Tom Price

Day 9 5^th May

Tom Price

Odometer Total 18243kms  Temp 22-31

Our plans today included returning to Karinjini NP to view the gorges at the western end of the park. Unfortunately my knee injury put the kybosh on any hiking. The first thing on the agenda was securing new accommodation as the caravan park was unable to provide us with an ensuite room the 2^nd night. Even though they advised us they would be charging us for the 2^nd night we  decided to cut our losses and look for alternative accommodation as there was no way I could possibly walk to the outside facilities overnight. We booked into the Tom Price Hotel Motel($215), a no frills affair but at least it had a bathroom. Mark went to Coles and did the shopping to restock the fridge whilst I waited at the visitor information centre. Whilst we were at the information centre we decided to watch the compulsary 20min. video necessary prior to driving to Millstream Chichester NP via the private unsealed  road the next day. The price of the permit $10 and a donation to the RFDS for watching the video.

It was midday before we left Tom Price and 1pm before we arrived at Weano Gorge in Karijini NP. I prepared ham & salad rolls which we ate in the cool of the car. Thankfully the walk to Oxer and Junction Pool Lookout was described as only 300m & 30 mins return. Even with my right knee giving me holy hell I managed to hobble to the two lookouts and it only took us 20mins. I didn’t find the view as impressive as Dale Gorge.

The sun obscured our view

The bottom of the gorge

I am not sure why we decided to drive out to Hammersley Gorge instead of driving out to Joffre and Knox Gorges. The drive to Hammersley took us almost an hour with most of it on unsealed road. The sign to the turnoff to the gorge was just after the actual road. On the drive in were some unusual rock formations.

The road into Hammersley Gorge

The lookout was under construction which made it tricky to see down into the gorge. There were two hikes down to the pools which were very steep and so not possible for me since I was incapacitated.

The path down to the gorge

Got to love those dirt roads

Looking down into the gorge from where the new lookout was being constructed

We returned to Tom Price via the Nanutarra Road(unsealed). When we arrived in back in town at 4.45 we decided to head up to Mt Nameless. Once again there was poor signage so Mark turned round after 10mins.

Dinner that night was at the Hotel. I had the fillet steak with Dianne sauce and Mark had the Fillet with Bugs and prawns in a garlic sauce, including the bugs & prawns I was so supposed to have ($39 each). Drinks were $14 for a cruiser and a schooner.

Mileage 274kms
Total Mileage 5572kms

Tom Price to Port Hedland via Millstream Chichester NP

Day 10 6^th May

Tom Price to Port Hedland via Millstream Chichester NP

Odometer 18517 T 22

An early start today with us on the road by 7.40. We followed the main road out of town until we reached a T intersection at which point Mark and I debated the correct direction to take to find the Rio Tinto Iron Ore Rail access road which required a permit. I thought we should turn right, Mark thought we should turn left. As usual Mark was correct. We made it to the permit road by 8am, although we were confused as to where it actually started. The road was wide, unsealed and had a speed limit of 80kms/hr. 

We reached the end of the permit road by 9.30. The road out to the homestead was not as well maintained but was still in good condition. 

We should have stopped at the Cliff Lookout before continuing on to the homestead.

There were wallabies grazing between the carpark and the homestead.

We checked out the house which doubled as a visitor centre before deciding to follow the path to find the pool. My knee was still giving me curry so it was a slow walk through palm and native trees. 

We started our walk to the Chinderwarriner Pool (750m 30 mins return) at the front of the homestead. The walk took us approximately 1 hr as we stopped to enjoy the scenery.

Despite the pain in my knee I was determined to do the 2nd walk to the Chinderwarriner Pool which started at the back of the homestead. I preferred the view of the pool from this walk.

At 11.40 we drove back to Cliff Lookout with views of Pandanus Palms on the back of the Fortescue River. 

Heading back towards the homestead we continued onto Snappy Gum Drive. I found the drive  uninspiring. Mark was excited by the water crossing, and drove across and back again twice. 

Water crossing 

We stopped briefly at Murlamunyjunha Crossing Pool where there were a number of people camping. Despite a sign which said no caravans there were 4 groups camped there. If you don’t mind swimming in a river it would be a lovely place to camp. There were numerous corellas in the tress and once again some palm trees.

We continued onto Python Pool where we planned to have lunch. We had to negotiate 10kms of sealed windy road prior to reaching the car park. On the way there was a lookout across the countryside which we stopped off at long enough to take a photo before continuing to Python Pool and our usual late lunch at 1330. The walk into Python Pool is short only 150m the last bit over rocks. Unfortunately the pool was green so not suitable for swimming. If I hadn't been injured we would have arrived at Python Pool earlier and I would have completed the hikes to McKenzie Spring (grade 3, 4.5km 1 hr return) and the Mt Herbert Summit (grade 3, 600m 25mins return). Maybe next time.

We had to walk along the creek bed part of the way to Python Pool

We were back on the road by 2.30. It took 40 mins to make it to the North West Coastal Highway. A 1m goanna walked across the road in front of us about 50kms south of Port Hedland. Once again we weren't quick enough to get a photo. It was approximately 4.15pm by the time we arrived at the Hospitality Inn. I wanted to go to the Koombana Lookout as there was supposed to be great views at sunset. Mark wasn't keen and I didn't want to walk even though it was only 500m away as my knee was still really painful and the swelling had increased. Both the washer and dryer were free so I decided to take the opportunity to do a load of washing. 

We had dinner at the restaurant on the premises, The Pilbara Room. Mark decided to have 2 entrees- a prawn cocktail and 1 dozen oysters and I had the Fillet steak. We splurged on desert, crème brulee, unfortunately it wasn’t very nice. An expensive meal with borderline service. 

The kitchen out the back of the visitor centre, Millstream Chichester NP

The oven

The art of understatement

Total 519kms
Total Mileage 6091kms

Port Hedland to Broome

Day 11 7th May

Port Hedland to Broome

Odometer 19035 T 27

Today we had a long day of driving with little in the way of sight seeing planned. Back on the road again by 8.30 we went up to the Koombana Lookout (an area slightly raised above the beach) where a memorial plaque to the SS Koombana which disappeared during a cyclone, 20th March 1912. I presume the water tower is accessible during business hours and you can climb it for better views but it was not accessible when we were there. Our next stop was a brief stop at Pretty Pool before our long trek north.

Pretty Pool, Port Hedland

On our way out of town I took a snap of the salt being processed

We continued onto Eighty Mile Beach, which was reached by driving 9km down a dirt road (bulldust) for beautiful views of the Indian Ocean.

Eighty Mile Beach a popular fishing spot

Mark on eighty Mile Beach

We reached Sandfire Roadhouse at 12.40 so stopped for lunch (Egg sandwich, 4 wing dings, 1 kransky, 600ml flavoured milk & a 600ml soft drink $31). The roadhouse has numerous tame peahens and peacocks wandering around.

Soon after leaving Sandfire we spotted a 2 ½’ goanna on the road. Once again no photos.
I  had managed to convince Mark to make the trek out to the ocean twice. Our second sojourn to see the ocean was at Barn Hill. The 9kms unsealed road was corrugated, with deep bulldust and lots of speed humps.

Road to Barn Hill Station

We reached the camp ground and when we realised we needed to clamber over sand hills to see the ocean we turned around and drove straight back out again. My knee was still painful and very swollen so no clambering on sand for me.

We finally arrived at our B & B in Broome around 5-5.30ish. Our host Frank was loud and I found him a little abrasive. Our room was small with only a small amount of room to walk around the large bed, but our ensuite was enourmous. We went down to the night markets which are only held when the staircase to the moon is visible. We parked in a nearby paddock and walked to where we could view the Staircase to the Moon. There wasn't much to the markets and the lighting was poor. Unfortunately our view of the Staircase was not fantastic due to low lying cloud. Never the less Mark did manage to get some great photos.

Staircase to the Moon, Broome

Staircase to the Moon, Broome

Pretty Pool

Jelly Fish on Eighty Mile Beach

Julie's knee. The bruising is starting to come out

Mileage 656kms

Total Mileage 6747kms