Nele & Andrew Around Oz

Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park, WA

Day 97 – 24^th May 2011

Karijini Eco Retreat, Karijini National Park, WA

This morning we climbed up Mt Bruce (1232m ABSL – 480m climb – 9km return – 4h). It was very windy to begin with but conditions improved when we got nearer to the top. The views were amazing and you get a real sense of the landscape within and around the Karijini National Park. You also get a view of the Marandoo Mine Site. From here we took a dirt road (reasonably corrugated and stony) to the Karijini Eco Retreat via Joffrey Falls lookout.

RIP Lookout, Tom Price

Mt Bruce, Karijini NP

Start of the walk

Half way to the top of Mt Bruce

Having a rest

At the top of Mt Bruce

Nice views from the top

On our way down again

Half way down from the top

Nice scenery

Marandoo Mine Site

Joffre Falls, Karijini NP

Tom Price Tourist Park, Tom Price, WA

Day 96 – 23^rd May 2011

Tom Price Tourist Park, Tom Price, WA

Early morning we left Millstream NP and headed towards Tom Price via the private road owned by one of the mining companies. We had to get a permit from the Karratha visitor centre and they make you watch a 10min safety video. This road is used by most people heading to Tom Price instead of the public road as it is shorter and also maintained regularly. We found the road to be very good but it all depends on timing: has it been raining lately, when was it last graded etc… We found it hard to obtain information on the road condition but Karratha visitor centre seemed to have the best knowledge of the road. Along the way we passed a couple of long trains again carrying iron ore to Dampier. It’s a pretty drive between Millstream and Tom Price with views of the Hamersley ranges. Before heading into Tom Price we stopped at the Hamersley Gorge for a walk and a swim - beautiful spot with a couple of really nice pools. At Tom Price we stocked up on food and fuel (there is only 1 in town and it is very busy and expensive) and spent the night in the Caravan Park.

Drive to Tom Price

Trucks create a lot of dust

Nice scenery along the access road

Iron ore train... long train

Hamersley Gorge, Karijini NP

Having a refreshing swim

Hamersley Gorge

Tom Price bus stop

Crossing Pool Campsite, Millstream Chichester National Park, WA

Day 95– 22^nd May 2011

Crossing Pool Campsite, Millstream Chichester NP, WA

Enjoyed a sleep in this morning and after breakfast went for a walk along the Murlamunyjunha Trail to Crossing Pool. Nele enjoyed a swim at the pool before we retraced our steps back to the van. Visited the Millstream Homestead which features as the visitor centre with information on the Yindjibarndi people, the early settlers and the local fauna and flora. As it’s quite hot and the campsite offers little shade, we decided to move to the Crossing Pool campsite. Had to cross another 2 river crossings of which one was a bit deeper (approx 1ft) but we knew it was fine as our camp hosts had told us about it. Enjoyed another refreshing swim in the afternoon and Andrew spent quite a bit of time on mosquito proofing the van as there are mozzies around and we don’t like them with their nasty diseases.

Murlamunyjunha Walk

Pretty flower

and another one

Fortescue River crossing, Millstream NP

Cricket

Crossing Pool, Millstream NP

River bed - erosion caused by floods

Millstream Homestead

Jirndawurranha Pool

Fortescue River Crossing

Miliyanha Campsite, Millstream Chichester National Park, WA

Day 94– 21^st May 2011

Miliyanha Campsite, Millstream Chichester NP, WA

Enjoyed the last 90km of sealed road into Millstream Chichester NP as we will be travelling on gravel roads – of which some probably better than others - for the next few days. Saw some really long Pilbara Iron trains along the way. Stopped at Mt Herbert for a walk to McKenzie Spring (4.5km return - 1h), which makes part of the 8km Chichester Range Camel Trail and the Mt Herbert summit (600m – 20min). Continued on to Python Pool for a refreshing swim. It seems to be a popular spot with the locals from Karratha who come down for the day to relax and cool off. After lunch drove 60km on good gravel road to Miliyanha campground in the Millstream area of the NP. Had to cross the Fortescue River but wasn’t very deep, although we do wonder how the ranger crosses in wet season as we could see the river bed is a lot larger then and hence deeper in the middle as well. Stopped at Deep Reach Pool for a swim and Cliff Lookout for a view of the river and surrounding area.