Week 52/52 - Great Central Road - and onwards to the border - Western Australia

Well hello everyone and welcome to Week 52 of 52 - of my Tour Downunder Western Australia. Yes it is the last week! I can hardly believe that I have taken you for 52 weeks around my magnificent state where I live - Western Australia. I have enjoyed bringing you photos from my travels around my state and I hope you have enjoyed seeing my corner of the world.

For all of those who have come along for the ride, and taken the time to look and comment, I thank you very sincerely. I have enjoyed immensely having you along and reading your comments. You gave me the enthusiasm to continue the 52 weeks of posts, so I thank you.

This week we continue eastward over country new to us. We are travelling on part of The Great Central Road - which is also known as The Outback Way - and - Australia's Greatest Shortcut - a series of roads which connect to travel 2750 kilometres right through the centre of Australia from Laverton in the middle of Western Australia, across the Northern Territory to Winton in the middle of Queensland, taking you through spectacular country . It is very interesting to see the changes in landscape and the 10 different bio-regions featuring their unique flora, fauna, geological and landscapes - sand ridges, deserts, mountain ranges, sand plains. The road is well maintained, and information panels along the way are interesting to read. A map is essential so you know where you are, and there is a touring atlas of the road which as well as containing maps, distances etc, has a wealth of information to assist in your enjoyment of your trip!

For this part of the journey we will be continuing east from our last camp at Niagra Dam to Laverton, and we will be camping out in the bush for three nights before we reach the Northern Territory border (as it will take us 3 days to get to the border!)

As you will see from the photos this section of the road is gravel, which we found to be in very good condition. This is remote country, although you will meet other travellers doing the same crossing and there are a few small towns, aboriginal communities, road houses and pastoral stations along the route, so you need to be well prepared for remote travel. Look out for road trains (be careful of the huge dust cloud they throw up reducing visibility to zero! - I'll show you a pic later), as well as wild camels, dingos and kangaroos. - keep your eyes open to see them!

This is a photo of my son's vehicle coming towards us. They travelled with us for this part of the trip.

From Western Australia

Late afternoon at my son's camp site at what we called Desert Oakes camp. The Desert Oakes are actually not an oak at all but a type of Casuarina.

From Western Australia

The wide dry sandy bed of Giles Creek, lined by river gums, near Desert Oakes camp. I like the painted look of this photo.

From Western Australia

Early morning low rain cloud over the Petermann Ranges near the Western Australia/Northern Territory border.

From Western Australia

Spinifex heads in the late afternoon light..........spinifex is a common plant in the desert regions of Australia.

From Wildflowers

another road shot taken through the front windscreen as we drove along - the dust in front is from my son's vehicle...... (can't always stop to take a photo LOL)

From Western Australia

You actually see a lot of these along the road side - old cars that have broken down, been stripped of their tyres and engines and whatever else can come off, and left to rust on the road side.

From Western Australia

When we are travelling for several days, and camp out in the bush there are no facilities like showers and toilets.....you find a bush to squat behind. But we do carry our shower tent, and a solar shower (a bag you put water in basically) so that we can have a shower every couple of days. Amazing how refreshed and clean you can feel from 1 or 2 litres of water....

From Western Australia

A road train......the only thing you can do when you meet one of these is to move over to the side of the road and wait for the dust to settle....visibility is zero!

From Western Australia

A wild camel on the edge of the road - unfortunately I was looking straight into the sun when I took this photo, but I wasn't going to get out of the car to try and get a better angle!

From Western Australia

This is sunrise at Yarla camp - I climbed to the top of the breakaway up from our camp to take this photo. Scenes like these and the peace you get when you are camping "out bush" are what I love about travelling around Western Australia.

From Western Australia

Thanks again everyone for looking, and for your support throughout the last 52 weeks. I hope you have enjoyed the tour. I look forward to hearing from you.

Week 28/52 -Karijini- Red Rock and Spinifex

Welcome to Week 28 of our 52 week tour Downunder Western Australia. This week we will be touring around magnificent and dramatic Karijini National Park in the Hamersley Ranges in Western Australia’s central Pilbara district.

The State’s second biggest national park, Karijini covers 627,445 hectares. Much of the southern half of the park is inaccessible, so visitors concentrate on the spectacular and rugged gorges in the north that plunge hundreds of metres from the Spinifex plains.

Karijini was first explored by FT Gregory’s party in 1861. The traditional owners, the Banyjima, Yinhawangka and Kurrama Aboriginal people, call the Hamersley Ranges, Karijini, so the park’s name recognises this historic link and their continuing involvement in park management.

Here we are driving through the park.

From Life Images by Jill

There are a number of gorges and walk trails to explore at Karijini. These range from short, easy walks for people of all ages and fitness levels, tracks for those with moderate fitness, to trails which should only be attempted by fit, experienced, well-equipped bushwalkers. It is a good idea to study the information boards before setting out, allow plenty of time, wear sturdy hiking boots and carry plenty of water.

The camp ground where we are going to set up camp is within walking distance of Dales Gorge. The walk trail into Dales Gorge takes you 800 metres down into Fortescue Falls and Fern Pool, and two kilometres through Dales Gorge to Circular Pool, before climbing the steep ascent out of the Gorge. Fortescue Falls is spring-fed and is the Park’s only permanent waterfall.

Here is Fortescue Falls from the rim of Dales Gorge....

From Life Images by Jill

The Falls tumble over layers of iron-stone rock from the tree lined Fern Pool. A wooden walkway takes you right to the waters edge and the pool is a perfect place to sit in the shade or have a swim to cool off.

This is Fern Pool.....

From Life Images by Jill

The trail following the creek from Fortescue Falls to Circular Pool is not difficult and visitors should allow a day to fully experience the Gorge. Built up over millions of years, the layers of multi-coloured rock of the cliff faces tower over clear rock pools and shady meandering pathways, which are a refreshing retreat from the arid Spinifex plains above you. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the beautiful landscape.

The pathway from Dales Gorge...

From Life Images by Jill

About 40kms west of Dales Gorge is the junction of Joffre, Hancock, Weano, Red, Wittenoom and Knox Gorges. Easily accessed lookouts give a spectacular view of what the forces of nature can do to the landscape. The Joffre Waterfall plunges hundreds of metres forming a natural amphitheatre.

Fit and more experienced walkers can follow trails down into and through the gorges. Walkers should be careful as trails may be unmarked, and go over steep, slippery and unstable surfaces. Flash floods can occur and it is not recommended to enter the gorges if there is rain in the area, and to leave as quickly as possible if it does rain. However you don't have to climb down into the gorges to enjoy them as the following views will show you.

This is one of my favourite shots from Karijini - however don't do as I did to get this shot...I climbed over the railing....much to my husbands distress - he was right of course - the railing is there for a reason. However it was the only way to get this angle and I am here to tell the tale. I love the fingers of red rock, and the blue water and the tree at the bottom.

This is Hancock Gorge.

From Life Images by Jill

And Knox Gorge.....

From Life Images by Jill

And the view from Oxer lookout....

From Life Images by Jill

And this is walking through Kalamina Gorge - one of the easier gorges to climb into and walk through. I must say photography in these gorges is problematic with the shade below and the bright light above. Next time I will try a graduated filter, but for these I have had to do a bit of pp to adjust lighting.

From Life Images by Jill

Karijini offers it all. Spectacular landscapes. Enough walk trails to satisfy the most avid hiker. Rock pools to cool off. Stunning sunrises and sunsets. Beautiful wildflowers. Unlimited photo opportunities. Peace and quiet. And at night a blanket of stars.

Well, the title said "red rock and spinifex". I have shown you the red rock, so here is the spinifex (well the seed heads anyway), taken in early morning light when we got up to see the sunrise over Dales Gorge.

Spinifex is very prickly to walk through - and feels like a tough plant, but really it is quite delicate because evidently if you stand on it the plant will die. Many small animals depend on the spinifex plant.

If you look at the previous photos the creamy coloured clumpy plants on the ground above the gorge are all spinifex. You can see some in the foreground of the photo of Fortescue Falls.

From Life Images by Jill

It really is amazing to stand in these places - I especially love sitting out at night under the blanket of stars gazing up at the Milky Way - so much clearer and brighter than in the city. And I love the quiet and the chance to just absorb what is around me - very rejuvenating - but so difficult to go home and return to work!