By Steve & Alison Kruger |
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By Steve & Alison Kruger |
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Summary of our Trip By Day - click on the day below to view. |
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Day
1 - Brisbane to Tamworth |
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Day
2 - Tamworth to Silverton |
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Day
3 - Silverton to Finders Ranges This morning Alison is full of energy something that is not unusual. A quick trip to Big W fixed up the lack of warm clothes that and we were on our way again aiming for the Flinders Ranges. As has what has become a tradition if there if something that can be climbed Alison is up there good to see her spirit has not taken a pounding from the fall 2 years ago down Woolshed Caves. The first old train water tower we can across she was up the ladder on the side again. I am sure there are photos of her up another tower on this web site some 10 years ago. Crossed the South Australian / NSW border @ Cockburn not much there except a hotel & a sign. A place many people seem to break their own personal journals across the plains. Ventured a few more kms before we took the turn off at Yunta towards Flinders Ranges. Not long down the trail we found Waukringa an abandoned mine, This gave the opportunity to do some photography & 4WDriving the 2 things in life that make it worth living. Passing a few homesteads we eventually accessed Flinders through the eastern entrance. Camped just outside the Flinders near Hawke. We were once again given the luxury of another cool breeze. This time prepared, out came our warm clothes. The burrs on the ground were plentiful which caused us a few problems. The sunset was also on the wrong side of the escapement for photos. |
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Day 4 - Flinders Ranges to
Waygunyah Camped at Wahgunyah Conservation Reserve. We drove into the campsite just after sunset local time 9pm the views were incredible the price was listening to the ocean and a cool breeze. |
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Dec 31 2008 - Woke on sunrise this morning and Steve & Alison headed opposite directions along the small cliffs to capture their idea of the sunrise. We had camped beside a fence another item we love to photograph. We photos taken & breakfast consumed we headed for adventure further down the road today we would commence traversing the Nullarbor. As we passed Yalata fuel station we noted it has been closed permanently, so we headed for the Nullarbor station instead. Alison got chatting with a Japanese motorcyclist. He left Brisbane 8 months ago on a Honda Postie Bike. Amazing to see such spirit drive & determination. He left on his anticlockwise direction towards Adelaide. Fueled up we backtracked to a dirt track to the cliffs and proceeded to 4WD for the next few hours along the tops stopping regularly to take many photographs. The SA parks departments had starling traps along the track to help control this pest. Once we joined the main road again we looked for more opportunities to break away to the cliffs to see more of this feast of beautiful cliffs and a cave named Wigunda Cave. Eventually we wandered into Border Village & and chatted with the quarantine officers. From there we 4WD back into SA and along the border on a track called the Telegraph Track. From there we used some old GPS tracks we had made 2 years ago to locate the way to Eucla and our old Campsite. It became obvious the sunset was a non event one of the reasons we had decided to stay over here was to try and photograph the jetty in the sunset. A trade off was a short 4WD down the beach & then to dinner in the Eucla Hotel. Service was slow, but the servings were generous & tasty. To tired to see in the new year we 4WD for our favourite campsite. |
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Day 6 - Eucla to Baxter
Cliffs Slept in, breakfast & a drive to the jetty to try and capture some of its magic. The weather was cloudy and our chancing of success minimal. Small breaks in the clouds & patience on our behalf was rewarded. Alison once again climbed the Jetty and sat proudly on the top. A few New Year SMS were sent to loved ones from here as this was one of the few areas to be a Telstra service area. Soon came the question on how to top the adventure of the previous day? The solution was to 4WD from Eucla via some caves and interesting formations. First stop was Weebubble Cave, Chowilla Doline, Abrakurrie Cave and an unnamed dome indent in the landscape. Additionally we found an old car which we decided to photograph as well. We returned to the highway some 3 ½ hours later at Mundrabilla Station some 100 odd kms closer to Perth. A very worthwhile detour. It was decided to stay a Baxter Cliffs in the Nuytsland Nature Reserve. To do this we once again left the highway at Caiguna and 4WD our way to the cliffs. The track was rough and slow going in places. We arrived about ½ before sunset. Once again the sunset was a non event. |
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Day
7 - Baxter Cliffs to Kalgoorlie Our next decision proved in hind sight not to be our best We headed north to the Trans Continental Railroad. It was not too long before we hit the first bull dust hole. The detour proved to be 180kms of bull dust! The dust penetrated every square centimetre of the 4WD. Once we turned left on the road at Zanthus the road improved dramatically and we made good time towards Kalgoorlie. Zanthus was the only railway siding that we found that had any buildings around it & it certainly was not deserted as described on our map. We took the decision to camp outside Kalgoorlie (approx ½ hour) and to make the run for an early breakfast at McDonalds. We soon found out that there are many goats in this bush camping area with bleeps & naaan as the sun went down. |
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Day
8 - Kalgoorlie to Perth Dunc spoilt us rotten with fresh seafood BBQ 10 out 10! Its always great to catch up with Dunc as they are very active 4WDrivers and he has some great experiencing to share J |
| Stay tuned as the adventure continues.................. |
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on this web page are the property of Steve and Alison Kruger © 2009 |
