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Published: June 30th 2015
Tom Price
From Mt Nameless on a rainy day.From Exmouth we travelled to Tom Price along the Burkett Road, North West Coastal Hwy and the Nanturra Wittenoom Rd. Didn’t make it in one day so freecamped at Beasley River with about 12 other vans. This is the camp where we met our great mates Jill and Wayne Williams from SA back in 2006 so I was glad to report back to them that it had only changed for the better. (Lots of places are putting in composting loos which are a damn site nicer than the long drops of old). Stopped at Paraburdoo for morning coffee, on to Tom Price for one night then off to Karijini NP for our next adventures.
Karijini NP has scenery that I can’t put into words. The drive out there is spectacular, escarpments, gentle hills and massive ones, the colour of red and pale green looking luscious after all the rain they’ve had and then when you get out there the gorges are breathtaking in their majesty and tranquility. Did some great walks in here along rocky river beds to swimming holes with the clearest water I think I’ve ever seen inland. Spent 2 nights at beautiful Dales
campsite looking forward to sitting under the stars at night but too cold and wet to do anything but snuggle down to read. There is an Eco Resort here at Karijini so for a number of reasons John and I spent our 3rd night here at the Savannah camp attached to the Resort. $40 for the night and for that you get a hot shower (if you’re lucky with the solar hot water) and flushing loos. Very disappointing place and the Resort has a definite air of neglect about it but maybe it was just the by now pouring rain that cast a pall over everything. Left Karijini on Friday 22nd May covered in red mud and headed along the Rio Tinto private rail road, which requires you to have a permit after sitting through the O H & S video and everyone on board your vehicle has to have a 0 alcohol reading if stopped by Security (which we were). We had been looking forward to this drive but had some trepidation after all the rain. As it was, it was a great road, some corrugations, plenty of red dirt but driving beside the 2.5 km long trains fully
laden with iron ore was a real hoot. You are advised which CB channel to use which means that the train drivers can talk to you as well as road train drivers and so on. All the workers we came across are incredibly proud of the work they do and are all very happy to give you advice and statistics whenever you ask any questions. Such as each train has 236 carriages, carrying 123 tonnes of ore and about 45 trains per day heading for Karratha and the train drivers earn around $220k per year.! The trip along this railway road was just so interesting it was almost too short - as we stopped in at Millstream/Chichester NP for 2 nights before resuming the trip for the short run into Karratha
Millstream/Chichester NP is different from Karijini but just as beautiful in it’s own way. More rain here meant only short walks but enjoyed it tremendously. The Visitors Centre is an old homestead and the signposted walk through the palms is stunning in its beauty. Their old swimming hole full of water lilies planted by the grandmother must have been a life saver in the
pre air condition days and once again the running water was as clear as a bell. The Fortescue River runs through this park and by the looks of the river and creek beds there is an awful lot of water through here at times. As we left Millstream, stopped at Python Pool which was just gorgeous, high cliffs with very deep water but as it’s raining and coolish, didn’t take the plunge. More dirt road on the way out of the NP and fantastic sights of ore trains winding through the hills. Off now to civilzation again in Karratha.
PS: Have added quite a few photos of Karijini - they paint a better picture of this stunning place than any words! Don't forget to scroll down to have a look.
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Sewell
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Feels like we are with you guys!
Loving these blogs Stubbseys!! Reminds us of the times in the NT with all the Kakadu adventures. Love the photos too! What an amazing time you are having. I (Jen) have finally setled down into SA after being on the move this year. Perth, Melbourne (wedding shopping for Miss Kate), Baltimore on a Nanny mission (just under a month in the US), up to Palm Cove Qld, and then off to Vietnam. Just been back a restored the gut, 3 wks ago and now not looking to go too far for awhile (although will be in Sydney at the end of July for an AFL game). All good in Adelaide town and we are just loving the wood fire after trekking around Vietnam in high 30's and high humidity. Big chat when you get home eh?? Lots of love to you both....safe travels. Lovethe Sewellies xoxoxo