Murchison to The Gascoyne & Home again
Sunday 5th July
Sunday morning we headed east from Geraldton through the agriculture district of Mullewa leaving all the green Crops behind and into the relatively flat Gold mining area of Yalgoo. We had a specific destination in mind so we rolled through Yalgoo and just east of town you take a right onto Ninghan road and head south approx 10km to a small gateway on the left sign posted #Jokers Tunnel. Bit of history behind it and well worth the detour. Our boys love exploring like they were the first ones ever here.
We had already made plans to get to #Gabyon Station for the night and it was going to be cold so we headed back to the main road crossed over and headed north along a well graded gravel road to Gabyon Station homestead to check in and pick our campsite for the night. After setting up the Camprite and collecting some firewood for the night we set off to explore the Big old Sheering shed that you're free to explore. The kids were running around have a great time exploring and asking questions, all of which i was able to answer for them.
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| Gabyon Camp Kitchen |
This is a fantastic Spot with Excellent facilities. There was a great Camp kitchen with a old wood fired Metters Stove and a big hall to eat in if the weather turned bad. We used the wood fired stove a few times as my Grandmother did when I was a kid and it brought back so many memories. The kids also enjoyed firing up the old stove to cook on and keep us warm. There is just something nearly spiritual you might say about cooking on a wood fired stove on a freezing morning.
There is also a Big shower block with a big Donkey boiler to heat the water. All five of us had a steaming hot shower to wash away the dirt from the day and flushing toilets. For those that aren't equipped or don't want to tent it there is also the redone shearers quarters.
The next morning we woke to heavy dew and a very chilly morning. After breakfast we packed up & headed to a place not far for the station homestead called #Courin Hill. Nice little detour while in the area that had us burning off our breakfast, taking in some pretty good views and seeing some of the darkest Big Red's (Roo's) I had ever seen they were like chocolate.
Next stop was #Murchison Settlement our home for the night.perfect Grass sites, Big camp kitchen, Great ablutions and even a well equipped Shop. When we rolling into the settlement we filled the tanks with diesel, grabbed an ice-cream for everyone, set up camp for the night then a game of footy with the boys was in order followed closely by a beer or 4.
The next morning we headed off fairly early (well for holidays anyway) as we had a long day on the gravel ahead of us. heading north from The Settlement we started our journey on the Mullewa - Carnarvon Road till we came across an intersection where I suggested we take a right onto the Beringarra - Byro Road for something different. According to #MUDMAP it look like a good choice. 52km later we turned left onto the Erong Station Road heading north again. Our aim was to make #Landor for lunch. We thought we had struck it lucky as the roads were all freshly graded after goods rains this year and were travelling along well when we came across two #CAT graders doing a bloody great job. Soon after passing them we hit a water crossing a little too fast and water went over the roof, Holly shit that was an eye opener..
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| Hair Tree WTF. |
Wild flowers every where due to the exceptional rains so far this year, made for some good photos and a chance for the boys to get out and run around. The last part of the road or track maybe a better description, had Cathy looking at me sideways & I remember the boys asking me "Dad are we lost". to which I replied "No course were not" according to #MUDMAP we are still on track. Soon enough we made it to the Dalgety Downs - Landor road and made dust towards #Landor Race club where we're having lunch & a bit of a rest stop.
We still had some kms to arrive at our destination before dark so on the gravel again making dust heading north through the Burringurrah Aboriginal Community our final home for the next 5 nights. #Mt Augustus Tourist Park or #Burringurrah as it is know to the local Aboriginal people.
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| Ahh Sundowner at Mt Augustus |
Mt Augustus Tourist park is such a great place to unwind, relax in the technology free remoteness & enjoyed many a cold beer. There is plenty of room to spread out and if dirt is not your thing then there is plenty of grassed camp sites. we chose a perfect spot close to the amenities yet far enough away to enjoy the tranquillity with a perfect view of Burringurrah at our back door.There is also a little bar just in case you run out of cold ones and also a well equipped shop.The next 5 days we climbed, explored and took in the all the beauty of Mt Augustus and the surrounding bush. We weren't quite up to tackling the Summit this year but we said we'll be back to tick that one off later on when the boys are bit older. Its not hard to see why the Aborigines called this area home. There is some spectacular evidence of the Aboriginal petroglyphs but for cultural reasons I have not posted these. Best bet is to get out here and see them for your self.
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| What a Sunrise |
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| The Pound. Wildflowers everywhere |
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| Pink n Greys |
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| Dawson's Burrowing Bee hive |
These Rare Burrowing Bees are not found anywhere else on the Planet. Something very special we got to experience with our boys.
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| Old Iron |
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| Getting ready for Roo Hot Pot Camp oven style. |
After chatting to some of the Station guys we learnt of a 4WD self drive tour around the bush near Cobra Station. This formed part of the Australasian Safari round so I was keen to give it a go. We picked up a map from the National Parks volunteers and made sure we had enough water and food for the trip, then headed off towards #Cobra Station. Before you get to the station you have to turn off the road in the middle of nowhere and your straight into it with a challenging drive river crossing. Then you follow the totem poles and the GPS coordinates to find your way literally through the bush. awesome river beds, Aboriginal petroglypghs Old Cattle Wells, great 4WDing and some spectacular scenery. Allow approx 3-4 hours to do this comfortably.
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| Gap Well |
Our time at Mt Augustus had come to an end, so we packed up and headed west via Cobra Station, Mt Phillips Station, Yinnetharra Station, Mooloo Downs & Dairy Creek to rejoin the Carnarvon - Mullewa Road where the Blacktop started again. Our destination was Gascoyne Junction Tourist Park.
The Park itself is still very new and well equipped with plenty of space, the ablutions are very flash and the kids found the playground. We treated ourselves to an En-suite and made bloody good use of the laundry for the afternoon. That night we treated ourselves to a meal at the local pub only a short walk (yes) from our site. Meals were huge and bloody tasty. Oh yep the beer was cold too :) The next day we heard of rain on the horizon so we changed our plan & instead of packing up & heading to the Kennedy Ranges to stay a few nights we will do a day trip this time round. And yep it rained alright.. Good call on our part as the KRNP was emptied the next morning as there was more rain forecast the next day also. Never mind the day trip gave us a taste of what the KRNP has to offer and we'll be back one day.
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| Gascoyne River Crossing flowing |
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| Rolled the jeans up & walked this section first |
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| On the way into Kennedy Range NP |
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| Turning into Honey Comb George |
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| Boys labelled this one the Dinosaur egg |
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| Colours were awesome and this was overcast about to rain |
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| tuckered out. |
The Boys & I skimmed a few rocks had a bit of a look around, stretched the legs and then returned to the blacktop heading west once again. Our Destination was #Carnarvon, which was to be home for the next 4 days. We were very lucky to get accommodation given it was the middle of school holidays and nearly all the travellers from inland had the same idea as us with the rain & so glad we made the stop over. As we arrive at the #Coral Coast Tourist Park we were extremely happy to have scored such a perfect spot, close to town and fantastic facilities. If your in Carnarvon we would definitely recommend a stay at the Coral Coast Tourist Park. click the link.
As our Carnarvon stopover was an unscheduled one we were the tourist, so first stop was the Carnarvon visitors centre to find out what's on, whats hot and whats a must while in Carnarvon. After getting all the info to help us map out an itinerary we thought we would walk a lap of the Town Centre and investigate these quaint little shops, and find something for Mums birthday as we were arriving home the day before her birthday (love ya Mum) and it puts money back into the community.
After Cathy's retail therapy we set of the the old Port area and visited the #Shearers Hall of Fame a must see, The old lighthouse homestead museum and climbed the Old one mile jetty water tower. The guide at the lighthouse museum was fantastic, She actually grew up there as her dad was the light house keeper. You couldn't of asked for a more knowledgeable guide and it made it that little bit more special for all of us.
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| Water tower looking back out to 1 mile Jetty |
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| The "Kimberley" Original 1 Mile Jetty Steam Loco. Built 1921 |
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| Old Original Light House. |
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| look pop |
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| No problems ! |
The next morning we had a relaxed slow start and we decided while here we would explore the Food that is Carnarvon and chat to the growers that produce the delights. So after the boys had made a few new friends at the parks Playground we had an early lunch & headed off to explore the plantations and growers markets to pick up some local fruit & veggie. After several stops and kids exploring the sheds(lol) and asking them 50 thousand questions (Don't know if ya don't ask the Questions ya don't know hey) Cathy decided it would be , a good idea and a treat to make a final stop at #Bumbacks Plantation. Yum Banana & Mango every thing, Chutney, Ice cream, dried, fresh .. oh too much to mention.
After devouring the delightful Choc Topped Mango Ice creams we headed off towards Miaboolya beach. I had seen in the jetty museum that there was a local hot spring out this way but unfortunately the road was closed so a detour was in order & Miaboolya beach was it. great spot plenty of blokes trying there luck with the fishing &a few 4WD's making use of this awesome beach right next to the tidal river mangroves.
After a fun day we returned to the Park to relax and enjoy a beverage or 4 and the kids could play again on the parks playground (bit deprived they are) with their new found friends.
The next day was going to be a big one with a trip to the local Space museum and we also had decided early that morning that WA Beef and Local Carnarvon Prawns were on the menu for tea tonight so off we went to the Carnarvon Space Museum. I could have spent all day here it was fantastic and an experience I'm sure we'll all remember. Had to drag the boys away from the control console, they were shooting every thing and launching all sorts of missile attacks all over the world (look out you terrorists LOL) and we had not seen the iconic Satellite dish's outside.
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| Space royalty |
After our busy morning & purchasing our fresh locally caught Prawns we headed back to the park for late lunch and some much needed R&R. Let me just say Beer, Steak and Prawns are like a marriage made in heaven. Yum......
The next day was Pack up day & the dreaded return leg home. Carnarvon is only 4 & 1/2 hours north of Geraldton but its the fact that the trip is coming to an end is the downer. We packed up and Said our goodbyes & headed to the great local community park on the Carnarvon foreshore that we had driven past a a few times during our stay. This was the setting for our last meal here Pancakes, so while the kids were off thoroughly enjoying the playgrounds facilities I cooked up a feed of Pancakes and enjoyed a fresh coffee.
After we had all devoured the pancakes & cleaned up the boys snuck in a bit more of play then we made our way out of Carnarvon towards to the NWCH where our 5 hour leg home was to begin.
But before we turned off and headed South we had to get that photo with the #Big Banana.
William needed to run half of the 400 clicks home, as he had wayyy too much energy to be sitting in the #Navara for that long but hey we all made it Safely Back to Geraldton with over 2100kms travels with most of that on Gravel, 4 river crossings (one way too fast) heaps of wild life (yep two wild dogs as well) and now were ready to the next chapter, lookout Oz here we come #Bowen05
