With six weeks leave it is time to explore the Kimberley. We have planned to explore the Berkeley for the past few years after upgrading the boat. We tried in May last year but with the wind blowing hard since April we didn't make it. This year we planned going a month early to avoid the wind. Needless to say it was glass the whole trip.

Leaving Wyndham on the turn of the high tide. The tides here determine travel when contemplating big trips as this helps with the feul efficiency as the boat is loaded with fuel, supplies and water. Its a good 150km to the Berkeley from Wyndham.

After four solid hours cruising we are approaching the Berkeley.

After the long haul at the helm its always good to get off and stretch the legs a little.

Better settle in for the night with a cold beer, didn't pack many to reduce weight . Only one other boat.

So after a full day packing and cruising we decided to take advantage of the falling spring tide and use the incoming as we were not sure how far up river one can travel. So we spent the day slowing cruising upstream with the tide and exploring the river.

First stop was a small waterfall.

But just before we hit the waterfall we found another one that looked to inviting and given the heat it was time for a shower.

After a sweet reprive from the heat we checked out the waterfall, a quick cast and only some small Fingermark. Not wanting to waste time we headed further upstream. The scenery is nothing short of breathtaking and spectacular, everything the Kimberley encompasses. A few of the hundreds of photo's we took.

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After about 25km we came to the end of the gorge. Looking south towards the start of the gorge.

We cruised up as far as we could in the boat and then stepped out to walk upstream, not wanting to temp the croc's......

With the temperature still hot it was time for a Kimberley bath.

With a fantastic day of just cruising and exploring, and we found a little spring with more sweet Kimberley water...

It was time for another celebratory drink.

We did a little fishing. The trip was mainly to explore and enjoy the scenery. Anyways what little fishing we did still produced a myriad of fish. We caught Jacks, Fingermark, Trev's, Queenies, cod and we got smoked by some unstoppables. Given I have not caught many Jacks we concentrated on them. We predominantly fished the deep water adjacent to the high cliffs; it was just a matter of slowly drifting with the tide about a boat lenght away from the wall dropping a transam down the wall  and bouncing them just off the bottom.

Josie won the biggest Jack comp.

But alas our time was running out. We camped out the front the last night to take advance of the night sea breeze as up the river it was hot and still at night. Contemplating the trip that was Berkeley April 2013. Already planning the next.

We travelled 420km and could have done many more.....

Now time to pack up the Hilux and explore the rest of the Kimberley by 4WD and foot for 5 weeks.....