31 May to June 24

Days Around wheatbelt and Granite rocks.

We have 24 days before we start at Dryandra woodlands so we will just do loops around the wheatbelt with its granite rocks.

First we stop at Ravensthorpe to get the usual few things and then to another National park we have not been to before-Fitzgerald River NP.

We had 2 days in the only part you can camp with the caravan and its run by the shire.

Its in the park cleaned by the rangers but the camp money goes to Ravensthorpe, strange.

There are a few plants here that are found no where else, I think the most outstanding one is the Royal hakea.

So we walked and drove to some beaches looking for passing whales with no luck.

Cave point has a lookout for whale watching.

From Fitzgerald river we had to go to Albany, the largest town on our route. We had to go to collect a new water pump for our drinking water tank and new fly screen /blind assemble for the big top hatch. Both these things had stopped working as they should so it was easier to renew now before heading north.

We had to stay in a caravan park and the best for us was on the river to the east of town. It is on the banks of river with its own little golf course and resident kangaroos.

While in Albany we checked out the Torndirrup NP and the Gap. This is where the southern ocean has washed away part of the rock to form a bridge over the ocean. There is also a platform for Whale watching. Once again we had no luck with the passing whales, we are probably too early as the season for the whales has only just started.

We also went to the old whaling station that is now a museum with full whale bones exhibits including a blue whale skeleton. There is a refurbished whaling ship and plenty of flims from the time of whaling. I did not watch these.

When we left Albany we headed to the Stirling Range NP with the only major mountain range of the southern half of WA. Some of the peaks are 1000 metres above sea level and it is one of the worlds most important flora areas with 1500 species of plants some growing nowhere else in the world. Bluff Knoll is the most popular trail in the Stirling ranges with 360 degrees views if you reach the top.

More than a million years ago a shallow sea was here with years of sediment of bones from sea creatures , minerals and sand making layers. This with weight pressure turned to rock and with the movement of the Australian continent against others causing the rocks to buckle and rise making the range.

Chester Pass, Red gum pass are where rivers wore away the rock.

This place has Numbats, Dibbler,western bush wallaby southern brown bandicoot and lots more.

Its also covered in sandalwood trees making it smell nice.

We met one of the rangers who had been here for over 15 years. He showed us around where the camp hosts stay and their set up. Camp hosts only here in warmer months and yes we will look at it for us to do.

Its a shame but we had to move on to see other things and moved to Ongerup and the Mallee fowl centre. This centre was set up by local farmers wanting to protect the mallee fowl. They have had a good breeding year but as yet have not released any back to the area . Some of the farmers have protected parts on there farms for them but more is needed as they are food for the foxes and feral cats.

The area has a lot of granite hills and salt lakes to sea so our next stop was Lake Grace This is a RV friendly town that has gone a bit overboard and is charging $30 a night to stay which is a bit much we think for what you get so no money was spent in town and we only stayed 1 night.

There is a place we wished to to but we will go after we do the loop around the area.

The next place we stop is Varley and their parking area called The Chicken Ranch. Good garden around the toilet block with mosaic tiles made by some locals and a grave area with so called graves and mosaic tiles for all the rabbits killed by the rabbit proof fence, which is not far from here.

We stayed 2 days so we could go to Dragon rocks which is 4 wheel drive area not for the caravan. Even then we did not get all the way in to the picnic area as it got a bit wet and slippery.

From here we took a gravel road west and back around to the north of Lake grace to a place called The Jam Patch. Its a bush sanctuary named because of the Jam trees -acacia acuminate smell like jam. And used by the aboriginals . This is still on the Lake Grace salt lake system on north side .

The locals used to come here for picnics and built tennis courts and a club house. Know it is a protected bush site with good walks . No facilities though.

From here we moved to Kulin another RV friendly town that give you a parking area with hot water showers.

On the way in you drive the horse highway with all its sculptures lots of them , here is just a few photos.

The sign says “ Now you have ha hot wash come and spend some dosh”. Yes we did they gave us a nice place to park so we supported the local shops. What a nice place so clean and friendly. Did some shopping and then bought chips to have with dinner. We do not eat chips much but every couple of months I fancy potato chips so we over eat when we get them. Did not need much of anything else and made myself bloated but they were nice.

Stop overnight at another rock Gorge rock .

We moved on to see Bruce rock which is just outside of the town Bruce rock. Pulled up for 24 hours so we could walk over the rock .

Not far from here is a camp site for travellers made especially for us to stop to see the area. Kwolyin camp and Coarin rock. So thats were we went and stayed the allowed 72 hours. Walking ,climbing and because its next to the old town site of Coarin there was things to see.

Drove to see Kokerbin rock the third largest monolith in Australia , Aryes rock or Uluru being the largest. We walked to top and around its Devils marble rocks and a smaller Wave rock. Saw lizards, geckos and birds. Good rock colours and shapes.

Walked around the old town of Coarin with the only building still standing being the church. Area has good signs explaining the places in town.

Its getting close to when we have to be in Dryandra so move and stay the night at Quairding another RV place that has built a caravan park next to sports centre to bring people into town to spend money but charge too much to stay but it is cheaper the longer you stay. So at least they are trying we went to the local weir and a nature reserve , its a shame its winter and not much is moving around or in flower.

The weir is on a granite rock and is man built into the side using its own shape. Back years ago because of so much evaporation in summer a roof was constructed over it. Its a shame its not there now.

Moved To Yealering with its lake. This is the only town in WA with a lake in middle of town. The park is right beside it. There is an area for swimming and water skiing and they hold regattas here. It would be a nice place in summer, the people are nice and it has a little shop come Post office and plenty of birds on the lake with its black swans. The water level is down at the moment and its cloud but its still nice place.. The water for the town comes down a water pipe that sort of follows the road, like quite a few places in WA. Anyhow they have been having trouble since they put in 2 new big tanks to hold more of this water for the town and our first of 4 nights here we had no water. They got the water fixed and town tanks were re-filled but the caravan park had no water as it gets its water before it goes into the tanks the other end of town and not from the tanks. Some think was wrong so they brought out from Narrogin a trailer with a tank on for us , we were the only ones left here. Because of this we got a big box of drinking water bottles as well. To be on the safe side. Water board people were here each morning over the weekend to refill our little tank as it was plugged into the caravan park and it was draining some where , they did not know were and would be here Monday to fix. Monday the day we go to Narrogin shop ,meet ranger and go into Dryandra.

All good and we had paid for 4 days and had no where else to go over the weekend. Larry spent most his time walking around a very big lake and salt marsh, we did visit some of the area. We were here to relax , do washing of sheets and such. Funny no water but we did manage to get things done.