Broome

Saturday, May 16

Sandfire RH Peacock

Onto Broome. We stopped at what’s left of the Sandfire Roadhouse for breaky and then drove into Broome to meet up with Trish and Steve for Darwin. Trish was in town for her sister’s birthday and Steve was looking for a ride back to Darwin. We checked into the Roebuck Bay Caravan Park and were kindly given 2 excellent beach frontage site to enjoy for the next 2 days.

Mike, Jan, Colin, Steve and Trish at Roebuck Bay Caravan Park

Eighty Mile Beach

Friday, May 15

Fishing on Eighty Mile Beach.

We drove about 5k up the beach to escape the hordes of fisherman and found a excellent spot to prop the cars.

Eighty Mile Beach Fishing Spot

Fishing at Eighty Mile Beach

Colin – Shovel Nose Shark, Black Tip Reef Shark, Catfish.
Jan – Sawfish
Mike - Australian Salmon
Sally – Fish of the day 1 monster Threadfin Salmon

Fish of the Day

All in all, a relaxing day on the beach.

Port Headland

Wednesday, May 13

Washing, Shopping, Spicks and Specks.

Thursday, May 14

Port Headland Ore Train

From Port Headland it was up the coast to Eighty Mile Beach. Our plan was to spend a couple of nights here so we could wet a line. We checked out the beach in preparation for tomorrow’s onslaught and were most impressed.

Eighty Mile Beach

Through to Port Headland

Tuesday, May 12

The galahs had been through but left us in peace. We broke camp and hit the road. We had decided to spend two nights at Port Headland in order to catch up with some laundry, electrons and water.

Crossing Pool Early Morning

Mike Traverses George River Crossing

Roadside Desert Peas

We called in to check out Python Pool which we had considered as an alternative camp to Crossing Pool. We had the better camp ground as the one at Python Pool was no more then a gravel car park The pool, which was some distance to the camp ground, was excellent and I couldn’t resist a quick dip before we moved on.

Colin Swimming at Python Pool

We passed an undocumented billabong along the way where we had stopped for a smoko. This would have been a good bush camp however the water wasn’t quite deep enough for swimming.

George River Road Billabong

We made it into Port Headland late in the day and as it was the last day of the Stairway to the Moon phenomena, we headed down to the beach to check it out. Unfortunately, it was too overcast to get the full effect and what we saw was more like a step to the Moon.

Stairway to the Moon

Millstream Chichester NP

Monday, May 11

We hit the bitumen again and headed north towards Wittenoom. This is an old asbestos mining town that was hurriedly vacated when asbestos was declared deadly. It is now a classic ghost town where buildings, vehicles and the like were all abandoned.

Great Northern Highway

Wittenoom

We then followed the Karratha road through the Millstream Chichester National Park. We checked out the old homestead museum and drove through the park to Crossing Pool camp ground. A delightful spot if not overrun by galahs. Once the galahs vacated at dusk, peace and serenity swept this picturesque camp ground on the banks of the George River.

Crossing Pool Campground

Colin Swimming in Crossing Pool

Cockatoos Vacating Crossing Pool

Crossing Pool Sunset

Karijini NP

Saturday, May 9

Sally and I hit the road early to ensure a good camp site at Karijini NP. Driving around the Hamersley Ranges we arrived at Dale’s Camp and secured an excellent position for the next 2 nights.

Hamersley Ranges

Dales Camp Ground

In the Afternoon we walk down to the Fortescue Falls and then along to the Fern Pool for a quick dip. The water was a little chilli so I was surprised to see Sally had entered the water as well.

Mike and Jan at Fortescue Falls

We then returned to camp for dinner and drinks.

Sunday, May 10

Mike and Jan had planned to do the walk along the Dales Gorge. Sally and I decided to drive to the Circular Pool then Drive back to Fortescue Fall and finish the day with another swim at The Fern Pool. After talking to Jan we concurred that our choice of driving made for less sore muscles and joints.

The Circular Pool

Sally at Dales Gorge Lookout

Dales Gorge

Dales Gorge

Sally on the path to Fortescue Falls

Sally and Colin swimming in The Fern Pool

We had been advised on our arrival by the camp hosts that the area was teaming with Dingos and through the night we heard them an on occasion, saw them.

Dales Camp Dingo

Tom Price

Friday, May 8

We packed up and headed to Tom Price to catch up with Sandy who owns the local hardware store. On the way into Tom Price we got a radio message from Mike and Jan advising they were in need of a tyre change. A minute or two later they radio’d back saying that they had 2 flats. We pulled up behind them to assist but a quick inspection revealed that we too had done a tyre on the trailer. A new record, 3 tyres in 5 minutes.

Tyre Changes on Tom Price Road

We finally arrived in Tom Price and after depositing our punctured tyres at the local tyre shop we headed to town where we caught up with Sandy.

Colin and Sandy outside Musses’ Hardware

Then back to the Tom Price Caravan Park where Mike attracted a fan club of peanut loving Gullahs.

Mike’s new found friends.

Nanutarra, House Creek

Thursday, May 7

280 Day’s
31850 km’s

It was here that Mike and Jan and Sally and I were going to part company. We were heading to Tom Price to see some old friends and Mike and Jan were going to go to Karratha. They ended up deciding to take our route through Tom Price to Karijini NP which was great for us as there was some gravel roads to negotiate on our route. We drove back through Exmouth and had arranged to meet Mike and Jan at the Nanutarra Road House. Mike and Jan arrived before us and when we arrived Mike and Jan look completely dumfounded. When we enquired as to the problem, they told us that they had just eaten two egg and bacon sandwiches at a cost of $40. They felt like they had just been robbed. **** BEWARE OF THIS ROADHOUSE****

Eastward towards Tom Price. We had considered staying at Nanutarra but this was dismissed unanimously. We knew of 2 potential roadside lay byes and we stopped at the first one, House Creek, where we chose to stay the night. We’d just lit the camp fire when we were joined by 2 other travellers. These type are always welcome as they arrived with their own stash of fire wood. They joined us for dinner sharing excellent fare.

House Creek Camp

Dennis and Deb at House Creek

Cape Range NP

Tuesday, May 5

We drove north to the Famous Cape Range, supposive site of the filming of Elle McPherson’s WA Tourism adverts. Initially we were disappointed, as we were turned around at the gate due to no camp sites were left available in the park. We headed back to Yardie Homestead that we’d passed on the way in and when we arrived we were given good spots with comfortable amenities. We booked in for two nights and then drove down to Ned’s Camp in the park to check out our original destination.

Ned’s Camp Beach

The visitors centre was closed so we retuned to Yardie Homestead for dinner and drinks.

Wednesday, May 6

We all piled into the Prado and headed back into the park. We drove down to Yardies Creek to inspect the crossing that we would have had to negotiate if we had driven up through Ningaloo Station. It was a salt water crossing only passable at low tide. We had considered driving out this way but the sand banks looked awful and at the time we were scheduled to leave in the morning the tides were all wrong. We opted to return the way we came in through Exmouth.

Yardie Creek Crossing

Yardie Creek

We called into some beaches on the way back, including the Oyster Stacks and stayed for lunch at Turquoise Bay. This water was crystal clear and the bay was teaming with javelin fish and snapper.

Colin Swimming at Turquoise Bay with the Fish
We then called into the visitors centre and then back to camp to watch Spics and Speck. It was Jake and Nicholas’ birthday so we fired up the sat phone and gave them a call.

Coral Bay

Monday, May 4

We headed out of Carnarvon on route to Coral Bay. As usual, camping at Coral Bay was at a premium. With only 2 sites available at our preferred park near the pub, we claimed both even though they were at opposite ends of the park. After setting up, we met at the pub for dinner where we ran into a trio travelling from Victoria and together took in the sunset over some fine ales.

Colin, Mick, Carol, Fran Jan and Mike

Coral Bay Sunset

Farncois Peron NP

Saturday, May 2

We stopped at the Overlander Roadhouse for some fuel and some munchies. Mike and Jan discovered the best roast beef rolls, we shall return. We ummed and ared about buying fuel but pushed onto Denhan where we lucked onto cheaper fuel. Not mention, lots of local emus that appear to own the town.

Denhan Local Emus

We learnt that camping at Peron Homestead was no longer permitted so after some discussion and checks on road conditions we ventured into the Farncois Peron NP. We had planned only to go as far as the Big Lagoon to camp and then day trip up to the top, but track traffic forced us to miss the turnoff so we continued to Gregory Bay. The track was challenging and any hesitation due to our experience in Coffin Bay were soon dismissed.
Arriving at Gregory Bay we were surprised that the camp ground was a sandy car park but we set up any way and whilst Mike went on a photo discovery walk, Sally and I hit the beach to try our luck with rods and bait. My first cast landed a great snag which destroy my reel in the process so I was forced to sit and watch Sally land six excellent fish. Six different reef species but none not quite big enough to keep,

Sally Fishing at Gregory Bay

Gregory Bay

Sunday, May 3

After safely negotiating the sand dunes on the way out of Farncois Peron NP, we stopped on a salt lake for a smoke.

Farncois Peron Salt Lake

We then called onto the old Peron Homestead who provided a public, artesian fed, Hot Tub. Its constant 46 degree water certainly pleased the girls.

Peron Homestead Hot Tub

A very quick stop at Shell Beach (the flys where ferocious) and then to the Overlander Roadhouse for roast beef rolls all round. Then onto Carnarvon Caravan Park to stock up with water, electrons, shopping, fuel and beers

Hamelin Pool

Friday, May 1

We resumed our course north on route to Coral Bay. On the way out of Kalbarri, we stopped at the lookout for one last look.

Goodbye Kalbarri

Another escort was provided as ventured onward on the Great Northern Highway.

Our Escort Out Of Town

We arrived at the Hamelin Pool caravan park then walked along the beach to see the Stromatolites and meandered for a while and then returned for the sunset with beers.

Stromatolite Walk

Stromatolites

Hamelin Pool Sunset