We had a quiet day today doing a walk to, and along, the old Tanker Ferry.
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| Tanker Jetty |
After afternoon tea we headed out to do a walk along part of the Kapwari Walk Trail as we had been told there were many orchids there and they were right.
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| Various Orchids |
After 45 minute walk we headed to the Rotary Walk on one of the headlands for a walk there.
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| View from Rotary Walk, Esperance |
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| Whale Tail, Esperance Foreshore |
Day 45 – Esperance to Hyden – 446 km
An early start today as we have added an extra thing to the day’s itinerary. The weather is beautiful but the breeze is a bit cool. Headed to Helm’s Arboretum. This is an area of trees with many wild flowers under the trees.
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| Large Grass Tree Spike!! |
Spent over an hour driving around the arboretum before heading to Munglinup and Lake King before heading to Hyden and “Wave Rock”.
After paying the $10 to be allowed to walk around the rock we headed to Wave Rock itself and took the obligatory photos of the famous part of Wave Rock. They have built a wall around the edge of the top of Wave Rock to collect water for Hyden township to use (This is a common practice with these granite rocks).
We had the option to climb to the top but there were too many “tourists” so we walked around part of the rock to what is called Hippo’s Yawn which is an amazing rock formation.
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| Hippo's Yawn |
We then continued on the big walk that takes you across various salt flats and past the Wave Rock Resort which is a collection of self-contained units. The walk is interested but most of it was all the same.
Day 46 – Hyden to Perth – 396 km
Once again we had a sunny and still day – thank goodness we no longer have to cope with the strong winds.
First stop today was only 2 minutes from the motel – there are metal sculptures in Hyden telling the story of the “good” old days in these parts and they were very good.
Next stop was Buckley’s Breakaway and just for a change, it wasn’t an enormous granite rock, but rather an enormous gully that had been formed by being eroded by water. The walls of the gully are coloured white and ochre, and sort of look like clay cliffs.
After we’d wandered around there for a while, we had a fair drive (except for the occasional stop along the road to take photos of plants or flowers) to get to the Tin Horse Highway. As you can imagine, this is basically a number of tin horses that have been made and displayed along the side of the road. When I say “a number”, there isn’t any definitive number of horses as they appear whenever someone feels the need to put up another one, and each year, at the Kulin Picnic Races, there is a competition for the best new tin horse. The brochure for the Tin Horse Highway says there are approximately 77 of them! We started taking a photo of every one we saw, but when we realised how many there were, we gave that up.
Morning tea was at Jilakin Rock, which is where the picnic races are held every year over 3 days in October. There are signs along the way to remind people that the event is NOT BYO, and if anyone takes any alcohol in, it will be confiscated. Sounds like this is similar to Bong Bong races. But Jilakin Rock was worth having a look at. Yes, it was another enormous granite rock, but from the top was a good view across the salt lakes nearby.
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| Salt Lake from Jilakin Rock |
Next was Macrocarpa Trail just to the west. This trail gave us the opportunity to take more photos of plants and flowers! We don’t take quite so many now, as we try to only take them of plants and flowers we haven’t already seen (or don’t remember seeing).
On the road again, we headed west towards Perth, but first we had to stop at Gorge Rock – you guessed it, another enormous granite rock! This one used to have a hall and various other facilities, way back, as well as a swimming pool built by blocking up the “gorge” in the rock. Swimming is no longer permitted there, but the pool is still full.
Just down the road a bit is a town called Corrigin. The plan was to have lunch there – options being the pub or a café that had good reviews. But when we got there, the town was basically deserted, because they were all at the town show – we saw the showground on the way in to town, and it was very busy, sideshow alley and all! So of course, the combination of that, and the fact that it is Saturday, meant that the café wasn’t open, so the pub was it for lunch.
After lunch, our only aim was to find a nice spot for afternoon tea, where we could make sure we had everything organised for tonight in the hotel in Perth, and for getting on the Indian Pacific tomorrow. We found a nice place called Christmas Tree Well, which was about 70km east of Perth. There were picnic tables, but no facilities, but it was off the road a bit, so was quiet and we could easily get ourselves organised.
Arrived in Perth CBD, having negotiated big-city traffic, at about 5:30pm and checked in to Rydges. So we didn’t have to find something open in the CBD, we decided to have room service for tea – a margarita pizza and a 3-scoop serve of ice-cream. Both were very good, but then they should be for the price they charge.
Day 47 – Indian Pacific – 4 km
Well today is the big day as we start the trip from Perth to Adelaide on the Indian Pacific. We woke to a beautiful sunny day and headed off early to take the car to the train station for loading on to the Indian Pacific. At 8:20 caught the Perth Suburban train back from East Perth to Perth and had McDonalds for breakfast. Then back to the hotel to finish getting ready for the train trip. Caught a taxi to the station, as we had a suitcase and 2 backpacks and did not want to carry them.
Checked in for the Indian Pacific and sat near the train waiting to board the train.
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| Obligatory Photo with Indian Pacific (most other people did the same!!) |
Les went for a walk to the end of the train. Our car is on the train (last car on the carriage) and he counted about 30 carriages inc the locomotive.
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| Our car last one on the lower level and NO it did not fall off!! |
Boarded at about 11:30 am and waited for information from the Carriage Staff member. Unfortunately the cabin is rear facing which did not make us very happy. We were booked on forward facing but they do not guarantee you will get one. We mentioned it to the staff member and they said they would see what they could do but never heard back so Les spent the trip sitting sideways.
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| At least the Kids were forward facing!! |
They have allocated a time for lunch which was 2:15 pm!! We will be hungry by then. Spent the afternoon in the cabin watching the scenery go by.
Day 48 – Indian Pacific – 0 km
We did not sleep well last night as it was bumpy and noisy. The train stopped in Kalgoorlie for a few hours during the night for people to do a tour of Kalgoorlie but we did not as we had seen most of it when we came through a few weeks ago and thought we would get some sleep. When they returned some were very noisy so woke us but we would have woken up once the train started again anyway. Bits of poor sleep until early the next morning. Les was awake at 5:00 am and saw the fog.
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| Foggy morning on Nullarbor |
Saw 2 camels while we were having breakfast. Spent the morning in the cabin until about 12:00 when we arrived in Cook (population 5) and were about to spend half an hour in the fresh air and walking on solid ground.
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| Grey Nomad with Ipad |
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| Main Street of Cook |
Spent the afternoon in the cabin with Joy doing some cross stitch.
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| Change of scenery with red sand hills and white flowers. |
Dinner tonight was the same menu as the previous night other than the side vegies (Lunch menus had been basically the same both days).
Again did not sleep well but a bit better than the night before but still not good.
Day 49 - Indian Pacific and Adelaide to Clare – 169 km
Joy had set the alarm last night but as we had also changed the time due to the change of states and it meant that the alarm went off at 4:30 rather than 6:00 am. Unfortunately Les never got back to sleep again. Out of bed just after 6:00 am and had showers which was always a challenge (we wonder how the older passengers managed this). Dis-embarked about 7:30 and had breakfast in the café, which was very average. Collected the car and headed north out of Adelaide. Car clocked up the milestone of 123,456 kilometres.
Stopped at Auburn for morning tea and phoned the motel in Clare to see if we could book in early. Arranged for this and arrived at the motel at 10:35 and booked in and had a sleep for 3 hours or so. Drove down town and had afternoon tea. Next we went to Spring Gully Conservation Park for more wildflower photos and a walk to “Cascades”. The walked took about 1 ½ hours and arrived back at the motel at 5:10.
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| Cascades? Well maybe after rain!! |
Early to bed to catch up more sleep.
Day 50 - Clare to Broken Hill – 407 km
Today was basically a travelling day and we did not need to get away too early so we set the alarm for 7:00. After leaving the motel we stopped at the Bakery for bread rolls and morning tea treats. We got 1 Bienenstich (Bee Sting Cake) and 1 Quandong Roll. Had morning tea at Terowie and lunch at Yunta.
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| Terowie |
We have been seeing lots of Brown Hawks and 1 Wedgetail Eagle.
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| Almost got away before I got the photo!! |
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| NSW Wildflowers!!! |
Arrived in Broken Hill at 3:15 and unpacked the car and had afternoon tea. Put the washing on (first load anyway) and then headed off to do the shopping.
Day 51 – Kinchega National Park – 306 km
We have been to this National Park before but hoped to see some water in the lake this time. Lake Menindee is on the edge of the Darling River and next to the lake that provides water to Broken Hill.
Woke to a sunny day and after grabbing the normal bread rolls we headed south east out of town towards the park. Along the way we saw and photographed more wildflowers though not as many as in WA. Also saw lots (in the hundreds) of Emus along the road as well as many Hawks. Arrived at the Park at 10:30 and had morning tea in a picnic area before a short (100 metres or so) walk.
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| Les found a new friend. |
Back along the dusty partly corrugated road (only about 7 km and not as bad as Kalbarri National Park). Arrived at the Woolshed and did a walk around the inside and took a few photos.
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| Kinchega Woolshed |
After following the river for some distance we finally arrived back at the entry station to the national park and headed for home via Menindee and the Lake Menindee lookout. At the moment there is no water following into the lake and it is only at 20% full which means the only place to see any water in the lake, other than a few small waterholes, is at the lookout.
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| Lake Menindee |
A steady watchful drive home slowing on several occasions to avoid the emus on or near the road.
Day 52 - Broken Hill – 12 km
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| Broken Hill Accommodation. A1 First class!!! |
Quiet day today so just a town tour. First stop on our town tour today was the Block 10 Lookout. No this has nothing to do with “The Block” on TV. It is an old mining site on one of the hills near the centre of town and has a view over the Line of Load which is the large mullock heaps along the edge of Broken Hill often seen in photos.
Next stop was Jarrah Mosaics where a couple have lots of mosaics all around the house and yard and have opened the yard and studio to the public for a gold coin donations.
Next was Silver City Mint and Art Gallery which has many very nice paintings and lithos. It also has a 100 metre long painting but they charge $7.50 just to look at that one painting. Everything else is free. There is also a chocolate shop but like most of these things they are expensive. Went to “The Palace” hotel to look at the art work on the walls but they were closed so headed over to Bell’s Milk Bar where we had lunch. Every one raves about this place but we thought it was average.
Back to the cottage to catch up on diary, trip reviews as well as start packing. Joy made scones for afternoon tea with jam and whipped cream (made by putting cream in plastic container and shaking for a while!!). Joy also doing cross-stitch and reading.
Day 53 - Broken Hill to Nyngan – 601 km
Well the holiday is starting to come to an end as we start the “homeward trip”. The morning was sunny and we sat out the back for breakfast again. Packed the car and on our way at 8:00 to refuel and buy bread rolls and treats for lunch and morning tea. 600 km today and only go through 2 towns (plus Broken Hill and Nyngan) so spots for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are a bit of a problem so we stopped at road side rest areas.
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| Brown Hawks along the road. |
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| Morning Tea view |
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| Road Between Broken Hill and Nyngan. Yes it was surprisingly green for this area. |
Day 54 – Nyngan to Bathurst (Home) – 384 km
Another sunny day for the trip home. Up, showers, breakfast and packed and on the road by 8:15. Again today was just a driving day to get home. Had morning tea by the river, watching the Corellas act like fools.
On to Molong where we had lunch by the Molong Creek which was the only nice picnic table in town. Every thing is starting to look familiar as we get closer to home. Made it home at 2:10. Maggie was tentative to see us but only took a few minutes and sniffs of us to know who we were and she spent the night on Les’ lap.
Length of
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54 days
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Total Distance travelled (us driving)
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13.301 km
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Average per day
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246 km
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Days when we did not drive (buses, trains, taxis, etc)
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3 days
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Days when we drove more
than 500 km
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3 days (601 km on longest day between Broken Hill & Nyngan)
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Total Fuel used
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869 litres
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Average Fuel Consumption
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15.31 km per litre (6.53 litre per 100 km or 43.26 miles per gallon)
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Average fuel cost
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$1.57.
Paid over $1.60 - 9 times (out of 31) of which over $1.80 twice being $1.98 at Ecula (SA/WA Border) and $2.05.5 Balladonia (between Eucla and Kalgoorlie. Cheapest $1.37.9 in Adelaide |
Temperatures
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Minimum –
Wirrabara -4.2 degrees & Port Augusta -4.5 degrees |
Maximum -
probably Kalbarri at about 28 degrees |
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Photos taken (approx)
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13,000 (or about 1 per kilometre!!!) but we both had cameras so we often took photos of the same thing. And yes we did take lots of wildflower photos!!
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I've thoroughly enjoyed following you on your trip - especially through your photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you've given a number of people some ideas for future holidays.
Enjoy Spring in Bathurst!