Wave Rock - Esperance. Easter 2011

Wave Rock – Esperance


23/4/11

Left from Perth around 9.45am – quick petrol stop in South Perth, then up through Kelmscott, along the Brookton Highway. A new road for us. Lots of evidence of damage from the recent fires up there – looks like it was VERY hot!.

Out into the wheatbelt. Brown and dry contrasting with the pink to orance to red tree trunks lining the roads. Morning tea out in the bushland of Dale Conservation Park, followed by a quick toilet stop at Brookton.

Lunch was at Corrigin after being breathalysed just outside the town. Very quiet on Easter Saturday, but a cute little town we quite like the look of.

On to Hyden for fuel, straight past Wave Rock and looking for Emu Rock, our bush camp. No obvious sign of the first track in, but found the Holland Track with less trouble and wobbled our way in on the 4WD section, through the scrub. As always on these trips, we got in later than planned – 6pm, sunset, darkness falling. A frantic setting up of the tent and getting the fire and dinner organised and we were just about ready for bed. Great to see so many stars again. Marshmallows over the fire.

Kids were all being very enthusiastic campers. Saw some shooting stars and poked sticks in the fire for ages. Got them to bed and sleep (some took longer than others, depending upon the amount of sleep on the way). Watched the moon rise and then turned in for the night.


24/4/11
Easter Sunday

Woke in time for a quick walk to the top of Emu Rock to watch the sun rise. A good dose of Easter chocolate for breakfast then into the car and off to see the sights before we were flied to death. Drove out from Emu Rock the other way – much more civilised.

Loved Wave Rock. The kids ran up and down it and clambered all over the place. Did the Hyden Rock walk which took in the Wave, the water catchment dam, an old sandalwood tree, some ornate dragons and the water catchment wall.

We then continued on the Hippo’s Yawn Loop. The kids found a great hole up the side of the rock to perch in (after several attempts to reach it). We saw more dragons, we saw where layers of rock had broken off and slipped down the hill, we saw giant fingerprints – where some giant had squeezed its fingers into the rock as if it were playdough. We saw rocks which had been eroded from the inside (Tafones) and we saw the yawning Hippo’s great big open mouth, which we all promptly sat in.

After Hippo’s Yawn, we had an ice-cream each and some sausage rolls for lunch. Then it was off to the Humps to see all the handprints in Mulka’s Cave.
The kids were impressed with the artworks, but had expected a more “cavey” cave, apparently – one where you needed a torch, I think.

Back at camp we found that the tent had blown down due to the howling gale coming over the rock directly at us – one of the pitfalls of getting in late and setting up in a rush. Found a more sheltered spot, dragged the tent over.

Another walk up the rock to look at the weather. Waiting for fly drop before pizza over the fire. Lots of flies.

Satellites, shooting stars and aeroplanes tonight, not the mention the 3 threatening thunderstorms circling us.

25/4/11
Anzac Day

Up early and breakfasted before the flies took over. Packed up and out by 8.30. Saw emu on the dry lake and then it was out on the road to Lake King, where we all had the realisation that Veronica was still in her nightie and had her undies on inside-out – must be why we got away so early.

Morning tea (Anzac biscuits of course) and a water top up at Lake King. As it was so early we decided to forgoe Starvation Boat Harbour and head all the way through to Cape Le Grand National Park instead, which would give us three nights there instead of just two.

Petrol at Ravensthorpe after a look at Hawks Nest, where gold was first discovered in the area and where the town was first planned. Saw big trucks working the nearby mine.

Lots of “Row, row, row your boat”.

Stopped in at a lookout just out of Ravensthorpe and viewed across to the Fitzgerald River National Park. Saw emu and kangaroo and the rabbit fence on the way to Esperance.

Lunch at Esperance (sausage rolls again) where the information centre was closed – we were 15 minutes too late. Grabbed some essentials (petrol, eggs, toothbrush, lantern wicks) and headed to the National Park.

Bit of a fright a the entry point to the park where the sign said “No Vacancy at Campsites” – getting late (again) and nowhere else to go! Managed to catch the ranger who saie “Oh, is that sign still up, is it?” and told us that there was some space at Le Grand Beach, where we had been aiming for.

Marvelled at the rocky outcrops and hilltops. Then the sea, then the beach and finally the campsite. Found a spot near the loo and the campers kitchen. Set up camp (more leisurely this time) and went to have a closer look at the beach, where the boys played in the sand and Veronica played in the water. Watched the sun set (very nice). Then showers (novelty), then dinner (BBQ in the campers kitchen), then hot chocolates for the kids. Storms off in the distance (again) so we batterened down the hatches and retired into the tent, listening to Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief (appropriate).

Great views of the National Park just up the hill behind our campsite, and then across to the ocean when we turned around.

26/4/11

No rain last night, but a bit hanging around today, and very thick misty air this morning. Tried out the new toaster (goes on the gas cooker) - $4.50 well spent. Then went down for a play at the beach. The boys tried their hands at some sand sculpture – a lizard and a beach hut. Came back up to camp just in time to ready it for the rain.

Some Monopoly Card Game and socialising in the campers kitchen before heading into Esperance for some milk and a look around. Dried some towels. Pies for lunch (hmmmm….).

Drove up to the Rotary Lookout (and looked out) and then did the Rotary Walk – great views all around.

Back in the car and out on the Great Ocean Tourist Drive. Saw a sleeping giant at Twilight Beach (where else would you sleep if you were a giant?). Observed Observation Point (from a distance), checked out the wind farm (it all looked ripe to me) and had a look at the (not so) Pink Lake (today). Fish and chips for tea at the Lions Park and a play on the playground.

Discussions about the possibility of coming home via Albany, Walpole and the Tingle Trees and getting home on Sunday instead of Friday – we’ll keep an eye on the weather, but it feels like that’s the way to go.

27/4/11

On and off rain last night. Bacon and eggs for breakfast (seems to be the day for it in the campers kitchen), then a scenic tour of the highlights of the National Park. Saw some kangaroos by the roadside which hopped off as we got close – this cracked Rowan up – giggles and giggles. His first close up encounter with kangaroos and he thought they were hilarious.

Had a look at Lucky Bay (were going to go all the way to Rossiter Bay for a look but the corrugations got the better of us) – the campers looked fairly well packed in, but what a beautiful bay! Turquoise water, white sand and islands – gorgeous.

Hellfire Bay was similiarly beautiful although far more deserted and the waves were a little scarier. Had a look at Thistle Cove and marvelled at the hole in Frenchman’s Peak.

Into town (again) for some shopping and clothes washing. Had a walk at Woody Lake Nature Reserve – saw a spoonbill and (possibly) golden whistlers and a Brown Eagle, but the other birds were sensible enough to keep out of our way.

Mum got dropped off with a book to do the washing and Dad and the kids went in to get some supplies and souvenirs….. well Dad went in to get supplies and the kids were after the souvenirs. All missions completed an hour later and we went back to camp all the richer with a new magnet, a poster, torch and souvenir bear.

Lunch at camp and then a bit of quick organisation for a walk along the Cape Le Grand Coastal Trail. Up and on to the side of Mt Le Grand. Not a long walk as Rowan was reaching the edge of his endurance. Also found another sleeping giant and didn’t want to risk waking it. Great views and good exercise.

Back down for a swim and another play on the beach (Oh no! Where are Mum’s bathers?? – she never held out much hope for swimming weather). Dad drove the car onto the beach, just so he could say he had and much to Rowan’s delight.

Fishcakes for dinner (no, fish from a tin, not from the beach). Completion on evening routine – stuffing about, teeth cleaning, Percy Jackson, dozing off to sleep.

28/4/11

Wind slowly increasing through the night to the point (3.30am) where there was so much flapping that we decided (kids still asleep, so executive decision here) that we weren’t going to get any more sleep and wind was just going to get worse – time to decamp.

Packed up around the sleeping kids until it was necessary to get them out of the way to dismantle the tent.

Off and on the road at about 4.45am. Breakfast at a rest stop on the Fitzgerald River, just west of Jerramungup. Then we drove past the turnoff to Cape Riche (where we had been going to overnight, into Albany for morning tea (drizzling), out the other side. Petrol and gas in Denmark and then on past the turnoff to Parry Beach (our next, semi-planned, overnight stop),. Looked at Crystal Springs Campground but it all looked a bit wet and hilly – not enough flat for out liking, so on to Shannon National Park Campground, which looked great, despite the drippy weather. Set up, waterproofed. Too wet for a fire, so pasta under shelter at the BBQ. Very early to bed after a long, long day – kids were great in the car for all that time. Not too sure what happened to lunch….

29/4/11

Awake early this morning, but damp and cold outside, so no one got up too early. Then the boys went for a drive so Michael could send something on to work and the girls got the fire going (Yipee!!) All campsites are better with a fire. Pikelets for breakfast and campfire toast.

Back in the car (boy do we love that car). The plan was to drive to Denmark and work our way back, that way if we missed anything we wanted to see it wouldn’t be too far from camp. So off to Denmark.

Had a bit of a poke around in town and pies for lunch in the park (yummy pies). Stopped in at the toffee factory for a taste, a purchase and some ice-creams. Rowan had to get Yellow Bear out of the car to look at the ducks.

Drove down William Bay Road to look at William Bay and Greens Pool – glorious. Loved all the rocks and the waves and the cliffs off in the distance – just gorgeous. Wished we were spending more time here.

Drove down Parry Beach Road to look at Parry Beach – the campsite I have been trying to get to for quite some time now but seem destined to miss out on. Looked fantastic! The beach looked great and there was a “Salmon Fishing Area” which would have made Michael happy. The campground looked well sheltered from the wind. It also looked busy, with lots of people enjoying their stay there. Sorry to have missed out on this one.

Headed on towards Walpole to do the Valley of the Giants and the Treetop Walk.

The forest was magnificant and the Treetop Walk showed it off well, although tending to the children (Rowan who didn’t want to walk, but didn’t want to be carried, and Veronica who suddenly realised how high up she was and that she had never been that high before) did distract us somewhat. We then did the Ancient Walkway, looking at the big old Tingle Trees. Angus counted all the hollowed out ones he could find (10) and everyone posed for photos at the approptiate moments.

Some souvenirs were called for (of course).

Out of the forest and down to look at Conspicuous Cliffs Beach. Great big waves, long, long white beach. Viewed from the Viewing platform, but didn’t go down to the beach as we would have played there for too long and I was sick of rushing dinner. Missed the Giant Tingle Tree – getting too late. Bread and a water top up in Walpole.

Savoury jaffles over the fire for dinner.

30/4/11

Leisurely up, leisurely pack. Stoked up the fire and had damper and a fry up of anything leftover for breakfast, courtesy of Mum and Zach. Left around 10ish and did the Great Trees Forest Drive on the way out – always like a drive through the bush. Couldn’t get the FM information on our Japanese radio in the car (will have to rectify that at some stage), but enjoyed the drive.

Fuel in Manjimup, then on the Bridgetown, a right turn to Boyup Brook, the Country Music Capital of Western Australia. Had planned to lunch in Collie, but kids were sleeping so straight through and then a brainwave – lunch at the Old Coast Road Brewerey, Harvey. Scrum-diddly-umptious. Almost felt civilised, except that we were so filthy. Back home in Perth at about 5pm. Close enough to 2,900km. Leave the unpacking and washing until next month (1st May tomorrow).