Their route at first lay along the Murchison River, following the upper course, which they found to run through well-grassed country, available for either sheep or cattle.

From the crest of the head watershed they had a view of their future travelling-ground to the eastward.

It appeared level, with low elevations, but there was a lack of conspicuous hills, which did not promise favourably for water-finding, though good pasture might be obtainable.
For the next few days the party were dependent for water on occasional springs and scanty clay-pans.

On the 27th, when following down a creek, they suddenly came upon a fine spring, apparently permanent, which is described by Forrest in his journal as one of the best he had ever seen, both the grass and other herbage around being of fine quality.

This place he named Windich Springs, after Tommy Windich, one of the blacks who had now been with Forrest on three expeditions.