The latest instalment of Bruce and Elaine’s journey around Eastern Western Australia. Take a look at them getting ready to travel, traveling around Southern Western Australia and on the road again to see their travels so far.
Next stop Dongara where we stayed at the Seaspray CP, they had a 3 pay for 2 special going on so instead of paying $40p/n we paid $30. Every site has its own en-suite with level grass sites so it was a welcome respite having our very own toilet and shower. There isn’t too much to see but there was drives and during Sept to Oct wildflowers out in the countryside and worth a day or two stopover. We stayed for 4 nights for a bit of R&R. The best place to see wildflowers around Dongara is at the Coalseam Conservation Park about 80 km’s nth east and about 50 kms sth of Mullewa. As it was a windy, drizzly sort of day when we thought of going and as we were going to stay at Mullewa we decided to hold off seeing the wildflowers until we reached Mullewa. Being on the beach I wouldn’t advise swimming in the Indian Ocean, the beach slopes a lot and that means rips. There is oodles of seaweed to get tangled in and if that doesn’t get you I reckon the rips or the pull of the water would see you heading for Sth Africa pretty damn fast. As always check with the Tourist Bureau when you get here.
Onwards and upwards 65 kms to Geraldton, we stayed at the Sunset CP on the Nth side Big4 $38 p/n without discount, mostly level slab sites and good amenities. Eagerly we were waiting to go out and see the myriad of wildflowers. So at the tourist bureau we went to find where would be the best place to drive to when the woman said, ‘No wildflowers around here we haven’t had the rain to make them bloom. Bugger it I thinks to myself so we’ll have to look for other things to do. Now Geraldton is a large town and there are places to see and scenic drives anyway. A must see is the memorial to the sinking of the HMAS Sydney 2 sunk with all 645 sailors in 1941, a very poignant place that resonates with old sailors like myself. There are three varying length scenic drives around the Chapman Valley and we did the three of them. Lo and behold we found wildflowers, they were only on the side of the road but were a tantalising taste of what could have been with some more rain. So we were able to take photos of them which we will make into a Montage when we get home. We did find two paddocks full of wildflowers and were lucky as we weren’t going to drive down the road to Yuna. A very nice place to visit while scenic driving, for a light meal or a Devonshire tea with lemonade scones is the Lavender Farm on the road to Nanson, well worth a visit.
After 4 days we upped anchor and sailed westwards towards Mullewa, when we got there we did a tour of the town, most of the shops were closed down and because there were no wildflowers around we drove onto to Mt Magnet. The caravan pk is on the highway $25 p/n with level gravel sites and adequate amenities. The only thing to do there is the museum and the heritage drive which was interesting to read the history of the place. The most poignant part was the grave of a mother and child who died around the turn of the century 1900. It was stuck out in the middle of nowhere and must have been a shocking thing to happen.
Next day on to Sandstone for an overnight stay, $20 p/n with seniors card, level blocks, ok amenities with disabled amenities, no tv reception. It is a small place with a pub come shop, post office, tourist centre and a caravan park, the ubiquitous heritage drive would take about an hour to tour the gold mining areas, well worth the drive.
On to Leinster, this is a nickel mining town owned by BHP, the caravan Pk is also owned by BHP and you pick a site, most have slabs with electricity and water but not all and it’s first come first serve so we got there early and got a shady spot. It’s $15 p/n and you pay at the supermarket, there is only two showers and toilets each with a disabled amenity as well. The laundry is free and the dryers as well. If you want to you can have your night meal at the miners mess for $15 pp but you have to be out by 7:00 PM. Let me tell you the meals were far better than a lot of pubs and restaurants we’ve been to and if you ask the chefs they’ll even cook you a steak or Barramundi. There are drives you can go on but both take you all the way to Leonora 136 km’s away, as we were heading there after Leinster I saw no value in driving there and then having to come back. There is a drive to Agnew which is about 25 k’s to the west where there used to be a town and a gold mining still in operation, worth a squiz. Fuel is by card only and diesel was $1.67 a litre, the town has a well stocked supermarket, café and newsagent. Without a dish there was only ABC for TV.
To be continued…
