Kennedy Range

Check with the stations you will be crossing. Some surrounding stations seem to be charging for tours and access.

Hi Rash,

We were at the Kennedy's last June. Not much to tell you that isn't readily available. We spend a couple of days there doing the easy walks (had a 3 yrs old and 3.5 mth old with us) up the gorges and searching for fossils and lava tubes. The more ambitious can get to the top of the ranges by scrambling up one of the very steep goats tracks. Hubby set out to do this alone one afternoon but gave up about halfway up because the track was not only steep but very loose and rocky and his opinion far too risky. Some fellow campers went up though and didn't seemed fazed by it so entirely a personal choice. The campground is basic with very little shade, no water but a long drop dunny. The ranges make a great backdrop to the campground and a we enjoyed sipping on a wine watching the changing colours of the rocks as the sun dipped each evening. There is no ranger base there and an honour system applies for payment of fees. It can get very hot so I recommend you do your exploring in the mornings.

We headed to Mt Augustus from there then doubled back along Illawarra Rd before branching off NW out to the coast via the Lyons River Road. Illawarra Rd we found in generally good condition although corregated in places. Most of the creek and river crossings were dry but many made good smoko stops.

One thing to note, we found through personal experience and from other travellers that many of the stations in that region that were touted as providing station stays/camping etc in fact did not. If you're planning to call into any stations, try to contact them before you go to verify the latest facts. Enjoy your trip.

:o) Melissa

now don't fall off your seat but CALM is actually in the process of putting in a management plan for the kennedy ranges - they are currently sorting out the West side and have a number of campsites planned. Contact CALM Carnarvon and they may help - they may not also but you never know. There is a loop from Gascoyne Jctn up the West side of the Range then back down the normal East road. rgds