Trip to South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales #8

#8

Mon 29^th Oct.  Today we went to go to Rottnest island, BUT the wind was blowing at 40kmph and there were lots of white-caps on the ocean and we decided to give it a miss.  So, we drove down to Scarborough and wandered up the redeveloped foreshore and checked out all the new play areas.  There were skate parks, climbing walls, a Whale Playground and a heated Olympic sized pool.  The wind was blowing that hard that it was making a vibration as it blew through the balustrading. 

We then drove up the coast road as far as Burns Beach and then returned the same way to Mullaloo Beach and had lunch at the Dome (similar to Coffee Club in Qld) restaurant.  We then returned to Westfield Whitford Central to get the rest of Darryl’s tablets, back to the van park and got the gas bottle refilled and did two loads of washing.

We then headed out to “Farmer Jack’s” (WA’s own supermarket), then up to Julie and Alan’s to thank them for their hospitality and to say farewell until next time.

Back to the van and pack up as much as possible before we hit the road again tomorrow and make our way up towards New Norcia (Australia’s only monastic town).  We have been told it is a very interesting place.

Tue 30^th Oct. We headed north to New Norcia and spent about 4 hours looking around this Monastic town.   A lot of the places we wanted to see were now off-limits to the travellers :C  So, we continued on our way to Miling and camped in the sports grounds for $20.  The grounds have 4 powered sites of which 2 have been taken up by road workers.  They are putting in a town bypass as part of the Great Northern Highway upgrade, which will link Perth and Darwin.  We had a leisurely dinner and retired reasonably early ready for tomorrow.

Wed 31^st Oct.  We headed off at 8.30am and continued north through Dalwallinu towards Mount Magnet.  We went through quite diverse country side and each time we stopped we were overcome by the flies.  So I had to fossick in the back for our fly nets – and could only find ONE.  Into the service station and purchased another one so that when we stop we both will be protected from these pesky critters that like to fly up your nose and into your eyes and ears.  Are the bliss!!!  We stopped in Mount Magnet but most things were closed as it is ‘outside the tourist season’ :C  Bugger!

Continued on and found a HUGE camp and parked up.  It was close to 4pm so time to stop.  There was a beautiful breeze blowing which kept us cool most of the time.  We did have truck generators most of the night, as one pulled out, the next pulled in.  The noise from the road increased about 5am

Thu 1^st Nov.  We were up and on our way by 8.30am and got fuel at Meekatharra.  We also visited Farmer Jack’s and topped up the groceries. Most of the café’s and art studios are locked up – so looks like we miss out again.  There are so many open-cut GOLD mines in this area.  The biggest we saw was WESTGOLD.  The landscape reminded me of Coober Pedy and the fenced off holes in the ground proved that they are still digging for gold :D

We continued our journey and had to pull over to allow 2 x 8-meter wide loads to go past, and stopped at the South Gascoyne River, in another HUGE rest area at 3pm.  Toilets, BBQ’s/firepits and a dump point.  We are right back near the river (which has about 1 metre of brackish water in it and there must be a carcass somewhere as we get a whiff every now and then) so won’t be bothered by truck generators tonight. 

We found out this afternoon that our nephew Nathan [who lives in WA and works at Tom Price] is not home, as he and his family are holidaying south of Perth.  Bugger, we were looking forward to surprising them with a visit.  Maybe next time.

Fri 2^nd.  We left South Gascoyne at about 8.30am and headed north up the Great Northern Highway.  There is truly some beautiful country in Australia.  We arrived in Newman at about 11.30am and stopped at the Big Scoop truck at the southern entrance to town and then went in to the Visitor Information Centre. The ladies there were very helpful BUT because it is now November, there are no tours operational for us to see. 

We filled with fuel and then parked the van and went to DOME for a coffee. We did go up to the Radio tower Hill and check out the town.  The wind was blowing, and it was very WARM and so we headed back out of town to the Great Northern Highway and headed for the recommended rest area at Mount Robinson, 108km NW.  We were the second ones in at 4pm but were quickly joined by 2 other vehicles with roof-top tents.  It was a very warm night, but the wind continued most of the night.

Sat 3^rd. Our dear friend Sue was celebrating a birthday today, as were our cousins Darryl and April.

We left camp just after 8am and made our first stop at Albert Tognolini Rest Area and had a great view of one of the gorges of the Karrijini National Park.  We then continued to Port Hedland up through AUSKI and had to pull over to allow a 7.5metre load across the bridge.  These loads are massive, and they are only permitted to travel at 10kmph over the bridges.

We arrived not long after lunch and checked into the Discovery Parks at Cooke Point. [We are caravan parking it as it is SOOO hot and this way we can have the Air-con on, instead of just the 12volt fan].   We were allocated the deluxe spot as the van is 28feet long in total length, apparently with a view over the lagoon. HUH HUH!!! It is a vegetation area on the edges of the creek and that is it.  We were, however, right near the pool BUT the gate gets locked at 6pm and reopens after 9am.  This time of year, it is HOT all the time and there are no covers over the pool, so why open so late and close so early????  It was daylight until 7.30pm.  Working out what we were doing tomorrow and realised that we had to stay until Monday as we are expecting an Express Post letter at the post Office.  So we went over and paid for an extra night.

We went for a drive through Port Hedland and checked out the ships being loaded and then out to the train observation deck to see trains loaded and unloaded on the tracks.  These are quite near the salt heap also – huge mounds of glistening white salt.

Sun 4^th. A busy day for birthday’s today, Cousins Simon, Victoria and Luke.

We left the park just after 8am and headed out to Marble Bar.  203km SE of Port Hedland.  It was a lovely drive and we saw lots of Mulla Mulla [both purple and white] on the side of the road.  We arrived in town at about 10.25am and headed for the visitor information centre.  We are lucky as the volunteers are only opening on Sat and Sun now.  The thermometer in the Anzac Park tells us that it is currently 41.4degrees!!!  It is only 10.30am!!!

The lady at the info centre was VERY helpful and gave us points of interest to see.  Marble Bar Pool and Chinaman’s Pool, the Anzac Park (already checked that out), The solar/Diesel power station that is the only provider of power for the whole of Marble Bar, and if we wanted a coffee or lunch than the Travellers Rest motel was the place to go.  Nothing else in town was open.  She did suggest that we travel 80km South on the Newman Road to visit the Veteran’s Retreat but decided that we may run a little short on fuel.

We did call into the motel for a coffee and quick lunch before touring the spots suggested and then called in again for a cold drink before heading back to Port Hedland.  We arrived back in town about 4pm but continued around town taking photos of murals and sculptures, before arriving back at the van at about 5pm ----- just in time for a swim before closing.

Mon 5^th. Another busy day for birthdays – Cousins Cheryl and Rebecca, and our friends Elaine and Nora.

We decided to err on the side of caution and extended out stay by an extra night – just in case our letter hasn’t arrived.  We had to wait until 9am for the office to open before doing so.  Once done and the washing was hung out, we headed into town to the main post office.  YAY the letter was here and had been since the 1^st November.  What!!! That means it only took 3 days to arrive from Beenleigh in Qld.  WOW.  We called into the visitor information centre and got some brochures for our travels north and east and were told about the Flatback Turtle Nesting that was occurring and if we wanted to, we could do the tour that night.  WOW.  So, we got our FREE tickets (They record numbers and you had to hand your ticket in on arrival, so the rangers can make sure that all are accounted for).

 So, we decided we would travel south to the South Hedland township and check it out.  It has a nice layout and the shopping area seems better laid out than the main town and the shopping centre was cooler and had more occupied stores.  Back to the van and got the washing in and folded, had a little dinner before heading off at 7.15 to the meeting point on Cemetery Beach.  We had a great 1 1/2hours walking along the beach and being advised on what was happening with the turtles.  We were lucky enough to witness two turtles laying their eggs and heading back to the ocean.  We were all sitting/standing in a huddle awaiting clearance from the rangers to proceed along the beach, when we noticed a turtle had come out of the surf right near us.  We were told to Drop and act like a ROCK until she had passed us, so she didn’t get spooked and head back into the waves.   She made her way up the beach and was only about 20 – 30cm from our feet as she passed.  Unfortunately, no cameras or photography was permitted, so we only have our visual memory of it.

Tue 6^th. We were up early as it was warming up and there was lots of activity in the park.  We left Port Hedland at about 8.30am and headed out to the Great Northern Highway again and north we went.

The first rest area from here is closed due to an environment pest – Noogoora Burr.  They say it COULD be up to 7 YEARS before the site will be open to travellers again.  The burr can ruptured the cattle’s stomach and has to be removed and burnt if found.  We stopped at Pardoo Roadhouse and topped up the fuel and continued to Sandfire Roadhouse.  We made it here by 12.30pm to find that the ‘Race that stops a Nation’ had been completed, albeit with the loss of one of the racehorses.  A very sad time for the owners and trainers and the jockey.

We were making good time and we were both feeling good, so we topped up with fuel and continued on our way.  We travelled 580km today and arrived at Roebuck Plains Roadhouse (33km East of Broome) at about 5.15pm.  We booked in for 2 nights.  We set the van up and then went to the Roadhouse for dinner.  We both had great meals – mine was locally caught barramundi and Darryl had ribs.