The Final Leg – Maldon to Geelong

2 – 3 December 2022

We found our cabin in the caravan park at Maldon and to say we were underwhelmed would be a big overstatement. It was old, tired and not particularly clean in some parts. It was, however, adequate for our overnighter before sailing to Tasmania.

We had booked a night sail so we had the whole day to fill in. Unfortunately the time had been changed from 9:30pm to 11:30pm so that day would be a very long one! We started by going into Maldon for a look around and to have morning tea. Maldon retains many of its original buildings from when the town was established at the height of the Victorian gold rush. Many businesses don’t open until 10:30 or 11:00am giving us an indication that this is a town very reliant on weekend tourism. We browsed the town and considered the route we would take to Geelong.

Our next stop was Castlemaine, about 20 kilometres away. Castlemaine is bigger and was a much busier place so we parked in a back street and wandered around the main street. We did some Christmas shopping and found an art exhibition in the very nice visitor information centre before adjourning to a bakery for lunch.

From Castlemaine we set off for Daylesford – a drive of about 40 kilometres. We knew this place would be even busier as we had visited on a previous trip. We didn’t stay long – just a quick walk up the street to browse in a couple of op shops. From there we headed the short distance down the road to Sailor’s Falls. This is a nice spot with a walk down lots of stairs to the falls themselves. Unfortunately the promised loop walk to the spring was closed. It was a really hot day so we weren’t keen on too much walking anyway.

Next stop was Creswick, another 30 kilometre drive. This is a nice small town where we had ice creams followed by a walk up and down the main street. We called in to the Visitor Information Centre to try to find somewhere to spend some time but the place we chose was absolutely full of young people enjoying the swimming area with much gusto. Definitely not what we were hoping for so we made our way to Ballarat, another 20 kilometres away.

Ballarat is a major city and we knew it had a large botanic gardens and lake so that was where we headed. Along the way we found the cheapest fuel we had seen for a very long time – under $2.00 per litre for diesel and more than 25c per litre cheaper than we had seen up the road a bit. Of course we filled up as we didn’t expect to see that sort of price again for a while, if ever.

We spent some time having a look around the botanic gardens, including the glass house with its beautiful array of flowering plants. With time still to spare we took the car to a nearby carwash then returned to the Botanic Gardens to consider our next move. We decided that the best thing to do would be to hang around in the gardens for a bit longer then have dinner in Ballarat before driving to Geelong.

We used a popular review website to choose a pub for dinner and were very pleased with our choice. The Grapes is a small “local” pub which had a really nice, friendly feel. The menu contained lots of variety – without the heavy reliance on deep fried food so often found in pubs. Unusually for a pub, table service was provided and there was not a single gaming machine within cooee of the dining room. The service was great and the meals fantastic. We would happily dine there again.

We used Google Maps to determine what time we should leave Ballarat and we were finished dinner and ready to leave shortly ahead of time. We set off for the new Spirit of Tasmania departure point in Geelong. We have always found the drive into and through Melbourne to be very stressful so we were hoping the new port would prove easier.

Coming in from Ballarat the GPS took us around the outskirts of the city and there was hardly any traffic. Even on a Saturday evening we were expecting more. The directions were easy to follow and we arrived just after check-in had commenced. After a very long day we were glad to have the end finally in sight. The bonus for us was that the weather forecast was for a very smooth crossing. We were on board in time for a nightcap before settling into our cabin which was right at the pointy end of the boat. Because of the location we were not permitted to have the blinds open with the lights on to watch our progress across the bay but the late night departure meant we were asleep before too long anyway.

Patchewollock

28 November - 2 December 2022

We left Mount Compass and made our first stop at Strathalbyn for morning tea in a very nice bakery, then continued on through the Fleurieu Peninsula to Wellington. We travelled across the Murray River by ferry and could see that the river level was higher than when we had crossed at several points earlier in the year. After huge rainfalls across eastern Australia, the Murray River, and others, were awaiting the arrival of floodwaters.

We stopped for lunch at a small picnic area in Peake, still in South Australia, then continued along the Mallee Highway. We turned off towards Patchewollock and our destination on a property set up for birdwatchers. The accommodation was basic but had everything we needed and the hosts were knowledgeable and friendly.

Visitors to Explore the Mallee are required to participate in a tour of the property before making use of the tracks and bird hides so Mick went out with our host Michael on the first morning. The tour included some birding but is mainly an orientation. There is a cost involved for the tour and also for the use of the hides.

Mick visited the bird hides on our second day – one was best in the morning and the other in the late afternoon. On our third morning we ventured out for a drive into Wyperfield National Park, about ½ hour away. Michael had provided some maps with good birding spots so we stopped a few times along the way to Snowdrift Picnic Area and Campground. This campground looked like a lovely spot to camp with a huge sand dune as the backdrop. We climbed and scrambled our way up the steep dune to the top where there are magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.

We also spent time during our stay getting the trailer sorted and ready to go into storage as well as packing the car ready to go to Tasmania. We were fortunate to have bright sunny days so we were able to make sure everything was dried out and decided to make our last night before sailing to Tassie, a night in a cabin, just in case. Finding a cabin for a Friday night in reasonable proximity to Bendigo where we were to leave the trailer, proved to be quite a challenge. In the end we found one in Maldon that would allow us to drop the trailer off on Friday afternoon, and then make our way to Geelong for our Saturday night sail.

With a relatively short drive to get to Bendigo we left Explore the Mallee mid-morning and headed along minor road towards Wycheproof,  then on to a lovely picnic area near the river at Charlton for lunch. The nearby caravan park looked like a nice spot as well. From there we drove to the caravan storage facility just out of Bendigo.

Once we had dropped the trailer off we set off to drive to Maldon for our last night before sailing to Tasmania. 

Mount Compass

23 – 28 November 2022

We left Port Augusta and made our first stop at Crystal Brook for morning tea in the park. We wandered around the friendly town and had a look in some of the shops, including a community run antiques and collectables shop. We had stopped in Crystal Brook for coffee or lunch a few times but have never stayed overnight and keep saying that is something we must do. Maybe next time.

We continued on and had lunch in the park at Port Wakefield then set off to drive through Adelaide and on to Mount Compass in the Lower Mount Lofty Ranges on the Fleurieu Peninsula. We had arranged to have a couple of nights there with friends Judy and John.

We had never been to Mount Compass before but picked it for its proximity to Cox Scrub, a favourite birding spot. We were pleasantly surprised to find a well laid out caravan park, with lush green grass on the spacious sites. It had a very nice friendly feel about it and was a great place to stay.

We spent the evenings with Judy and John and went out in the mornings to take photos of birds. After 2 nights we all decided to stay an extra night and go for lunch at the pub the next day. The Mount Compass Hotel has a surprisingly large menu – something we haven’t seen for a while – and we all enjoyed a delicious lunch.

Judy and John left to continue their travels after 3 nights at Mount Compass and we ended up staying an extra two nights. The small town had everything we needed – supermarket, op shop, bottle shop and hardware, as well as a gift shop and antique shop.

Each morning we set off early on the 20 minute drive to Cox Scrub. Mick had learned of this place from a local birder he had met at Laratinga Wetlands a couple of years before and it has become a favourite for its reliable puddles of water which attract honeyeaters and parrots. We were first to arrive each morning, with locals coming a little later. We were fortunate that the rain that fell on a couple of days didn’t start until late in the morning so it didn’t interfere with his activities.

From Mount Compass we had a long drive across the border into Victoria to stay in a cottage near Patchewollock.

Port Augusta

21 – 23 November 2022

After our two nights in a cabin in Ceduna we headed eastward off across the top of the Eyre Peninsula with no firm destination in sight. As we drove we checked the weather forecasts and decided that we would probably return to Port Augusta, which is becoming one of our regular stops.

We had lunch in the park at Minnipa and arrived at Port Augusta mid-afternoon. We booked into an ensuite site at the caravan park we always stay at and were pleased that it wasn’t too crowded. It was still quite windy but manageable, and forecast to be lighter overnight and into the next few days.

As always we went to Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens for a walk amongst the beautiful and varied vegetation, and to look for birds to photograph. The gardens look like they have a had a lot of work carried out lately, but the birdlife wasn’t as abundant as usual.

Later in the day we went into town to do some shopping, picking up supplies for the next few days. We have always found Port Augusta to be a good base to restock and the caravan park we choose is very well looked after and has all the required amenities. Being close to the Arid Lands Gardens has made it almost a compulsory stop for us.

We had been in contact with friends who were also travelling through South Australia and arranged to meet them in Mount Compass, so that was where we headed when we left Port Augusta.

Ceduna

19 – 21 November 2022

We had decided on two overnight stops along the Nullarbor so that Mick could again go looking for some local birds at Nullarbor Roadhouse. We calculated our arrival time, taking into consideration another timezone change and it looked like we would arrive mid-afternoon which would allow some birding in the afternoon and again in the morning.

We stopped for fuel at Mundrabilla and then coffee at Eucla where we checked the weather forecast for Nullarbor and our hearts sank – there were gale warnings for much of the Nullarbor and South Australia. We had to consider our options and came to the conclusion that we would have to get a cabin or room as there is no way we could set up the trailer in winds in excess 40km/h (with gusts expected at 80km/h).

We tried to call ahead to Ceduna without success so continued on to Nullarbor Roadhouse. The wind was behind us which made for fantastic fuel economy but it was so strong it was almost impossible to get out of the car. Mick grabbed some bread, butter and promite which he made into sandwiches in the car, while I booked us a cabin in Ceduna.

We knew we wouldn’t arrive in Ceduna until late so I emailed the caravan park to let them know and we continued our journey. When we arrived in Penong it looked like our plans may come completely unstuck with a very serious truck crash on the eastern outskirts of town causing the road to be completely blocked. Fortunately for us a friendly local came over and directed us to some farm tracks that would take us around the accident site and had us back on our way in a few minutes.

We stopped at the Quarantine Checking Station where our fridge and pantry were checked and made it the caravan park just after 6:30pm. We were directed to a very nice cabin where we were able to park the trailer just outside our door. The wind was ferocious so we knew we had made the right decision.

The wind continued throughout the next day, with some rain as well. We did manage to go for a walk to the supermarket in between showers. 

Last time we stayed in Ceduna we had a very nice meal at the pub bistro next door to the caravan park so we decided to do the same again. Our meals were delicious and generous. I had the Boston Bay Mussels again but this time they were cooked in a rich tomato sauce with chorizo for added flavour, and were served with a few prawns and garlic bread. Yum! Mick had his usual chicken schnitzel which he also enjoyed very much.

We left Ceduna and continued driving eastward, not completely sure where we would end up.

Madura

 18 – 19 November 2022

After leaving Salmon Gums we stopped briefly at Norseman before finally heading east and on to the Eyre Highway which would take us across the Nullarbor and into South Australia.

We usually have a picnic lunch but we were driving through rain (good thing we replaced the wiper blades), and the sky ahead was dark so we stopped at Balladonia for lunch in the roadhouse before continuing on to Madura.

Travelling east to west we had to adjust our clocks forward 45 minutes so it was after 4:00pm when we pulled up for the night. More rain was forecast but we had timed our arrival well and were able to get set up and dinner organised before the rain started. It was really cold and windy outside so we had our pre-dinner drinks and a grazing platter for dinner inside where we were warm and dry. Sometimes you just have to adapt to the local conditions.

More rain had been forecast for the morning but the sky was clear as we packed up and set off to continue our journey across the Nullarbor.

Salmon Gums

17 – 18 November 2022

After finding our way out of Mason Bay on an undamaged road we drove through Hopetoun and on to Ravensthorpe where we stopped for a coffee. We could have taken a short cut along the Southern Ocean Road, but were not prepared to risk it as we had seen a “Flood Damage” sign at the turn-off the previous day.

We continued along the South Coast Highway to Esperance where we stopped for lunch and to get some new windscreen wiper blades fitted. From Esperance we turned northwards and stopped at Salmon Gums for the night.

Salmon Gums has a small community run campground/caravan park. On arrival we called the caretaker – one of four locals who look after the park – and were told to pick a spot and leave payment in the honesty box. As an overnighter this is a perfectly adequate spot – clean amenities, a laundry and some nice bush nearby. It is close to the rail line but we didn’t notice any noise overnight.

In the morning we went for a walk before leaving to cross the Nullarbor.

Mason Bay

16 – 17 November 2022

We left Cheynes Beach and headed towards Ravensthorpe where we stopped to do some shopping, then headed to Mason Bay Campground, another one where we had stayed previously. Unfortunately we trusted the GPS and took a back road that had recently been flooded and still had a few spots where there was water on the road, a causeway that had water right across it and some fairly significant damage.

We arrived at the campground and found a good spot that provided some protection from the wind. With just an overnight stay planned we were able to leave the trailer hooked up to the car. The campground is council run and is one of many that are moving to a booking system – not yet in place when we stayed but coming very soon.

Mick spent some time photographing the birds he had come to see and in the morning we went for a short walk on the beach before leaving and starting the journey towards “home” in earnest. This time we took the road straight back towards Hopetoun and were pleased that this road was in good condition with no water and no flood damage. This is the road we should have been on the previous afternoon!

Cheynes Beach

13 – 16 November 2022

Leaving the Stirling Ranges we returned to the Porongorups and Castle Rock. Again the weather was not conducive to a strenuous hike to the Granite Skywalk but the birding around the carpark was again productive. From there we stopped for fuel on the outskirts of Albany and then on to Cheynes Beach.

There are three Western Australian endemic birds that can be found at Cheynes so Mick was hopeful that he would be able to find them. To maximise his chances he climbed out bed at 4:15am and was off with the camera after a quick breakfast. He returned after almost 4 hours with the news that he had been able to photograph all three birds, as well as some honey possums. He was very pleased with his morning’s outing. He did go out on the other two mornings we were at Cheynes but left it a little later each morning, without the same success.

We went for a couple of drives around the area and for a walk along the beach in a couple of spots. We also visited the “offal pits” to do some birding. Cheynes is quite a sheltered beach and is very popular as a fishing spot. Although we saw a number of people fishing we weren’t aware of anyone actually catching.

The weather forecast was for more cold, wind and rain but again we were hopeful it wouldn’t impact us too heavily over the next few days as we headed to Mason Bay.

Stirling Ranges

8 – 13 November 2022

After leaving Crowea we made our way along forest roads to the Gloucester Tree – to look for birds. It had been a fairly productive location when we visited 4 years previously and it was this time too. We had morning tea there and considered our next stop. We decided that despite some iffy weather coming up we would make our way to the Stirling Ranges.

We headed through Pemberton, then back towards Manjimup where we turned off towards Mount Barker. We stopped at Lake Muir where there is a boardwalk out to a bird hide which overlooks the lake. Unfortunately the water was too far away to get a good look at what might be there, but there were picnic tables, a shelter and toilet so it made a good spot to have lunch.

We continued through Mount Barker and on to the Stirling Ranges. There is no camping in the national park so we stayed at the caravan park which is well known as a birdwatchers spot. We had our fingers crossed that the rain that was forecast wouldn’t eventuate – but we were wrong, we had rain off and on every day that we were there and the nights were bitterly cold. Despite that it is a beautiful spot and Mick was able to get lots of good bird photos just around the caravan park and surrounds.

On our first day we spent the day at camp – with Mick venturing around the grounds between showers of rain. He met a couple of other birders who were happy to share their recent sightings.

The following morning the sky was clear but with rain forecast for later in the day we decided to go out for a drive along the loop that takes you through the Stirling Range National Park. There are a number of peaks that have hiking tracks but they are all Class 4 or 5, and with the weather the way it was, we weren’t keen. Instead we stopped at a lovely picnic spot at Red Gum Springs. There are toilets, picnic tables and BBQ. We continued on stopping at a couple of lookouts – Western and Central as well as another picnic area at White Gum Flat. It’s a lovely drive and we were lucky the rain held off until we were home.

We had booked to stay for three nights but decided to extend after a checking the weather forecast. There had been some quite heavy rain overnight and we weren’t keen to pack up wet, and then unpack in the wet at our next destination. After arranging the extra nights we drove to the Porongorups, about 45 kilometres away. We entered the National Park at Castle Rock where the Granite Skywalk is located. We decided against attempting this as there was rain on the way. Instead Mick spent the time photographing wrens in the carpark.

We had been told about a winery a little further on that had lots of birds in the gardens so we headed there. Unfortunately the rain started in earnest just as we arrived so we had to settle for coffee and cake, and wine tasting for me. I picked up a couple of bottles (no room for more) of lovely cool climate Sauvignon Blanc and Rose.

Saturday was cold, windy and rainy, as expected so we spent most of the day indoors catching up on social media and photo editing. Fortunately the rain overnight and into early Sunday morning was not significant and everything was dry enough to pack up. We were glad we had decided to stay the extra couple of nights. Our next stop would be another place we had been before – Cheynes Beach.

Crowea

7 – 8 November 2022

With only a couple of hours driving time to get to our friend’s place from Hamelin Bay we decided to have our first stop at Nannup. After morning tea in a park just before reaching the town, we drove on and found a terrific spot by the river where Mick spent a couple of hours photographing the birds. We stayed so long we had lunch there before setting off for Manjimup.

We did some shopping in Manjimup then set the GPS for Crowea and that was our big mistake! I had looked on Google Maps and had a bit of an idea about where we were going but did not commit it to memory and trusted the GPS – otherwise known as The Crazy Lady – to get us there.

After a travelling a significant distance down a main road she tried to get us to turn onto a fire trail which we ignored, then she tried another one. We realised this would not be an easy journey. Fortunately we had some mobile signal and a message from Jeff with some detailed directions had us going back the way we had come and taking the right road. After a couple of more wrong turns we eventually made it to Jeff’s place deep in the forest and set up camp beside the shed.

We enjoyed a fantastic night catching up on the 25 years since we had last seen each other. Watching the moon rise on a clear sky and sharing food and wine was a lovely way to end the day. In the morning our host took us on a tour of the property – once grazing land and now returning to forest. We met some of his favourite trees and saw the potential of regeneration up close with lots of small jarrah and karri trees around the place. We left, promising to return to this very tranquil spot.

After a very good look at Google Maps this time, we navigated our way towards Pemberton and the Gloucester Tree.

Hamelin Bay

4 – 7 November 2022

We left the caravan park at Woodman Point and drove down to the beach for a quick look. As we were walking along Mick stopped to talk to some fellow birders who told him about some birds much further along the beach, on the point. I waited on the beach and an hour and a half later, he returned, well pleased with having seen and photographed another new bird for the trip.

Finally back on the highway we drove south towards Busselton, stopping at Old Whittaker’s Mill rest area for lunch. There are no facilities at this spot, but it was sheltered from the wind by the trees. There are tracks looping through the trees all around the area, which looks like it is used by campers.

From there we continued on to the Bussel Highway and on through Margaret River, then on to Caves Road and Hamelin Bay. We called in to Hamelin Bay on our last visit to the west and it looked like a good spot. The caravan park is in the national park so dogs are not allowed which suits us perfectly.

Hamelin Bay is famous for the stingrays which gather in the bay, but we had come for the Rock parrots and other birds. The weather when we arrived was almost perfect – warm and with little breeze, but we knew that would probably change and that the nights would definitely be cold. We went for a walk along the beach and up onto the cliffs where the walking track forms part of the Cape to Cape Track.

On Saturday morning Mick was up early to photograph the birds, and after a late breakfast we headed to Augusta. We called in to Cosy Corner along the way so I could take a photo for a friend who was camped at Cosy Corner in Tasmania. Both beautiful spots but the WA one was very windy at the time so we didn’t stay long.

In Augusta we drove down to the water and found a lovely café for morning tea, before doing some shopping. The local Baptist Church community was holding a free sausage sizzle so we gratefully accepted a sausage and some fresh cinnamon donuts too. Despite their church affiliation there was no hard sell – we were happy to accept the free food along with a small flier which was discretely handed over with the food.

Hamelin Bay is famous for the smooth stingrays, black stingrays and eagle rays which live in the shallow waters of the Ngari Capes Marine Park and feed along the beach and around the old jetty. We were lucky enough to see a couple each time we went to the beach. It was difficult to get a photo because there were so many others trying to do the same thing and despite warnings to look but not touch and to stay a couple of metres away from these graceful creatures, many people were running along beside them and reaching out to pat them. We did manage a few photos when we noticed one further along the beach.

We left Hamelin Bay to travel to a friend’s place near Manjimup which would only take a couple of hours so we planned a couple of stops along the way.

Woodman Point

3 – 4 November 2022

We left our Perth accommodation early so that we could deliver the camper trailer to the Cub agent near Fremantle for a much needed service. Travelling through the city was very stressful, especially when we found ourselves in the wrong lane and had to double back after exiting the freeway at the wrong spot. Fortunately we had left home allowing plenty of time to get there and weren’t late after all. We then had the whole day to fill in as there were also some necessary repairs to be done.

After leaving the trailer we went to yet another lake – North Lake in the Beeliar Regional Park. We stopped on one side of the lake and could see a bird hide across the water so drove around to the other side. Unfortunately, lack of signage made it quite difficult to find the right spot to enter the park but we eventually took a punt on a small parking spot, and with the help of the gps on the phone, found the bird hide. Mick was pleased to find some more ducks to photograph. Driving back around the lake we stopped at a coffee van for morning tea, then set the gps to take us into Fremantle.

We stopped at a couple of op shops along the way and then had lunch in the city. With a few hours left before we could collect the trailer we found Brack’s Library and spent the rest of the afternoon there. With good free wifi and nice comfortable surroundings it was perfect. We have made a bit of a habit of spending time in local libraries and noticed a couple that we thought we had seen before. I asked, and sure enough, it was the same people we had seen in Darwin, Broome and Esperance! I wonder whether we’ll see them again somewhere.

Because we weren’t able to get back on the road until after 4:00pm we chose to drive just a short distance to Woodman Point where we spent just the one night. In the morning we went for a walk to the beach, didn’t find it. Instead of following the signposted bike path we followed a track that we thought would take us there – but it didn’t. Taking another likely track we stumbled across information about the old quarantine station that occupied the site – but still no sign of the beach so we gave up. We decided instead to drive down on our way out.

Karrinyup - Perth

 27 October – 3 November 2022

We had intended to treat ourselves to a couple of nights in a cabin every couple of months but we had not been able to find one in a nice location due to the huge numbers of people travelling. A couple of months previously we decided to book ahead to have a week in Perth and by the time we arrived we were ready for some comparative luxury.

We chose a caravan park with good facilities and a location that would allow fairly easy access to Herdsman’s Lake, Mick’s favourite birding spot in Perth. We also booked the car in for a service and arranged for the trailer to be serviced and some minor repairs carried out, on the day we were to leave. We were also able to fit in some time to wander around a nearby major shopping centre.

There are a number of lakes throughout Perth and we visited some of these looking to photograph birds. Herdsman’s wasn’t as good as last time were there with the wind chopping up the water and the reeds blocking the view in many parts. We also visited Jackadder Lake and Lake Monger. Lake Monger proved to be the best one this time with a nice sheltered corner and lots of ducks to photograph.

We went for an early morning drive to Victoria Dam which is where Perth’s water supply comes from. Located in a lovely spot up in the hills there is a walk through the bush to the dam wall and picnic area. Unfortunately vehicular access is not permitted beyond the first car park so we didn’t make use of the picnic area at the dam. Instead we drove to Lesmurdie Falls and found a very nice picnic area a short walk along the path from the carpark. After morning tea we walked along the path beside a babbling brook to the falls lookout. There are two lookout points with fantastic views to Perth city and beyond. There were also a number of birds to take photos of too!

Travelling around this beautiful country is wonderful but I do miss seeing my friends so it is always special when we can catch up with some along the way. We had a great night out in Perth with old mates who we only get to see when we come over this way.

After a lovely week relaxing and catching up on "city" jobs, we packed the trailer ready for an early morning departure that would take us through the city to a Cub agent and repairer near Fremantle. 

Toodyay

 24 – 27 October 2022

We spent some time photographing the wildflowers around Paynes Find before setting off for Toodyay. We stopped for lunch in Wongan Hills at the picnic area adjacent to the Visitor Information Centre. Unfortunately the centre was closed but the toilets, dump point and drinking water station were all accessible. We also wandered across the road to the op shop before continuing on.

We returned to the caravan park where we stayed on our last visit because of the bushland setting and abundant birdlife. We were allocated a site on the edge of the gully that had some water in it. We spent our time watching and interacting with the birds – many of them so friendly and used to people that they came right into our campsite.

We did some shopping while in Toodyay, including at the famous Christmas shop, op shop and the excellent co-op where we bought locally made goods. There is also a very good bakery and a supermarket as well as cafes and hotels.

On our final day we re-organised the camper trailer ready for a week in a cabin in Perth. We left late and went for a walk along the river before driving over to Northam for lunch and to look for the white swans – an introduced population. After lunch in the park, we found a couple of swans over the other side of the river. Once satisfied with a good look and another bird to add to the list we continued on to Perth.

Paynes Find

 23 – 24 October 2022

Thanks to a late checkout at Mount Magnet, we didn’t leave town until after lunch. Mick was keen to stay at Paynes Find as he had heard there was good birding there but first we had to stop and have a look around Kirkalocka.

The online resource Mick often uses had a number of spots around Kirkalocka Station and nearby that he was keen to find so first we stopped at the rest area and had a bit of a look. This is another one of WA’s well set up 24 hour stops – toilets, picnic shelters, dump points and heaps of space well off the main road. Unfortunately most of the bush nearby was fenced so this limited the opportunity to go looking for birds.

We drove back down the road to find the spots on the station, but it has now been closed to the public so we had to content ourselves with a spot near a ridge along a track – again, no birds, but millions of flies! We left somewhat disappointed and continued south to Paynes Find, a small pastoral and mining community in Western Australia’s Mid West region.

There isn’t much there except a roadhouse/tavern with camping and accommodation so we decided that would do. As we neared our destination, the clouds that had started to gather earlier in the day began to look quite ominous and the first drops of rain began as we pulled up at the roadhouse to buy fuel. We considered our options and decided that we would camp the night, and have dinner in the tavern.

Although there wasn’t much rain, it was enough to make it a bit miserable, and the temperature dropped causing us to reach for the jeans and jumpers for the first time in quite a while. It was a bit of a contrast to the singlets and shorts we had started the day wearing.  Dinner at the tavern was OK and we had been able to get one of only a couple of powered sites so we tucked ourselves in early and streamed some tv.

In the morning the clouds were still quite threatening so we packed up after breakfast then went for a walk around the campground. There were so many wildflowers – in variety and number – growing on and around old mullock heaps. We took lots of photos, then set off to continue our journey south, with Toodyay our next stop.

Mount Magnet

21 - 23 October 2022

The drive to Mount Magnet would take less than an hour from Cue so we took our time packing up and left around 10:00am. On the way we stopped to have a look at The Granites, about 10 kilometres north of our destination. There is a very basic map at the entrance from the highway, indicating some picnic areas and a walking track, but we could see a huge number of tracks going off in all directions. We found a picnic area to have a cuppa before having a bit of an explore. This should be a good birdy spot so a return in the afternoon or early morning was put on the agenda.

We arrived at the caravan park in Mount Magnet and had lunch before having a quick look around town. Once again a town with not much other than pub, supermarket and post office. There is evidence of lots of mining operations in the area and most of the traffic on the highway is enormous mining and supply trucks.

We decided to leave the visit to The Granites until the morning, so set the alarm for 5:00am. We had a good look at the map this time, and checked the area out on Google Maps in satellite view. It is an amazing landscape with a significant breakaway and lots of rocky outcrops and ridges. We stopped at a few spots, over about 3 hours, so Mick could photograph birds. He didn’t find the one he was after so we decided to spend an extra night in Mount Magnet and try again.

We went back to The Granites again in the afternoon and Mick ventured out on his own again in the early morning. He still didn’t find the bird he was after, but it wasn’t for want of trying.

The caravan park offers a third night free but we had to keep moving to fit in the rest of the stops we needed to make before our Perth booking. Because we only had another short distance to travel, we asked if we could stay until about 2:00pm. The friendly response was “no problem” – so we stayed until after lunch, then headed south.

Cue

19 – 21 October 2022

Cue was on Mick’s list of birdy spots to visit so that’s where we headed. We stopped for coffee in Meekatharra, and discovered a book exchange at the Visitor Information Centre. Along the way we stopped at Lake Nallan to photograph some ducks and admire the wildflowers.

We continued on to Cue and arrived around lunch time – again! We set up and retreated to the camp kitchen to escape the flies. Later in the day we took a drive to the scenic lookout for a view across the area where evidence of past and present mining operations is clearly visible.

We rose very early to drive the 20 kilometres to Lake Austin – a salt lake where birds were likely to be found. Mick spent a couple of hours wandering around with the camera.

Cue was once a bustling hub, but had all but died with only a few businesses open. The caravan park has everything you could need, including a recreation room and enclosed kitchen. There is a pub which opens in the evening and a genuine “old school” general store complete with long counter and goods displayed on shelves behind. We also found the op-shop which had a fabulous collection of books for sale at $1 each.

It looks like the local council is trying very hard to provide facilities and points of interest for travellers including a very good Visitor Information Centre, a lovely little park with picnic tables and building restorations being carried out. Hopefully, one day Cue with be a town bustling with tourists.

Gascoyne River (South) Rest Area

 18 - 19 October 2022

We left Karijini with a big drive ahead of us, again unsure about how far we would be able to travel. We stopped in Newman, another mining town, and did some grocery shopping, fuelled up and had lunch in the picnic area adjacent to the Visitor Information Centre. We returned to the Great Northern Highway and continued south.

We don’t often stay at rest areas, but Western Australia has some that are available for 24 hour camping, and have toilets, picnic areas and dump points. The one at Gascoyne River (South) is also nicely situated on the river, with lots of space well back from the road. We arrived around 3:30pm, tired and ready to stop. We found a nice spot close to the river and set up a quick camp for the night – no awning and we left the trailer hitched to the car.

The spot was attractive enough but we soon discovered that the flies and mosquitoes were prolific. We ended up sitting inside to have dinner – but with the back flap rolled up we did have a lovely view.

There was a bit of highway noise through the night but nothing we couldn’t manage. While not the best place to spend the night, this rest area certainly served us well. From there we continued south to Meekatharra.

Along the way we saw lots of wildflowers, especially in the disturbed ground on the edges of the road. We stopped at Lake Nallan for a look – and to photograph some ducks.

Karijini National Park – Dales Campground

 15 – 18 October 2022

We left Tom Price and drove the 110 km to Karijini National Park, arriving around morning tea time. We called into the visitor centre and were given lots of great information about the walks. The lady we spoke to took the time to explain the different walks, and created a possible itinerary for us. We found our campsite and set up, with a bit of shade as well as lots of sun to keep the solar panels working well.

It was a very hot afternoon, so we waited until late in the day to drive the short distance to Dales Gorge to have a bit of a look around and decide what we would do the following day. First we went to the Circular Pool Lookout, then to the Three Ways Lookout. We’ve seen lots of gorges on this, and previous, trips and this one is quite spectacular. We also drove to the Jubula (Fortescue Falls) Lookout and again marvelled at this magnificent sight.

We decided to tackle the Ngirribungunha (Dales Gorge) Rim Walk early in the day and drove back to the Circular Pool Lookout as our starting point as that would give us the sun behind us for the outward journey. This walk is the only easy walk in the park – Grade 2/3 – and is about 2.4 kilometres return. There is a loop that can be completed by descending into the gorge but we decided that would be too strenuous for us as it is rated Grade 5. The rim walk is mostly a well-made, fairly level pathway, but there are a couple of gully crossings that are quite rough, and some small up and down sections. The path is mostly on gravelly ground so good shoes are essential.

On our walk between Circular Pool and Fortescue Falls Lookouts we saw the spot where you can access or climb out of the gorge – definitely not for us as it looked like it would involve some serious steep rock climbing. The guide booklet says there is a ladder and steep stairs. Access at the other end is via approximately 245 stairs that descend to Fortescue Falls.

After morning tea back at camp we set off for a swim at Fortescue Falls – down the 245 stairs. The walk down was easy and once we reached the bottom we continued on to Jubura (Fern Pool) which most people agree is the nicest spot. There is a fairly new platform where you can sit and enjoy the surrounds, as well as ladders to climb in and out of the pool. We took the pool noodles and floated around in the very cool water of Fern Pool. You can swim right over to the waterfall. This is a sacred place and visitors are asked to remain quiet and not jump or dive into the water.

From Jubura we walked back to Jubula and had another swim. We felt we should try both spots and have to agree with popular opinion – Jubura is by far the nicer swimming spot. The trek back up the stairs required a couple of stops along the way at the strategically place seats. It’s also nice to stop occasionally and take in the fabulous views.

We spent the rest of our time in and around the campground - there were lots of birds around and a curious dingo who visited each morning and afternoon. It looked like it was just waiting to pounce on any food left laying around. Unfortunately some well meaning but ignorant vistors feed these beautiful animals, causing them to become aggressive looking for more food. The result is that rangers are forced to euthenise them. 

We left Karijini after three nights and set off towards Newman and Meekatharra, slowly making our way to Perth.

 

Tom Price

12 – 15 October 2022

We had changed our Karijini National Park booking and had three days to travel from Cape Range so we were unsure where we would spend the time. After fuelling up – ourselves and the car - we drove back the way we had come to reach the North West Coastal Highway. Still back-tracking we stopped for lunch at Yannerie and then continued on to Nanutarra where we turned off towards Tom Price.

We decided to try to make it to Tom Price, even though it would be about a 7 hour journey from our starting point. We stopped in at a couple of rest areas that allow 24 hour camping. While they looked ok we thought it would be better to make our way to a caravan park in Tom Price. We arrived just after 5:00pm and were set up with a cold drink in our hands within about ½ hour.

As well as being in close proximity to Karijini NP, Tom Price is home to a grasswren that can be found on Jarndunmunha (also known as Mount Nameless), the highest accessible mountain by 4WD in Western Australia. Mick is collecting grasswren photos so this was high on the agenda. We spent our first day in Tom Price attending to so small repairs and restocking some consumables from the tool kit. We also treated ourselves to a lovely lunch at the pub – typical huge meals at reasonable prices. As usual we stopped at the Visitor Information Centre and collected some local information and asked about the drive up Jarndunmunha. This is a 4WD track and we were keen to obtain any local knowledge available before attempting the drive.  

We set the alarm for 5:00am so that we could drive up to the summit as early as possible. We left the caravan park and made our way to the top along the very rough, rocky and sometimes tricky road. We heeded the advice and took it slow, reaching the summit without incident. The views from the top were magnificent but the grasswren was nowhere to be found.

We set off to drive back down the mountain and stopped at a spot to chat to a couple of other birders. They had just photographed the elusive bird so Mick fetched the camera and went on search of – and this time he was duly rewarded with some great shots. The Rufous Grasswren even put in an appearance on the rock just near where I was sitting so I can now add that one to my list.

We returned home and had an early morning tea then set off in search of the water treatment plant – otherwise known as the poo ponds. We found the spot but the area was completely fenced off so not ideal for photos.  Later in the day we drove to Kings Lake which is quite a large recreation area with nice grassy lawns and picnic areas. Apart from the reed warblers there weren’t many birds to be photographed there.

We enjoyed our three days in Tom Price. Even though it is a mining town, it has a nice “village” feel and has all the shops and amenities required. The caravan park was well situated, out of town, with a nice view to Jarndunmunha. Refuelled and restocked, we left for Karijini National Park, where we had a campsite booked for the next three days.

Cape Range National Park – Kurrajong Campground

10 – 12 October 2022

We had booked 4 nights at Cape Range in the same campground we had stayed at in 2018. On the way we stopped in Exmouth to refuel and resupply, and have lunch before making our way to the western side of the peninsula.

We know that the west coast can be windy at this time of year but what we experienced was way beyond what we had anticipated. The wind was in excess of 35km/h as we were setting the camper trailer up. This required a carefully co-ordinated sequence of steps that included extra ropes and tie down points. Once we had managed to get things in order we went for a walk over the dune down to the beach. The camp hosts had told us that there were still whales about, making their way slowly south after calving in waters of the Kimberley coast. Unfortunately the strong sea breeze (there was actually a strong wind warning) meant the sea was far too choppy to see anything other than white caps inside the reef and surf outside it. Mick did manage to get some nice photos of the sunset, but no marine life this time.

After a restless night with the wind hammering the canvas we drove to the Milyering Visitor Centre to check the weather forecast and have a look at hiring snorkelling gear. Our worst fears were realised when we saw that the weather would remain the same for the duration of our stay – winds in the 30 – 35km/h range with gusts up to double that. This would make snorkelling and swimming very unpleasant.

While we were out we drove down to Lakeside which had been one of our favourite snorkelling spots on our last visit but this time we just walked on the beach. We also revisited Trealla Beach where Mick had photographed an Osprey on its nest, but there was no trace of it.

Once we were home we carefully considered our options and decided that there was no point in staying if we couldn’t do the things we had come to do so, after lunch, we went back to the visitor centre and changed our booking to leave the following day. We also brought forward our booking for Karijini which would give us a couple of extra days on the way to Perth.

We were very sad to be leaving early but it was such a struggle to manage camping in the wind, especially trying to cook. When we were packing up the winds were recorded at 37km/h by the BoM. That was not much fun but we did somehow get the trailer and awning packed away without too much fuss – just a lot of planning and working together which we always do anyway.

On the way back in to Exmouth Mick spotted some birds on the oval so he had a pleasantly unexpected session with the camera before we went into the visitor centre for a coffee.

Bullara Station

 8 – 10 October 2022

We left Onlsow bound for Bullara Station – another very popular station stay. We had hoped to get in the night before but the powered sites were fully booked. We made a stop for coffee at the roadhouse at Nanutarra and then had lunch at a rest area at Yannerie. From there we turned off towards Exmouth and arrived at Bullara in the early afternoon. We were now in the Gascoyne region.

Bullara has a reputation for being very friendly and well-run and we certainly found that. On arrival we checked in then proceeded to the “meet and greet” spot where one of the camp hosts gave us a run-down of the campground and activities. He also pointed out that the campground wasn’t too full as there had been 92 departures that morning!

Our site was close to the amenities, as requested, and had some shade also. It wasn’t far from the camp kitchen and one of the communal fire pits either. We wandered around the large campground and later in the afternoon we went for one of the station walks. This relatively short (2.6km return) took us to the top of a red sand dune that promised great sunset views. 

The camp host lights the communal campfire each evening so we wandered over for a short while after dinner. At the height of the tourist season there is entertainment and evening meals available but things were winding down ready for the closure in a couple of weeks' time so there were no extra activities available.

The Woolshed Cafe was open each morning so we took advantage and had very good coffee and scones for morning tea. Bullara boasts to have the best scones, as does Ellenbrae in the Kimberley. We tried both, and while both were excellent, we agreed that Bullara's are the best.

The wind conntinued to make things a little unpleasant but MIck was still able to get out and about with the camera. He didn't always have to go far with two bustards visiting the campsite each afternoon.

After two nights, we left Bullara and drove in to Exmouth on our way to Cape Range National Park.

Onslow

 5 – 8 October 2022

We drove out of the Millstream – Chichester National Park and on towards Pannawonica, where we stopped for what turned out to be the cheapest fuel we had seen in quite some months, and a very good cup of coffee at the café nearby. Pannawonica is a mining town so apart from the essentials there was nothing to keep us there for longer than necessary. 

We turned on to the North West Coastal Highway and continued on until we reached the Onslow turn off. Onlsow is on a peninsula and boasts both a sunset and a sunrise beach. It is also on the part of the coast that is very windy at this time of year.

We arrived at lunch time – again – and had a picnic lunch near the camp kitchen area before setting up the trailer. It was very windy, but we seemed to be in a reasonably sheltered spot, but still with a view of the ocean over Sunrise Beach.

There is a lovely park with a stunning Anzac Memorial adjacent to the caravan park and the beach. The memorial is shaped for the “rising sun” and is positioned to capture the sun as it rises. From the park there is a coastal boardwalk with lots of interesting interpretive information about the area, its people, industry and extreme weather.

We had booked in for two nights but extended to three as we needed an extra night before our next booked destination – which couldn’t be changed. Onslow is a nice little town with all the essentials except a good swimming beach, and the caravan park was not too crowded and was well set-up.

On Saturday morning we made our way back towards the North West Coastal Highway, with a stop to have a look for birds along the way.