NORTH WEST AUSTRALIA

NORTH WEST AUSTRALIA
We are just amazed at the great condition of the roads here in Western Australia. Because of the distances between places it makes it really confortable.

After leaving Broome on 18th July our first stop was only 120klms south to Barnhill Station, which is 10klms west on a sand & dirt road off the Great Northern Highway. Due to the roughness it was slow going but was really worth it. Barnhill is situated overlooking the Indian Ocean and really beautiful. We arrived on a Sunday just when a 3 course dinner with entertainment was being offered. The entertainment was provided by a local family of aboriginals which was very entertaining. A swim down at the beach was the call of the afternoon. Just beautiful. A pity that we were only there for the one night. Plan to spend more time here next time up this way. Just loved the outdoor ablution block. Just hang on to the paper when the wind blows.

Port Smith only a further 20klms down the highway then 23klms west on a really good dirt road was our choice for 4 nights. A caravan park is the only choice of camping. Another lovely spot for fishing and recreation within the water way.We did try fishing, myself the only one to land a single fish, but due to the bad windy conditions was not good. Although we couldn’t do the water stuff it was another opportunity to meet new friends. Another case of being in the right place at the right time with the park putting on their weekly “fish & chip night” for $5 including fruit salad & ice cream. The fish being caught in the local waters. The entertainment was the same local family we saw at Barnhill. With large drum fires lit around the perimeter and games organized it was a really fun night. They also operate a rehabilitation and release area for injured or orphaned kangaroos & wallabies. As you can see by the photos they have become very friendly, although I thought a bit scary when one of the larger ones wanted to cuddle me. (I think he wanted a cuddle).

Now 365 klms. sw of Broome was Eighty Mile Beach. Shells, shells, shells. Neither D’Arcy or I have seen so many shells on a beach. I don’t believe anywhere in the world that you would find more shells. The variety and the beauty is just amazing. D’Arcy reckons I was like a little girl collecting shells. I can assure you there were lots of little girls and boys (D’Arcy) collecting too. We are looking forward to a re-visit. There were a lot of large red fin salmon being caught in the last 2 days of our stay, due to the winds debating , although they managed to swim past D’Arcy’s line. A next door neighbour was kind enough to present us with some fillets from his catch. Also good to catch up with Robyn & Tony who we met back in Broken Hill and new ones from Port Smith, Joan, Warren, Sandra & Don.
One thing not to do when driving on the beach at low tide is to go out on the mud flats. See by the photos what can happen. During the high tide the car was invisible. Thanks to all the park residents that lent a hand it was out in no time, but not without the salt damage. The other crashed one was doing donuts on the beach. Suppose it takes all kinds. Pilbara Towing had a busy time.
Till next time.........

WESTERN AUSTRALIA #2

Western Australia
7th-17th July.
After leaving Kununurra our next 2 nights were camped up at Leycesters Rest-Ord River.(643) As it was close to the turnoff to the Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park. Because of many travellers parked up and leaving their vans we decided it was safe to do the same. We needed to get an early start the next morning to travel the 53klms from the Great Northern Highway to the Park. Because of the conditions of the road, dirt and rough and a few creek crossings this took us 1 1/2hrs. After arriving at the visitors centre to register and then a further 27klms to the car park before we headed off to the Piccaninny Creek Lookout, a 3klm return hike, then to the Cathedral Gorge another 3klm return, but with some short steep slopes and narrow ledges to negotiate. Well worth the effort as we were rewarded with a huge amphitheatre at the end. A spectacular site. On the return was a short detour to do the Domes Walk. On this trek we witnessed sandstone domes that rise up from the sand plains. After having our picnic lunch back at the carpark it was time to head for home. The way to experience all the walks would be to camp for a couple of days.
292klms. the following day and we camped at Ngumban Cliff Lookout (636). A lovely spot as D’Arcy got out the chain saw and cut some wood for a camp fire. Then it was only 90klms to Fitzroy Crossing the next day. We stayed at Fitroy River Lodge for 2 nights. The park was great with drive thru sites for the bigger rigs which were on concrete and opened up onto lovely green grass. Geike Gorge was only a 20klm. drive for us to do the walk. There was choice of doing a river cruise, but we decided to do the walk. Thought we were going to be able to see the river during this walk, but no, only sand and cliffs on the other side. Although at the end of the track was the river bend. The different rock formations was something we hadn’t seen before. This was an hour return but very hot.
While filling the truck with fuel for our continued journey D’Arcy’s faux pas was to put unleaded instead of diesel in the tank. Not realising until he had filled the tank. Of course done the right thing by not driving it and getting a local mechanic to tow it away to be emptied. He was so obliging as he was so busy, he lent us a vehicle to go back to the park and delivered the truck back to us later in the day. D’Arcy was so annoyed with himself and cannot believe that he done it.
Not a lot for us do around Derby after arriving there, but we wanted to have a look around. Situated on King Sound it has a population of 5000, also Australia’s highest tidal range and the second highest in the southern hemisphere, being as much as 11mtrs. The Jetty is where we witnessed high & low tides. Wool & pearl shells were the major exports in the early days. In 1964 when a new jetty was built live cattle were exported and fuel, oil & provisions were the main imports. The last passenger ship visited in 1973. The jetty is also a popular place to fish from on an incoming tide & view the stunning sunsets over King Sound. The Boab Prison Tree is believed to be about 1500 yrs. old. It was used as a staging point for prisoners being walked into Derby in the early days. Myall’s Bore was the first at this location and dug in 1910/11. The bore is 322mts. deep. The cattle trough is 120mts long and built around 1917. It could handle 500 bullocks at one time. As the flow started to drop off from the bore the water is now pumped into the trough by a windmill.
Broome our next stopover for 3 nights, arriving on Thurs. 15th July, and our main objective was do the sunset camel ride on Cable Beach. Our choice of park was the Broome Caravan Park. We were very lucky as another 5th wheeler had vacated that morning. The parks do not take bookings. It is first in best dressed. As we had been to Broome 14yrs. previously after sailing in from the east coast of Australia, it didn’t take us long to have a look around. Although Broome has certainly expanded a lot in that time. Sat. morning and it was off to the markets, which we thought we were going to stock up on fresh fruit & veges, but no most of the stalls were craft. There is a Woollworths, Coles & IGA supermarkets, so as we were leaving on Sunday and knowing there is a great distance before the next large town for shopping it was off to Woollies.
Our camel ride was great and afterwards were joined by a few of our other travelling friends we had met along the way for a chinese meal at Tongs. Not the prettiest restaurant, but very good food. Thankyou to Suzanne, Owen & Lee for your company. We had a great night.
Till next time........