Can't choose where to go !
Submitted: Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 13:45
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ExplorOz - David & Michelle
As a last minute idea I'm sitting here zooming and panning over the map of WA - trying to decide where to take the family for a "few days" camping trip in the second week of the school holidays (2nd week October) but nothing is grabbing me ... so asking for your suggestions. Kids are now aged 8 & 12. Criteria is:
1.
bush camp preferrred due to next 3 points
2. must be able to have
camp fire
3. must not be full of hoons/drunks
4. enjoyable place for laying out the swags
Was thinking of quick trip up to Karijini - we've been many years ago, but kids have not. Kids have walked the Grand Canyon so I think they'll cope. Was worried about crowds? Probably no
camp fire there, but along the way we can find spots if we go up the back way.
Another option I considered was a bit of a run along the Gunbarrel Hwy - travelled it many years ago so know what to expect - just happy to get out on the track and enjoy the bush camps and environment for a few days. Anyone know if the
wildflowers still out?
Could even head out on the
Holland Track. Kids loved it last time. But it's not a "new" destination... maybe we should take the opportunity to go somewhere different? So any other suggestions?
Thanks, Michelle
Reply By: Rod W - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 14:10
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 14:10
Die Hardy Range (Faye
Bluff), Pigeon
Rock, Mt Manning Range or Windarling Range but sneak in the back way.
AnswerID:
495540
Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 15:32
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 15:32
Thanks Rod, I'll look it up! Not been there.
Michelle
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Follow Up By: Member - Bentaxle - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 17:02
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 17:02
Daid & Michelle if you do this trip beware of intense mining activity around
Pigeon Rocks, they don,t take kindly to unauthorised incursions onto lease and they operate on UHF channel 41.
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Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 18:19
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 18:19
UHF 41 ??!!
Not easily contactable by anyone with a UHF more than 2 years old.
FollowupID:
771177
Follow Up By: Member - Paul B (WA) - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 22:53
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 22:53
The Eastern Goldfields 4WD Club will be at the Helena & Aurora Range up that way this weekend - fantastic place and you'd be most welcome to join us.
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 11:56
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 11:56
Thanks Paul, not free to get away this weekend though ;)
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Follow Up By: Member - Bentaxle - Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012 at 12:26
Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012 at 12:26
Gone Bush unfortunately mining companies use Channel 41 because of less interference, when this was brought in no thought was given to the fact that all UHF radios only had 40 channels and radios had to be modified to comply with ch 41.
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Reply By: Old Dave - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 14:49
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 14:49
Hi david
Have you tried the mail or wool wagon run out of
Carnarvon.
Regards Dave.
AnswerID:
495543
Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 15:38
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 15:38
Thanks but yes we have actually a few times (before they gave it the new names). Kennedy Ranges is good, but I must admit I get the creeps camping around the
Murchison area - it's just one of those
places that haunts me so not all that keen to return.
Michelle
FollowupID:
771158
Reply By: Gone Bush (WA) - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 16:01
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 16:01
You could do a relatively easy trip, and not far away, through the north east wheatbelt.
Not in any particular order:
Westonia (apparently a town rejuvenated by nearby mining activity)
Then up the Mt Jackson Rd to
Trough Well (plenty of history, great
campsite)
West along the fenceline to Eagle
Rock (
cue the music)
Down to
Beringbooding Rock (fabulous
campsite), maybe Eluchbutting
Rock.
Stop at
Wyalkatchem pub for a beer
North through Dally, Kalannie to come out at
White Wells (plenty of campsites back in the bush)
Then west to Camel Soak (another great
campsite)
Replenish supplies at Perenjori, another town rejuvenated by mining.
If you need to head south, Yerecoin has a great free
camp site with showers, toilets and a nearby pub. Also
New Norcia.
West to
Moora bakery, then Pioneer Park at Dandaragan (showers, minor costs)
If you have time to go further north from
Wyalkatchem, take the road east of that big lake (Maroubra?) up to
Paynes Find, then via the unsealed road to
Yalgoo, check out
Jokers Tunnel and
Chinamans Rock (WA's first billboard), then west to
Mullewa, then south etc. Or even further north to Dalgaranga meteor crater and
Walga Rock (mysterious boat painting) enroute to
Cue.
This could show your kids the potential for a career in the mining industry, some history of early expansion in WA and some terrific bakeries.
AnswerID:
495546
Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 18:47
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 18:47
Thanks Stephen, whilst we've been to/passed through all of those areas previously I'm sure there is still more to discover if we go looking for it rather than be enroute somewhere. Was just thinking about
New Norcia and I'm not sure I've been to Yerecoin at all. Thanks, will check it out.
Michelle
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 13:31
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 13:31
Thanks Stephen, I've been back over your suggestions now - can you clarify this "fenceline" route between
Trough Well to Eagle
Rock? It would look like Tough
Well to
Beringbooding Rock is almost straight line (but can't find a track yet on the topo 250 so wondering...), and Eagle
Rock is south of
Beringbooding Rock on the maps. I know you were very quick to pop up this info so you must have done it off the top of your head, so just checking that's the case and I've not got it wrong. Thinking of starting out at
Congelin first on the Monday, then do most of this route you've suggested, returning from via a visit in
New Norcia and
home on Friday. This is good as we've done a lot around these areas but not these specific sites and you knew what I was after. Much appreciated, mate :)
Owe you one
Michelle
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 16:12
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 16:12
1. Spend the time and effort to develop a personal relationship with a cattle station and have an experience for the whole family that tourists simply can't get.
I would suggest in the
Pilbara or the
Kimberley.
2. Offer to volunteer at a smaller National Park.
You will get to see a quite different side to the country.
3. Offer to volunteer at the
Kalumburu Mission.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
AnswerID:
495547
Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 18:51
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 18:51
What a great idea!
For our purposes however we don't have the time to cover the distance to get to the NW and have already been to
Kalumburu etc.
Thanks for your interesting suggestions though!
Michelle
FollowupID:
771179
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 21:35
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 21:35
Cattle stations and National Parks are everywhere. :-)
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome
FollowupID:
771191
Reply By: Member - Scott M (NSW) - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 17:21
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 17:21
out along to the Anne Beadell to
Yeo Lake Reserve and stay at Mt Yeo station ....?
Fair way out and uncrowded and the
camp at the abandoned station is interesting..
AnswerID:
495553
Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 18:53
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 18:53
Guess what, we've all been there too! Loved Yeo
Homestead - we were holed up with rainy conditions for a few days. It was great. I"m really hoping to find somewhere we haven't been - its becoming more of a challenge that I realised! teehee ;)
Thanks for your suggestion anyway,
Michelle
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Danna - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 22:51
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 22:51
Yahh.. David & Michelle
we have great memory of Yeo
Homestead. Sleeping in building on floor, when sand storm hit us hard. That building felt so comfortable and we were so grateful those settlers build it there, one wouldn't believe it….
Dana.
FollowupID:
771197
Reply By: equinox - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 19:08
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 19:08
Anywhere along the Banker
Mount Day Road, Lake Johnson Track (south of
Hyden-
Norseman Road) or
Mount Elvire.
Cheers
Alan
AnswerID:
495562
Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 19:12
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 19:12
OK! thanks,.... not been to those so will check it all out thanks. If its on your list, I'm sure we'll find it most to our liking.
MM
FollowupID:
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Reply By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 19:10
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 19:10
Ok how's this... picking up GoneBush's idea I'm thinking of incorporating a few obvious
places we've overlooked with the kids when heading out on a major expedition such as
the Pinnacles (we've been there but we should let them see it), then onto
Stockyard Gully (not been and we all love caves), then inland towards
Jokers Tunnel (that looks very cool and a bit like what we found out the back of
Sandstone - we all loved that), and then maybe pick up the Mt Jackson Rd and explore along that to
Trough Well etc and then cut across to
New Norcia (keep meaning to tour the monastery and never have time) and then
home! Thanks for the input I'll see what how many ks/days/ that works out.
Happy now :)
Many thanks,
Michelle
AnswerID:
495563
Reply By: Member - Leanne W (NSW) - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 19:25
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 19:25
Hi Michelle,
How about down south somewhere on the
Blackwood river? Sorry I can't be more specific - the time we were there 8 years ago we followed a 4wd club there. It was a really nice spot though.
Leanne
AnswerID:
495565
Follow Up By: auzinomad - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 20:30
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 20:30
Like Sue's Pool and Workers Pool you mean ?
Never been there but they are on the "mist do list "
Ron
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 21:25
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 21:25
Yes I love this area but we have only seen it without our 4wd when doing the
Blackwood Marathon etc. would appreciate names of tracks to explore etc that would be lesser known to attract school holiday riff-raff. Thx
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Leanne W (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 08:00
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 08:00
I don't know the name of the 4WD track in, but it was a beautiful spot. My husband and I aren't from WA - we were only there for a year in 2003. We did a 4WD course and one trip with a 4WD club (to the
Blackwood River) before we set off on our own lap in 2004.
Perhaps someone will recognise the area (and how to get there) from my photos. It was a really nice spot.
Leanne
Blackwood River
Blackwood River
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Follow Up By: Member - Leanne W (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 08:17
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 08:17
I have just asked the hubby. He reckons we turned off onto Sue's Rd from the Brockman Hwy, then onto Denny Rd.
I'm sorry I can't be any more specific than that, we can't remember exactly where it was.
Leanne
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 11:18
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 11:18
Yes that's the
Blackwood River alright! Thanks for the details anyway :)
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Follow Up By: member - mazcan - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 11:56
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 11:56
hi michelle
you could try timbuktoo they reckon its an iteresting place and will keep the kids minds occupied for quite a while trying to find it on a map
been there a few times and got lost each time - lol
have a good one cheers
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Wayne's 60 - Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 22:25
Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 22:25
Hi David & Michelle,
You have not indicated if you are going mid week or weekend ......??
Anyways, have you been to
Congelin Dam or Barna Mia?
Close to
home and there is a lot of crown land near by if the camp site is busy and it is a good location for a walk or bike ride with the added historical attraction.
Some people will say that the fees for Barna Mia are expensive, they run a very good AV presentation and what price can you put on viewing native animals under red light conditions at a number of feed stations? Check with DEC when the centre is open and we have had very good service from the local ranger when we last stayed in the camp site.
Just be aware that the possums can be invasive................. we had one that managed to get into the camper......... climb the ladder to our sleeping platform (no mean feat) and have a dump on my side of the bed ... NOT HAPPY.
Where ever you end up, we hope you enjoy your time in the bush.
PS ............... there are (were, when we where there recently) lots of wild flowers including a crimson spider orchid.
We will be there again this weekend.
Cheers,
Wayne & Sally.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 11:26
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 11:26
Well ! How come I've never heard of Barna Mia till now?
This is awesome thanks, just rang and sorting it out now.
MM
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Follow Up By: Wayne's 60 - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 17:54
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 17:54
Hi Michelle,
It is nice for us to be able to give something in return.
Enjoy your time in the bush as we will enjoy ours.
Cheers,
Wayne & Sally.
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Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 18:19
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 18:19
I think Barna Mia must be a recent name change along with some new buildings.
Great place though. Kids will love seeing the animals.
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Follow Up By: Wayne's 60 - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 20:39
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 20:39
Greetings GB
"A recent name change"??
In 2007 it was known as Barna Mia and that was our first contact.
Cheers,
Wayne & Sally.
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Follow Up By: get outmore - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 21:41
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 21:41
if your going to barna mia you can turn it into a tour via mundaring then through the hills,mt dale, xmas tree well, lupton cons park,
boyagin rock NR tutarring ranges NR and on to barna mia
plenty of dirt tracks .
i recently spent a whole day just getting from mundaring to boyogin with hardly any bitumen
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Gone Bush (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 22:44
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 22:44
We took some OS visitors there in about 2007 too, but I didn't notice that name. I've always known it as
Dryandra. First went there in the late 80's.
Nice place, no matter what it's called.
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Follow Up By: get outmore - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 23:28
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 23:28
barna mia is the animal sanctuary part of the
dryandra woodlands
just for something totally irrelavant i saw a numbat in the
boyagin rock nature reserve, fleeting glimpse but more than long enough for a positive ID
i thought it strange that it was during the day but further research found they are not nocturnal
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Reply By: Aussi Traveller - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 12:09
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 12:09
Here try this
LINK
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Rod W - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 14:58
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 14:58
Cheeky but I like it
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 17:06
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 17:06
Like it - Michelle is asking the question so I am allowed to give a bit here and there.
David
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Reply By: Member - Cruiser74 - Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 23:14
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012 at 23:14
Hi David and Michelle,
Sounds like you already have the beginnings of a plan and seems you have your heart set on heading north but there are some fantastic spots on the south coast. A couple of weeks back we stayed at The Leaning Marri campground just outside of Pemberton which ticks all of your camping boxes. There is a beautiful lake there and a 4WD track right at the base of the campsite takes you through the bush and up the mighty Yeagarup Dune system and all the way down to the coast. The beaches are spectacular and the fishing is first class. If the weather behaves it's possible to set up camp on the beach, roll out your swags and go to sleep to the sound of the thunderous surf rolling in. There are also a lot of other tracks to explore in the area taking you through different areas of the forest. Lake Jasper,
Jasper Beach and
Black Point also reasonably close by so plenty to see and do over 3 days. I think total fire bans apply from 01st November so it's the last opportunity this year to enjoy having a nice
campfire after a long day exploring. Whatever you choose to do I hope you have a great time, at least you are not short on options!
Regards
Craig
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012 at 11:56
Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012 at 11:56
Thanks for your ideas Craig. We have stayed a few times at
Black Point and driven down to
Jasper Beach (!!) and camped under the beautiful peppermint trees at Lake Jasper - truly a lovely place but it's not the red dirt we're seeking this time ;)
I notice Leaning Marri campsite you mentioned isn't linking (this means there isn't a photo in
Places for it.... would like to find out more so please pop something in there to fill me in on that).
Michelle
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Reply By: fisho64 - Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012 at 01:28
Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012 at 01:28
You guys are pretty lucky-anyone else says they need a campfire and the fun police come out saying how irresponsible!
Im the same though, its much less fun without one especially for the kids.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz - Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012 at 11:39
Wednesday, Sep 26, 2012 at 11:39
Yes we were just commenting how great the response to this has been :)
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