Heading to Karajini from Perth(Camp stops required Please)

Lake Nallan

Hi Mathew,another spot worth checking out{not to camp as to far for 1 day drive}is Wanna Manna,its about 75ks north of Newman.Its an Aboriginal art site.An amazing amount of rock carvings I believe between 10 and 20 thousand years old.You would have to call into Newman v/c to get directions.Its only about 5ks off the highway. Well worth the stop.
Glyn

G'day Glyn

I can't help but ask this question of you, regarding the Wunna Munna Petroglyph site, north of Newman.

You quote that the rock carvings are between 10 and 20 thousand years old. How do you base your time frame for the rock art?

Glyn, I'm not criticizing you, I'm just very curious as to where you gleaned your information from.

The geology of Wunna Munna is in the tens of millions of years, the Pilbara region is geologically dated at up to 4.2+ billion years, being some of the very first land formation in the earths ceration.

The closest time frame of human occupancy recorded in the region close to Newman, is in small cave in Ethel Gorge, which is east of Newman, the carbon date map of this occupation site is set at 26300 ( twenty six thousand three hundred years ).

The desert region occupancy has been estimated at around 5000 years ( doccumented), I know all these time lines sound impressive but in a geological sense they are just small.

Regards: Joe

Hi Joe,
Yea good question,I spent some time looking through records at the Indigenous Library in Perth there it stated the age but was only an estimation as there hadn't been a full study done on them at that time.This was back in 1997 I think.Not sure when the study at Ethel Gorge was done.If those where dated at 26300 years old sounds to reason that Wanna Munna could be similar.
Besides all that it is still a fantastic place to visit and easy to get at.
I have taken many people from all over the world to see this spot and it just blows them away.

Image Could Not Be FoundG'day Glyn

Thanks for the quick come back, I seem to have hijacked the original forum question posted by Mathew about camping spots.

I apologize to Mathew regarding that subject, but there are many camping spots just off the main drag, all you need is time to explore them. Main roads gravel dumps are ideal for a firm based overnight camp spot, but ensure you do not leave any crap behind as even these convenient places are being fenced off.

I can't agree with you more on the facination attatched to visiting and of course showing and being shown these very special places, be it a waterhole, rock art or painting(s) site.

I'm trying to get my head around the Hickman Crater being un-descovered or disturbed since the impact happened, and it's ( in a straight line ) only 35 or so Kilometres from home ( Newman ).

I've been out and into the Crater, twice, wandering around with a metal detector, but I've not found any trace of the early visitor.

Yes it's another facinating part of the Pilbara.

Regards : Joe

Walga rock is an aboriginal site and I believe that camping there is also a NO NO. Worked at BIg Bell Mine until it closed in 2003 and used to spend many a day off there

Joe F

As you are a newman resident can you answer me this.

I worked at HI YAndi on and off for a few years and would pick up a 4WD in newman and drive to yandi,on my return i would come back through a track that cut across weeli wolli creek and joined up with a gravel road that comes out at the old Rhodes Ridge exploration site.

Is Weeli Wolli creek still accessableto the public ??????

MAtt

G'day Mathew

The Hope Downs iron ore mine ( Rio Tinto/ Hancock mining ) are in the process of up grading the Rhodes Ridge road, to make it usable for larger volumes of mining traffic. I don't think they could ever up grade it to all weather status because of the many significant crossings of the Weelli Wolli creek system.

The powers to be actually don't like anyone, not in their mining operations using the road, but being polite with them at the time, usually get you into the area of the water course.

Sadly there are restrictions in place regarding camping, but it is still a brilliant place to spend the day.

Regards : JoeImage Could Not Be Found

Joe

Oh mate brings back memories,i have a few photos like that myself.

I will post a few up when i get home i reckon.

I thought that the Hope Downs project would take precedence over the road use.Do you think i would be able to sneak in there to show my family.Have you been out there lately and is there still water.

MAtt

Just a couple for ya JoeImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be Found

Meeka is OK, a lot of the mines have closed down around town, so most of the troble have left town and returned to Perth.

was there 2 weeks ago first time for around 10 year, there done alot for the town, it looking good, hace a look in places there are some places north around the river crossings..

Cheers

Richard

if your going to stay around lake nallan.take the/midges spray.....there thick this time of year

Bundy

Hmmm Paul 190kmh? Or so....to Sandstone from Meeka....LOL



Lovely place Sandstone with lots of good things to see closeby.


Cheers

190kmh would certainly get me to Meeka in an hour or so! ....LOL

Forgive me, I'm new to the West

It was an enjoyable stop and explore on our trip

Cheers
Paul

Gone Bush
Camping at lake Nallan is a NO NO and has been for about 12/18mths according to my info

Well, Bentaxle,

let me say, in the nicest possible way, that you are dead wrong.

There were many people there and there is even one chap set up in a permanent way.

After all, it is a man made lake for the rail line that used to run past it. Not as if it's some ancient geoligical rarity.

My info rgards no camping came from Shire of Cue, they banned camping because the place was becoming an open sewer. People were squatting behind bushes to to their business - couldn't be bothered to dig a deep hole and bury it. Iwas back there in 2001.2002, 2003 and it was starting to get like that then.

PS Hope you had a fantastic time.