Dirt's Tracks Perth-NW Coast Hwy-GRR-Kununurra-Grt Nthn Hwy to Perth

Hi
As this is the first time I have made a blog ever, I will introduce Myself Deb, Wayne(hubby) Granddaughters Laura and Hannah and our young German Backpacker Svenja.

We are adventuring on this trip 6 July 2012 to expand our knowledge, live life and to put ourselves out of our comfort zones to appreciate the things we have in life. Taking advantage of God's gifts is not cool so we are adventuring out into God's creation to appreciate them even more. We also hope to gain more respect for our Australian culture and that includes our Australian Brothers and Sisters the Indigeneous Peoples of our Land.

We each have been set up with a challenge that will we will need to accomplish on this trip in order to receive an award. For Laura it is her hope to be awarded with her very first mobile phone. But her challenge along with everybody else's is not going to be easy. We have to face our fears and overcome them with faith.

On this trip we will be looking for gemstones and maybe gold, but we will see how lucky we are with that. Cook with a Cobb/Camp Oven which none of us have done...mmm..I wonder how many successes we will have.

At this stage we will be also travelling with 2 other vehicles with friends Brett & Julie from Pingelly and their brother Rod. Brett & Rod's Father (dont know his name yet) will also be joining us. They are the more experienced boyscouts and campers.

Well this all seems quite a bit formal but as soon as the travelling starts I am sure there will be lots to report back. We will be travelling in a 08 Holden Rodeo dual cab ute with a canvas canopy and towing a camper trailer that has been well tested by others.

At some point in time I will hope to add some images and edit where possible but for now this is all new so I may make some mistakes along the way.

Here is the Trip Plans for round trip at this point but we may change along the way. The plan is to cover 6 weeks and as much as possible. Why, you ask? Well we never know when or if we will be able to do this again. And if we do then we will know exactly what we're in for and what is worth going back to see a second time and better. So here's the go:

DEPART STOP ARRIVE COST Stay No Ph No KMs

Home
6/07/12
Friday Galena Free 444 Shire of Northampton 99371097 540

N of Northampton. Park on the Murchison River banks at the bridge. Turn off before or after on right.
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Galena
7/07/12
Saturday Hamlin Pool
For Brunch Kennedy Ranges NP Free 465 Shire of Carnarvon 9941 0000
DEC 9941 3754 718^*

After Hamlin Pool travel back S down NW Coast Hwy turn Lft onto Butcher’s Track Rd head E to Carnarvon/Mullewa Road turn Lft head N to Kennedy Ranges NP.
Stay another night.
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Kennedy Ranges NP
9/07/12
Monday Lyndon River
West Rest Area Free 474 Shire of Carnarvon 9941 0000 392*^

N on NW Coast Hwy turn Lft onto Manilya/Exmouth Road - Rest Area 32km NW of Roadhouse.
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Lyndon River W
Rest Area
Leave 7:30am
Tuesday
10/07/12 Coral Bay(80km)
Meet at 8.45 am at
Coral Bay Charters. Paid. Exmouth Neds Campground
First come first
served at this site 7.00/adult $2.00/child Per night
Generator allowed 478 DEC Campgrounds 9949 2808 326*

Yardie Creek Campground booked for the night of 10/07/12 and 11/07/12 Just in case wanted to stay longer needed ....................................................................................................................................
Neds Campground
11/07/12
Wednesday Yardie Creek Campground
Confirmed Booked Site 3
$7.00/adult $2.00/child Per night
Generator allowed 485 DEC Campgrounds 9949 2808 50 approx*

Yardie Creek Campground booked for the night of 10/07/12 and 11/07/12 Just in case wanted to stay longer and/or needed ....................................................................................................................................
Yardie Creek
Camp Thursday
12/07/12 House Creek Bridge Free 492 Shire of Ashburton 9188 4444 344

Head N on the NW Coast Road to Nantutara/Wittenoom Rd turn Rgt to HC Bridge 62km E of Roadhouse.
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H.C.Bridge
13/07/12
Friday Tom Price(295km) Mt Florence
No need to book in. $20.00 per car 513 Mt Florence Station
9189 8151 460*#$

Stay at Millsteam Park Camping ground if Mt Florence is cost too much $7.00 per adult and $2.00 per child ....................................................................................................................................
Mt Florence
14/07/12
Saturday De Grey River Rest Area Free 615 431

De Gray River Rest Area 82 km NE of Port Hedland ....................................................................................................................................
De Gray River
15/07/12
Sunday Broome Vacation Village CP
Paid and Confirmed $
75.00/ night for 3 adults 2 children
Powered Broome Vacation Village CP 9192 1057 510*#$

First Day – Sea Adventure – Horizontal Falls 16/7/12 5.00 - 5.30am Pick up from CP (Booked).
Stay another night
Second Day visit Willie Creek Pearl Farm and luggers vessels on the way out ....................................................................................................................................
Broome Vacation
Village CP 17/07/12
Tuesday Quondong Pt?
and Derby Day visit only GRR Lennard River
Rest Area(Nappier Downs) Free 768 Shire of Derby
9191 0999 486*

Turn rgt Fairfield/Leopold Downs Rd. If no space at Lennard’s then camp at Windjana Campground $ ....................................................................................................................................
Nappier Downs
18/07/12
Wednesday Leave 7.30/8.00am Mt Hart $40/family 767 No need to book 122*

Will see Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek as we travel to Mt Hart 293 kms altogether
Will see Bell and Lennard Gorges on Mt Hart. Can camp at Silent Grove if necessary at cost.
Stay another night
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Mt Hart
20/07/12
Friday Mornington Wilderness
Camp $17.50/2 adults
$8.00/child 764 9191 7406 250*

Travel to Silent Grove and Charnley River Station on the way to Mornington WC(a 4km back track)
First Day at Morn WC we will be doing the Dimond Gorge Tour 4+people $160/person from 9:00 am - 4:oo pm includes lunch and canoe
Stay another night Mornington W.C
Will stop at Cadjeput and Bluebush Swimming Holes as we travel to Manning Gorge. Also Adcock and Galvin Gorge if possible, we may be rushing it a bit, decide on the day. Imitji Roadhouse cheapest fuel on GRR. Approx 42.2 km from Charnley River to Manning Gorge
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Mornington W.C.
22/07/12
Sunday Manning Gorge $25.00 ?? per night 762 Mt Barnett R/house
9191 7007 283*

8 kms behind the Roadhouse is Manning Gorge with a 45 min walk. Barnett Gorge 3 km in and a short walk.
Stay another night travel to Mt Elizabeth Station on the way to K.E.River if you wish. 30km off GRR.
Book return helicopter flight from Mitchell Falls at Drysdale Station or Mitchell Falls Park not sure? As walk is long and fairly hard and after a swim and sometime to enjoy will take too long to get back before dark
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Manning Gorge
24/07/12
Tuesday King Edward River Camp Free 757/758 329*

Drysdale Station 60 km N of GRR. Kalumbaru is 267 km from Drysdale Station.
Stay another night King Edward River Camp – Mitchell Plateau Track 100 km N from Drysdale Station on the Kulumbaru Rd and 85 km in to the Mitchell Falls camp which takes a typical drive of 2 - 3 hours. Walk 15 mins and see Little Mertens Falls where you can swim and a 3 hr mod walk to the Mitchell Falls from there. NO SWIMMING!
Stay another night King Edward River Camp - Kalumbaru
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King Edward River Camp
27/07/12
Friday Camp Site 752 Free 752 201
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Camp 752
28/07/12
Saturday Home Valley Station Adults $16.00
Children (2-12) $5.00 Home Valley 1300 134 044
9161 4322
El Questro
1300 863 248 *^

Stay another night
Zebedee Hot Springs is only open between 7 am and 12 midday ....................................................................................................................................
Home Valley
30/07/12
Monday Kununurra Hidden Valley CP 658/659 9168 1790 110 $*^

Stay another – Plane flight over the Ord River, Bungles and Lake Argyle
Stay another – See town sites/Rest
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AND Return:
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Kununarra
02/08/12
Thursday Bungle Bungle C/Park 35.00 for 2 adults and $5.00/child
$10/extra 200*
Stay another night – Spend day in the Bungles
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B B C/park
04/08/12
Sunday Halls Creek Wolfe Creek Crater Free
DEC c/grounds 9168 4200 312*

Rough roads to sightseeings
Halls Creek – Caroline’s Pool, Sawpit Gorge, Palm Springs and various gold mines ....................................................................................................................................
Wolf Creek Crater
05/08/12
Monday Mimbi Caves &
Boat cruise
Giekie Gorge Ellendale Rest Area Free 631

Fitzroy Crossing Visitor Ctr 9191 5355
DEC 9195 5500 581*

Mary’s Pool S of Hall’s Creek and Mimbi Caves 216 km S of Hall’s Creek. Geikie Gorge tour with DEC, no need to book 11.00 am or 3.00 pm. Lake Ellendale Great Northern Highway - Western Australia This is a small area about 300 metres from the highway through a gate on private property. It has been a popular spot for a long time and the centre piece is a small waterhole. 124 km east of the Derby Highway junction and 95 km west of Fitzroy Crossing Latitude : -17.932764 Longitude : 124.786682
Ellendale R Area
06/08/12
Tuesday Stanley Rest Area Free 618 443*
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Stanley Rest Area
07/08/12
Wednesday Marble Bar
Coongans Pool Free? 366*^

Grt Nthn Hwy to Marble Bar is bitumen. The Boreline Road, Muccan Shay Gap Road and Warrawagine Road are all unsealed gravel roads in good condition.(According to Shire)
Stay another night
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Marble Bar
09/08/12
Friday Via Hillside Rd Karijini
Dales Campground
$7.00/adult $2.00/childPer night

Travel no faster than 80-90 kph approx on most of the road Takes approx 3 hrs on hillside rd to Grt N Hwy alone Approx 334*^$
Approx 261 km on Hillside rd to get to Grt N Hwy and to Munjina R/house. 35 ks S to Karijini NP turnoff. 30 ks W on Karijini Drive to the Banjima Drive intersection Turn right and travel 8 kilometres to the Dales Gorge turn-off or continue west along Banjima Drive to the Visitor Centre
Stay another night
Stay another night
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Karijini NP
12/07/12 Newman 578 Free 578 427*
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578
13/08/12
Saturday Meekathara Cue Free 571 373*

Rest stop 571 is 16km SE of Cue “Garden Rock” is signposted on Cue to Sandstone Road
Stay another night
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Cue
15/08/12
Monday Miling Free 221*

Miling
16/08/12
Tuesday New Norcia Home Free Home *


So there you have it. A lot of information but that's our plans and that's it for this blog.

Til we meet again.............