Kununurra - to - Lake Argyle 70kms, 5th June, 2022.

Didn’t get this blog away yesterday, we only travelled 70kms to Lake Argyle for three nights. This is more of a rest stop now hoping we can slow down and have longer stops than we have been having. It was a big part to complete the long stretches of kms through the Kimberley’s. One more night here tomorrow and on Wednesday we cross over to the Northern Territory. We are looking forward to exploring the different scenery we will see. More lush and waterfalls we understand. Although we have one more gorge to explore.

Yesterday we got down to Lake Argyle by 10.00am so thinking it might be too cheeky to check in so early we continued our drive past the resort to see the Ord River Dam. 

This project was started in April 1969 and was completed in December 1971. Although with the rock they used makes it look a lot newer. We stopped at a lookout above the dam then drove down to the bottom water level. Really impressive with all the rock they used instead of the usual concrete. After a few photos and a look around the area we the went up back over the dam and back to The Lake Argyle resort and caravan park. A super camp very quiet and peaceful away from anything . The camping area is high up from the water looking across the lake. Will post the lake and camping photos tomorrow. Another peaceful day to look forward to. The heat is now tremendous probably around 35degrees and no wind which makes it exhausting. But oh what a beautiful spot.

 

The scenery on the way along the 70kms between  Kununurra and Lake Argyle.

Just past the Resort we continued on to go down and see the Ord River Dam. This lookout looks back to the start of the cove the Resort looks over which is around the corner more.

Now looking down at the dam. Lake on the left, overflow down further on the right and the road continuing across the top.

Build up of the lake at the top. A great construction so different to the usual concrete built dams.

Now down at the bottom showing the water outlet. Again quite different to the usual dams that have their outlets coming straight out along the bottom. This one has the outlets cut through the rock on the side bringing the water through there hence the sideways flow. Just notice how well this rock filled dam of hard durable quartzite has been compacted in layers with a heavy vibrating Roller. Amazing and it looks so good too.

Outlet comes through this rock.

Still at the bottom looking down the river. In tomorrows blog will show a walk we did today up on the cliffs ahead straight down the river. We walked up there looking back at the dam but you will have to wait until tomorrow to see that.

We have now driven back up to cross back over the top of the dam. Took this shot looking out of the window of the van looking back down. This shows more how the water is flowing through and the spread of the pressure of water spraying out.

Going back up the hill to go and check in, looking down at the river as it flows around the next bend. More of this tomorrow.

Arrived settled in and down for a swim. It was magic,  made us forget about the heat and felt better for the rest of the day. What a great spot for a little R and R before we continue our trip crossing the border to Northern Territory.

I will post what we did today in tomorrow’s blog with any extras we might do tomorrow. 🤔