Good bye Western Australia

We have just loved this journey into WA and we’ve been provided with a wide range of experiences - from plains, to ocean to gorges and ranges - and all wonderful. The coup de gras for us was to complete the journey along the Great Central Road as it’s something we’ve wanted to do for ages. It’s been everything and more than we expected, as we’re very fortunate to see it as its best after a huge rain event some months ago. The desert is green and lush and just beautiful. We’ve witnessed the most amazing sunsets and sunrises as we’ve camped along the way - enough to make us to feel so blessed to be able to enjoy these beautiful touches of nature. 

Back to the beginning of the trip at Laverton. We enjoyed our overnight stay in this little town, but found it strange to be locked in a compound with electric and wire fence and security guards. The local pub where we dined was also different with the front facade all closed and activity was out the back. Jet planes also fly over but seeing it’s another mining town (gold & nickel) I guess that’s not surprising. 

With great excitement and a little trepidation, we set off early on our journey along the Great Central Road.

Day 1 the road was pretty good - very dusty of course but not too corrugated. We started to count the wrecked vehicles along the road and the total we counted was over 200 for the trip to the border - so not everyone makes it! Fuel was pretty expensive at the outback roadhouses - $3.60/litre was the most expensive! Like in Laverton, everything is locked up - even the fuel bowsers. Pretty sad really! The road was chopped up in places - due we found out, that these two huge low loaders, carrying mining equipment, were bogged and needed to be towed out!

Day two road was very good and we made good time, travelling 400kms. Tops won the camel spotting award, as she spied these on the road, which gave good photo opportunities. 

Evidently camels abound in this part of Australia and are quite a pest for station owners. We think that because food is so plentiful, we didn’t see many at all. Neither did we see any sort of wild life - not a kangaroo, emu or many birds. 

We had always assumed this road would be flat and desert like, but found that there were lots of ridges and then we came across a mountain range.

The scenery also kept changing from treed river beds to flat spinnifex  plains.

At our last campsite, we heard a dingo howl, then next thing, there were a pair prowling around our campsite - lucky we saw them and put our rubbish bags out of the way, as no doubt they would have pulled them to pieces. 

Just over the border, we visited Lassiter’s cave - poor man never did find that elusive gold reef - nor did anyone else. 

After 1102 kms, and 2.5 days of travelling, we completed the first part of this trek. We entered NT west of the iconic rock features which always look stunning!

We are camped at Curtin Springs before we head to Alice Springs, then onto the next part of the journey. 

We hope everyone is well and as happy as we are! Till the next blog, love from us ❌❌❌