After meeting at the Calder Park Service Centre, we travelled on bitumen to Kalgoorlie, which was the real start point for our trip. Dan, the Tour Leader on the “Superpit” (KMCG) tour was a jubilant, knowledgeable character, and showed us the workings of the mine - layout, equipment, spares, roads; and an expansive view of the “big-hole” in the ground. Outside of the tour, we were able to watch a “blast” from a viewing area.
For a change of tact we toured the bordello Questa Casa, with a most informative talk from “Madam”. Some of us found it interesting, others - not so much.
We had a quick look at Coolgardie, and headed via dirt tracks to Menzies, and on to Kookynie (the hotel with the resident horse). The publican was not interested in our custom; so we bush-camped at Niagra Dam
Back to Menzies to view the video on the sculptures that sit on Lake Ballard. At Lake Ballard we walked over the salt lake experiencing the sculptures, and the mood the artist had created. This was Bob’s number one highlight for the trip.
To get to Mt Augustus, we drove on the tracks to Meekatharra, then via Mount Clere, and made a bush-camp on the Yulgar River. This track contains beautiful scenery, with tall trees in creek beds, and distant mountain views. After 11 days travelling from Melbourne, we entered the Pilbara at Mount Clere.
Mt Augustus was very beautiful, especially at sunset. We were taken by the quietness of the place.
Driving to the Overlander Roadhouse for fuel, we headed for Steep Point, hoping to stay at Carrang Station. (NB: You are not allowed to stay at Carrang Station. Ignore their web-site).
Due to Carrang Station being closed, and Tamala Station not open on Sunday, we had a bush-camp. Turning away from Tamala Station we bumped into a Swiss couple who joined us at our bush-camp, and they cooked us all a delicious Mother’s Day meal. On a cold morning we were treated to a beautiful sunrise, with
the moon hanging over the water.
A failed attempt to get to Steep Point towing the vans; so we headed for Tamala Station, and were rewarded with a fantastic camp on Shell Beach.
On the way to Denham we stopped at Hamelin Pools, and the stromatolites. While in Denham we drove out to Cape Peron, and we were greeted with a beautiful ocean scene; and also saw a shark and manta rays from the viewing platform. The next day it was off to Monkey Mia, and feeding the dolphins. Graham was selected as one of the participants in an exhilarating experience.
In Canarvon we caught a presentation by an Apollo Mission Control Flight Director of NASA. We were shown a film “Mission Control - The Unsung Heroes of Apollo”, with a question and answer session after. Very informative, and entertaining, The next day we toured the Carnarvon Space Museum, which is very worthwhile and great hands on section for kids and adults alike.
In Kennedy Range National Park West the track was dirt and sand, and it became very slow going. It took about 4 hours to get to our camp-site at Chaffcutters Spring, under the Ghost Gums. A fantastic two-night bush-camp around a campfire, under the stars.
Coral Bay is in beautiful setting; and their are lots of tourists. Sheena, Marie and Graham enjoyed a snorkel looking at the coral and marine life of Ningaloo Reef.
Cape Range National Park, near Exmouth, was our next destination, with a five day unpowered stint in Cape Range National Park. While here Sheena and Marie had a day swimming with the whale sharks, which is there number one experience for the trip. It was awesome. The Yardie Creek boat tour was excellent, with Ash,
our guide, very keen-sighted to spot many rock-wallabies on the rock-ledges of the gorge.
We had the cars serviced in Exmouth. (See Tips).
On the way back to camp, we looked in on the various beaches where you could snorkel. The whole area is simply beautiful.
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