What an adventure!

We have just had an incredible day. We were taken out on a day tour of Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek with Windjana Tours. I have to say that this has been a real highlight of our trip.

It started with a pick up at the caravan park in a big bus/truck (which in itself was a higlight for the girls) and a drive out to Windjana Gorge. We had morning tea and were then taken for a walk into the gorge. The first photo is the entrance to the gorge through a rock tunnel. Jasmine was so excited and even more so when she was told later that day we would be walking through a huge tunnel with a creek running through it!

On the otherside we took a short walk past towering cliffs (you never get sick of seeing towering cliffs, it is always amazing) with fossils from what used to be a coral reef. Then we saw our first croc across the bank, then two then five and it kept going. We came out onto a big sandy beach where the water and waters edge were full of freshwater crocs (both sides of the bank). Thankfully the girls are quite aware of crocs now and respect their space, they were just so excited to finally see crocs so close to them. We had our own time to take as many photos as we wanted and the girls loved acting like crocs themselves (and yes they are crocs behind them in the pic).

The setting was incredible, the orange and black cliffs with blue/green water, lots of crocs of all sizes (and no salty's) and the chance to listen and learn about the history of the area. Back up to the bus for a delicious lunch that was all home made (including morning and afternoon tea). It was so lovely not to have to think of what I needed to take with me to feed the children, it was all catered for (even vegemite sandwiches for back up). (Jemmy saying good bye to the crocodiles)

Back on the bus and off to Tunnel Creek. I wasn't too sure how the girls would go with this one as you actually had to walk through water. I was told it was knee height on an adult, we thought we would try it and see. I knew Jaz would be ok so I could piggy back Jemmy if needed.

As soon as we got out of the bus Annie our tour guide took Jasmines hand and said, "you're my assistant for this one, you stay with me." Jasmine was a dream. She got into the water straight off which came almost up to her waist and after a little hesitation (the water was quite cold)she pushed on and lived out her dream of being a tour guide. Annie if you read this, she is still spouting your stories to everyone in the caravan park just as you told them. There is no exageration here!

I also have to say a big thank you to Jude (the other guide) and all the other people on the tour. They helped me with the girls through the tunnel when my hands were full and they were very happy to do so, a big relief for me on my own.

Annie used to live on a station in the area and her knowledge was incredible. We got all the history, the aboriginal stories and the personal stories of her sayd in the area. It was such a great chance to gain an insight into the area that we would have completely missed if we had simply walked the areas ourselves. Jasmine is always asking me so many questions that I just can not answer, today she asked Annie and she got an answer for every single one. (Annie with the girls in Tunnel Creek)

After our walk/wade through Tunnel Creek, we had afternoon tea and jumped back onto the bus out to the ruins of an old station that was converted into a police station and was the centre of the story of Jandamarra, an aboriginal outlaw in the late 1880's. The story was throughout the areas we visited and if you don't know it - come on the tour and learn all about it (or ask Jasmine when we get home).

We have had such a great day, we were catered for really well with the two littlies and only me to look after them. There was always someone there to help them on and off the bus and through difficult walks. Annie's commentary was easy enough for Jasmine to understand, bits she didn't quite understand it was easy enough for me to explain. While it was a little over Jemma's head, she just loved the walk, scenery, crocs and walking through water with her shoes on!

If you are travelling with children, it can get very expensive to take tours however you really need to weigh up the benefits of the additional knowledge and sights that will be pointed out to you that you would be otherwise unknown (not to mention petrol, spare tyres, food etc). For children it is the little things that are most memorable, in this case, Jasmine loved the chance to see what a Boab Nut tastes like - we didn't know you could eat them, let alone when and how to pick them! While Windjana Tours are mainly taken by the older people, they catered fantastically to the children and everyone had a great time. The prices were also far cheaper than many of the other tours AND they have a decent price for children (a rarity on tours).

Thanks you so much for the fantastic tour, and for helping me to entertain the girls for a full day without Greg!

I was worried about how the girls would behave on a tour with no other kids. They were angels, they remembered their manners without me prompting. Jasmine even asked if she could have the last biscuit at morning tea and then shared it with Jemma when she got upset (even though Jemma already had a full one in her hand!) then did the same at afternoon tea. It was really an enjoyable day for all of us that could so easily have been very stressful. I urge anyone travelling with children to explore tours more it was such a great way to see the area.