Originally this road was used to transport cattle. Today, this route is predominantly frequented by tourists. It is largely untarred and can only be done by four-wheel drive. You have to cross rivers. It passes through very sparsely-populated areas as the Kimberly plateau. The extreme red colour results from the high iron content in the sand and the rock, which oxidises by moisture. I love this colour and the vast eucalyptus forests.The dust that penetrates through each gap of the vehicle is part of the outback experience. During the rainy season - between November and April - the Gibb River Road is closed. Popular excursion destinations are the beautiful gorges. I also made a trip to Cape Leveque and spent two nights in Kooljaman.
I cannot resist to view this against black for a long long time. I am so attracted by the colours of the earth, the dust trail befind the car adds so much to this still place.
Lovely shot, takes me back to when we lived in Australia and took a break up in the Red Centre. Driving in the Simpson Desert was like this. Great clouds of red dust, quintessentially Australia.
Great shot - we hired a 4 wheel drive when in Oz and drove from Alice springs to kings canyon and Uluru. The roads were like this and we didn't see much traffic on route but there were several washing machines that had been dumped?!
@gilbertwood Yes, if you come from the Austrian mountains, Australia is a different world - in many ways. The sun is at noon in the north, the trees are different, also the flowers, the animals, the colours of the earth... And all drive on the left side of the road... :)
@cruiser In Adelaide you live - must be a very nice place!
I was only once in Australia - so I know only the areas along the Gibb River Road. Australia has so many different climate zones and cultures. What a great country!
Thank you all for your kind comments!
I was only once in Australia - so I know only the areas along the Gibb River Road. Australia has so many different climate zones and cultures. What a great country!