Australia So Much to See

From the South West of Western Australia this part of our journey takes us through the Pilbara to Wickham near Karratha

In 2009 we left home on the 13th June and returned in the 8th November.  Our total trip covered almost 22,000 kilometres as we travelled through six states/territories, effectively doing a lap of Australia although only seeing a fraction of this mighty country.  Our priority targets were to see some of the northern part of the Northern Territory particularly Kakadu and  Litchfield National Parks as well as Darwin, and the fossil country of northern Queensland.  Otherwise it was to follow roads and see where they took us. 

Here the first part of our journey sees us head north from our South West home and into the Pilbara, although this journey includes some places previously visited, we take in some new sights as well. 

Taking the Great Northern Highway through a wheat belt just starting to turn green to Pithara, from where we drove east towards Kalannie to spend a peaceful night at Petrudor Rocks. 

Small pools on the low granite outcrop picked up reflections at dusk.

Resuming our journey back on the Great Northern Highway, we headed further north.

At Mount Magnet, we drove to Warramboo Hill Lookout over the early and modern mines near the town.  These mines are now all closed. When we were at Mount Magnet the previous year, we heard that the mines were closing. 

There was water and abundant bird life in Lake Nallan, which is a popular spot to stop alongside the highway to the north of Cue.  

Having been on this Highway before, we continued on through Meekatharra and Newman, stopping at a lovely rest area at Mount Robinson, with views across to The Governor.  To the north we looked across to these hills.

Behind us was a small gorge and the start of a track up to the top of Mount Robinson.  It was starting to rain so we did not walk far up the hill.

See Chris and Valdis's Travelogue of their visit to Karijini National Park in 2015 for more and up to date detail. In 2016 they re-visit Karijini, and find their way to the highest point in Western Australia on # Mount Meharry.

Climbing higher, we headed towards Tom Price, crossing a pass at the highest point of our Western Australian travels at over 800 metres above seal level. 

On a hill near the pass is a small rest area known as R.I.P.  Memorial stones surround the parking bay in memory a relatives and friends.  It appears the epitaphs are increasing. 

A huge iron-ore deposit at Mount Tom Price was discovered in 1962, and the Hamersley Iron Project was established.  The mine, the towns of Tom Price and Dampier, and a railway line between the two were established. Today, the neat mining town is an oasis in the dry red countryside.  On the western end of the Hamersley Range at an altitude of 747 metres, Tom Price is the state's highest town.

Next we visited the mining town of Paraburdoo.  The town was not as neat and green as Tom Price.  As we headed further west the spinifex covered hills soon gave way to lower hills covered with scrub. 

We continued west, still under a cloudy sky through lovely red Pilbara hills. 

Main Roads WA services a number of good overnight rest areas, and we stopped here on the Beasley River.   The camping area is along what used to be the road and an old concrete river crossing.  The new bridge can be seen in this picture.  Pilbara river beds are dry most of the time, however cyclonic rains can bring huge amounts of water and flood the surrounding land. The Beasley River is a tributary of the Ashburton River. 

The land became flatter as we headed west from the hills and through cattle stations.  Mount de Courcy is a prominent mesa as we neared the Coastal Highway.   Just north of Nanutarra Roadhouse, we turned onto the Highway and headed north.  

South of Karratha, Miaree Pool is a popular picnic spot but camping is no longer permitted, but watch for news as a 24 hour only rest stop is being negotiated.  This pool on the Maitland River is lovely, and not far from the bridge where the highway crosses high above the river.  The Maitland Bridge can be flooded in cyclone season and in 2004 was partially washed away, isolating Karratha from a direct route to the south of the state and supplies from the south.