4×4 tracks from the station homestead. The gorges here were nice for a refreshing dip but smaller and not spectacular. A good spot but after two nights we were again ready to move on.

The River Gorge at Mt Hart

a dip at Annies Gorge

Mt Hart were selling diesel which was a bonus as fuel was also a big discussion point on the Gibb River Road as Imintji Roadhouse that many travellers used for essential refuel had closed just prio to Dry season opening rumoured to be due to a disagreement with the community and the store managers. Without this stop many vehicles could be short of fuel. We had also heard that the week earlier a large number of travellers were stranded up the road at Mt Barnett waiting for a fuel truck delivery because the road house had run out of diesel.

Swimming hole at Mt Hart

King Leopold Ranges

An outback driving rule that we follow is to always refill when you can. So despite the $2.30 price tag we filled up at Mt Hart before heading back onto the GRR.

Kids at sunset view

Sunset View at Mt Hart

Mt Hart old fuel pump

Cow on Mt Hart Station