it’s only a mere ten-hour drive, so why not?
We spent the majority of the first morning in hilly
country where an Agile Wallaby allowed us to get close
I have now made three excursions across the border,
enough to have its portrait taken. It had no fear of us;
the first of which was a flat out three-day dedicated
we were probably the only people it had ever seen.
herping trip. Our destination was the gorgeous
Whilst still amongst the rolling hills we managed to
Kimberley ranges, where there was pretty much only
spot a Spiny-tailed Goanna (Varanus acanthurus)
one major target species in mind – the Kimberley Rock through the window of the Toyota LandCruiser. It was
Goanna (Varanus
basking on a rock and
glauerti). This stun-
we got a quick snap
ning animal amuses
with the camera.
itself by chasing small
skinks and inverte-
Then, on our way
brates around almost
back down a rough
vertical cliff faces. Of
dirt road, we must
course, the Kimberley
have jagged a rock
Rock Goanna is
and ended up with a
certainly not the only
flat tyre. This was
herp worth seeing in
during the middle of
the region, and there
the day and peak
are also endless mag-
heat. What were we
nificent landscapes to
going to do? Wait for
experience, along
the temperature to
with other wildlife.
cool down and miss
potential herping
Now, you would assume when you plan a herp trip
opportunities? Call for roadside assist in the middle of
that everyone involved would be like-minded individu- nowhere? The Black Kites in the trees around us must
als and thus would get on harmoniously. Well that was have been chuckling to themselves as we three tried to
not true on this occasion; there were three of us on
navigate the situation while temperatures and egos
this trip and I’m afraid to admit I spent as much sweltered. This was day one and the beginning of the
time mending fences with the other parties as I adventure – talk about an awesome start!
did photographing wildlife! The trip was still
fun (for me) but there was too much bickering, This trip wasn’t overly successful as we only had a
which was petty to say the least.
short time to herp, however while on the drive home
There was pretty
much only one
target species in
mind - the stunning
KimberlEy Rock
Goanna.
1.