Friday, 9 October 2026

Rocks in Kununurra, NT

The photos of the some of the rock formations around a town called Kununurra in Western Australia in the tropics of Australia.  Kununurra is a very interesting place with much history attached to it. We've been there several times and it's a long way from home here in Launceston, Tasmania. The route in the photo is the shortest.

The striking red rock formations are made of quartz sandstone stained red by iron oxide around 360 million years old, dating back to the Devonian period, formed from ancient sand dunes, riverbeds, and windblows sand that compressed into solid stone.

The Devonian period is a major chapter of geological and biological evolution occurring from 419 to 359 million years ago, widely known globally and locally as the 'Age of Fishes'.
During this era, Australia was not an isolated island continent in its modern position; instead, it was part of the supercontinent GONDWANA and sat near the equator as a large peninsula before drifting southward. 

The first photo is typical of many such the same landscape you see in certain areas inland/outback in this area.



These two photos are of what is called Kelly's Knob was named after Father Kelly, a Catholic priest who was the first clergyman to visit the Kimberley district during the 1890's. This area all along the coast and inland is known as the Kimberley area.
The description term 'knob' refers to the prominent, rounded hill or small mountain that rises about 190 meters above the surrounding plain on the northern outskirts of Kununurra.
In the traditional Miriwoong language of the local Aboriginal custodians, the landmark is known as THEGOOWIYENG, reflecting thousands of years of connection to the land.  Dual naming signs now recognize both names of the site.

The view on top on Kelly's Knob is magic, you can see forever, the land below is flat.







Various rock formation around the area.



The red dotted area is the area of Kununurra.

85 comments:

  1. So interesting and unique! The 2nd one is my favourite.

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  2. Interesting and beautiful rock formations.
    Great photos!
    Hugs

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  3. There is enough there to fascinate me for days.

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    1. I'm very sure you could, there are birds galore in that area as well.

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  4. Those ancient red rock formations are fascinating, and it is remarkable to think that these landscapes have witnessed hundreds of millions of years of geological change.

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  5. Wow, Margaret! Gorgeous photos, dear friend!!! So much beauty! Thank you so much for sharing!
    I also wish to thank you for your visits and kind comments on my blog posts, it really means a lot to me! As far as the Just for Laughs Gag goes, the one in my Thoughts and Smiles, Health update post, the guy that fell through that hole was safe, because they used a platform that he landed on and which lowered him down. LOL! If you noticed, he kind of went down in "slow motion", and that is because of the platform they used for the gag.

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    1. Thank you Linda. Also thanks for explaining about the man in Just for Laughs...lol . I figured he would have something soft to fall on.

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  6. WOW ! You sure have done some travelling.
    Great history of the "Land of OZ'
    Maybe my two unwanted but defiant ducks would take off for this area.
    Got home yesterday and there were the two of them sitting happily on my
    deck/porch table BUT no deposits!
    My reaction was Oscar winning - the broom in action and the criminals to
    the East - hopefully Chile or the Sea Lions of Patagonia !!!
    Cheers
    Colin
    PS: Weather here perfect - quite a few IN THE SURF = but cold and no breakers.
    Flat as a pancake!

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    1. Yes many years of it in our winter Colin. So many places to see but big distances between them. Well those ducks sure do make your place home..lol
      Glad it's a lovely day there, nice here today also.

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  7. Oh Margaret! What a wonderful place. You are so fortunate to spend time is this magical area. Each photo shows just how the formations sit and lean upon each other. It's amazing that they have been around for millions of years. A gift for sure.

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    1. Amazing rocks so very different and so very old, Nicole.

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  8. Oh wow, I love your pictures. They are wonderful.

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  9. We are festooned with wisteria.
    The rock formations almost speak of history. They are so beautiful.
    I guess most people see the Kimberley in the dry season but it would be interesting to see water pouring off the rocks in the wet season.

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    1. I love the rocks in the Kimberley so different to elsewhere Andrew. The colours are amazing when it rains and like you say it's another story in the wet.

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  10. The rocks are so beautiful, and must be even better when seen in person. My brither used to work up around that area before he retired. I love the new wisteria header but am glad I can't smell it.

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    1. Beautiful to touch R, so smooth in places. We went up the steps to the top and had to hang onto the rocks as well...lol.
      Thank re the header, wisteria in bloom everywhere at the moment.

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  11. Oh my goodness, those are very cool looking rocks.

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  12. Those stones look fascinating!
    It’s interesting what you’re sharing about this area!!!!
    hugs Elke

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    1. They are interesting and ancient stones and fascinating to see, well that is what I think, feeling them is also good. That area is so very different to where I live. It's nice to reflect back for me.

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  13. I find a lot of beauty in rock formations. Thank you for sharing this one.

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    1. You are welcome. It is amazing how the rock formation was formed.

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  14. Fascinating and amazing rock formations Margaret, to see and to read about. Thanks so much. Your latest header and background is gorgeous! Have a great weekend!

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    1. Thank you Denise. Wisteria is out everywhere down here. We used to have one but no more.

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  15. Your photos are amazing! The red rocks are very beautiful. I love your new header too. Wisteria is my wishplant here, but my climate is too cold. Take care, Margaret.

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    1. Thank you Marit. Wisteria is out everywhere down here, well those that grow it.

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  16. Hello Margaret,
    What a beautiful place this is, the rocks are truly amazing.
    It was certainly a long journey, looking at the map, the Netherlands measures about 350 to 400 kilometers from north to south, we really have a small country compared to yours.
    I wish you a lovely weekend.
    All the best, Irma

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    1. Thank you Irma. Yes it's amazing how large Australia is, and to think here one town might be 300 km away and the Stations, well of them are 200 to 400 km to the nearest town. Amazing is distance.

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  17. Must be a fascinating place to study geology!

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  18. Me gusta Margaret. Son paisajes de miles de años. Me ha recordado a Las Médulas en el Bierzo. Un entorno paisajístico formado por una antigua mina de oro de la época del Imperio romano.
    Buen fin de semana.
    Un abrazo.

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    1. Thank you. I looked at photos of Las Medulas in El Blerzo, very interesting. Old there too. You have a good weekend too, Laura.

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  19. Eine beachtliche Zeit haben diese Felsformationen hinter sich. Wie schön, dass sie als Naturdenkmal erhalten blieben. Besonders das zweite Bild zeigt die Schönheit der Steine. Hier auf dem Peleponnes befindet sich auch Eisenoxyd in den Felsen. Sie leuchten schon von weitem rot.

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    1. Well that is interesting about the reddish rock in Peloponnese. Must look beautiful.

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  20. Such a stunning beautiful place💖You really went up there to see💖Was this the sacred place of the Auburgines..Thank you for sharing wonderful pictures from Australia💖

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    1. It certainly is a lovely place Anita. No not the sacred place of the Auburgines, as far as I know.

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  21. The red rock formations are stunning to see. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  22. Beautiful. You could have told me you were in Sedona, Arizona, and I wouldn't have known the difference. Their red rock formations look very similar!

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    1. Amazing isn't it how similar yet very different the places are. I just looked online.

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  23. Goodness me it is a very very long way from your home in Launceston!!!

    I did enjoy reading the history and information your shared (including the map) and your photographs show the rock formation and colour so well.
    Enjoy the coming weekend.

    All the best Jan

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  24. Es un lindo lugar. Te mando un beso y te deseo un buen fin de semana.

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  25. Those rock formations with their whimsical shapes are spectacular.
    A beautiful place.
    Regards.

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  26. Fantastic! Thank you for these beautiful photos and its history. I appreciate that you mentioned the Aboriginal names also. I love to learn and Miriwoong is a new word to me. Have a lovely weekend!

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  27. This was a wow post. such amazing photos, thank you for all of this information

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  28. Wow, Margaret! The red rocks are stunning, and the view from Kelly’s Knob sounds unforgettable. I really enjoyed the way you combined the stunning images with the fascinating background details.

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    1. The rock the colours are amazing and so very different to anywhere else in Australia that I have seen.
      Thank you Veronica.

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  29. En ce dimanche d'automne, je passe sur ton joli blog pour te souhaiter un beau dimanche et une belle semaine prochaine.
    J'espère que tu vas bien.
    Si tu le souhaites, je te donne le lien de mon blog poésie.
    Je serais ravie de t'y accueillir.
    Bises de Lou.
    https://lou554monrefuge.blogspot.com/

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  30. No teda, projet celým kontinentem na sever do tropů Austrálie, to se každému nepodaří! A kde jste byli ubytováni? Článek mě hodně zaujal, protože z různých knih a učebnic vím o takto červeně zbarvených skalách v Austrálii. Hezky jste to v textu vysvětlila a přiblížila dobu, kdy Austrálie byl součástí Gondwany. 👍
    Zeptám se, u nás jsme zvyklí na turisticky značené trasy pomocí turistických značek, je to tam v Kununurra pro návštěvníky také nějak značené?

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    1. Thank you. We stayed in our caravan the times we visited up that way.
      No, there are no tourist signs in Kununurra, people as in other travellers or the information center tells you what to see and where to go and how to get there. Research is good online also.

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  31. Hello Margaret,
    I see in the reading list that you’ve posted a new blog entry about butterflies, but the post itself isn't showing up.
    I thought I’d just let you know.
    Wishing you a lovely Sunday.
    All the best, Irma

    PS This text is visible.
    We visited a Butterfly Conservatory in the Cairns Botanical Gardens up north (Australia). Plants sometimes grown indoors in that area were on show, but I didn't take many photos; these are some of them, along with a chart of the butterflies present—though most weren't actually seen. There was a tree in bloom outside, too. Something a little different to show you. *Anthurium *Flamingo Flower *Spathiphyllum wallisii *Peace Lily*

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    1. Thanks Irma about the post - it will be posted Wednesday I think. I was mucking about hence you saw part of the post...lol. You must have looked just at the right time when it posted and it shouldn't have, but that was my fault. 😊 Thanks for telling me.

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  32. You beautiful photos show how tree roots may sometimes interact with stones and rocks. Some roots grow into tiny existing fissures. Great post, Margaret.

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    1. Roots of trees are interesting and so good to be to see what goes on when rocks are there, Giorgio. Thank you.

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  33. Those ancient red sandstone formations are remarkable, and it must be fascinating to explore a landscape whose geological history stretches back hundreds of millions of years.

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    1. It is good to go and have a look and drive about, so very different up there. It's a long way and there is a fair bit to see but to get there is also a good drive.

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  34. Hello Margaret,
    Wonderful images. Very nice this area with wonderful red colors of the stones.
    Great!!

    Many greetings,
    Marco

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  35. Gracias, Margaret por compartir, ya que a través de tus fotografías y explicaciones, voy conociendo un poquito más de vuestro país, que como te dije un día me fascina y me sorprende lo peculiar y pintoresco de su diferentes regiones, como en el caso de hoy con esas linda e impresionantes formaciones rocosas, que no dejan indiferente a nadie.
    Un abrazo.

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    1. You are welcome and I'm pleased you are learning different things about Australia. Amazing is nature.

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  36. ¡Menuda distancia desde Tasmania! Merece mucho la pena hacer ese viaje para ver paisajes con tanta historia.
    Un abrazo.

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    1. It is great travelling seeing so many things that are different including those rocks.

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  37. Loved this post! Thanks, Margaret.
    Thinking that it took millions of years to reach these formations is mindboggling.

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  38. Those rock formations are incredible! But so far away, I had no idea Australia was so large!

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    1. They are good those rocks, amazing is nature. Very large country like the USA.

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  39. Maravillosos paisajes, me encantan las montañas y las rocas. Has hecho unas fotografías preciosas. Gracias Margaret.

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  40. what a wonderful post dear Margaret i am so thankful for you shared such interesting and amazing history of the place and made me familiar with periods i had no idea about.
    i really enjoyed reading history and looking at these intriguing rocks ,No artist is greater than Nature indeed

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