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Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
  • Mark Sawyer
  • Valerie Sawyer
  • Mark Sawyer
  • Valerie Sawyer

Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip

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  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    Stairs down to Elephant Rocks beachWalk through to beachNo shoes to beach 😂Perfect spot for snorkelingCrystal clear water

    Elephant Rocks & Greens Pool

    September 6, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    These huge granite boulders that resemble a herd of elephants lumbering out to sea are known as Elephant Rocks, they are a short walk from the carpark where there is a lookout, the trail then descends (by a set of stairs) between the rocks to a sheltered cove. This is a great place for a swim, but there are strong currents that sometimes run through this cove. Providing a stark contrast to the granite that dominates this section of the coast, a strip of black dolerite lines the eastern edge of the bay.

    You can walk from Elephant Rocks around the rocky headland to Greens Pool.

    Greens pool is famous for the turquoise water and the crystal clear water and pristine beaches and is protected from the Southern Ocean by the large granite boulders, the area is incredible, unfortunately the water was too cold to go for a swim.
    This would be a perfect place for the summer holiday swimming, snorkeling and relaxing on the beach.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip

    Chainsaw Art

    September 7, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    This was unreal, the skill this person has is incredible all the sculptures are exceptional and very precise.
    An unexpected bonus to our time in Albany.
    The ask for a gold coin donation on the notice but when you get there the entry notice asks you to put $5 per person in the box, an honor system.Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    Gym horse 😂

    The Tin Horse Highway

    September 8, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Headed to Hyden today all the way there were beautiful yellow canola plantations, we decided to go the long way to Hyden and drive along the Tin Horse Highway, it was a lovely distraction as all the horses made of tin were so different and unusual it was great to see the locals have a sense of humor and artistic flair, many stops along the way for photos.
    Stopped for lunch at a little cafe in The main Street in Kulin, a lovely little country town.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    Afternoon image
    Great view from top of Hyden rocks1Hippo yawn with friendsLooks like the face of a koalaDomeone had built some balancing rocksDome wildflowers along the wayDome wildflowers along the way

    Wave Rock

    September 8, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Booked in to wave rock caravan park and met our travel friends, Graham and Jo, went straight out for a walk to Wave rock (650 meters),it’s a granite cliff 15 meters high and 110 meters long, the weather and water erosion has caused it to become a rounded overhang shape over millions of years.
    During that walk we also did the Hyden Rock walk (1,300 meters) which takes you to the top of the main rock formations and the views were awesome.
    Hoppo Yawn walk (1,710 meters ) was our next walk and this is again granite unusually shaped over time.
    After all that exercise we settled in for a happy hour (or two) before a late dinner.
    Top day overall.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    Crystal clear water on top of the humpsCrystal clear water on top of the humps180 degree view from the top of the Hump180 degree view from the outher side on the top of the HumpA beautiful green area on top of the HumpsThe only thingbi found interesting in the lace museumToy soldier museum, the only photo I took

    Mulka’s Cave & The Humps

    September 9, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Mulka’s cave had over 450 separate images and hand prints on the walls and is known to be the one of the most significant Aboriginal rock art sites in Western Australia.

    The Humps were another giant granite formations, with two walking tracks, we did both the Gnamma trail was a flat track and the best one was The Kalari trail, this was a longer steeper and more rockier walk as the photos show.
    Visited the toy soldier and the lace museums, something different but interesting.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    3Twilight BayUnder the jettyThe view from under the jettyAfternoon tea

    Esperance

    September 10, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Drove along the coast (and a few small walks) to check out the beaches and scenery and the views were stunning, the blue crystal clear water and white as white sands are like no other we have seen.
    Heard there were some whales off one of the beaches but were gone by the time we got there.
    Checked out the pink lake and it’s not pink anymore.
    Stopped at Taylor’s street quarters for afternoon tea and then followed up with a walk on the jetty.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    A local piece of art
    A few inquisitive locals

    Stonhenge

    September 11, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    This is an exact recreation of the original Stonehenge in the UK, this was destined to be built in Margaret River but when all the granite stones were ready to be transported there was a financial crisis and it couldn’t go ahead so a local farmer decided to buy them and make it here on his farm.
    It took about 8 months to complete and it is positioned exactly the same as the original in UK.
    The last two photos (sunset on winter solstice) are from the exact same position just at different times through the Great Trilathon, I only took the daytime one 😂.
    Still what an awesome achievement to complete this as it would have been back in 3,000 BC.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    An awesome shade of turquoiseI love panorama photosA local just chilling outThistle bayUnusual rock formationWhistling rockAnother nice selfieWildflowers are outWildflowers are outWildflowers are outWildflowers are outWildflowers are out

    Lucky bay

    September 11, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    A great drive out to Lucky Bay to check it out, the colour of the water and sands just keep getting better and better.

    The coastline is incredible, the sand Lucky Bay is a quartz sand that came from the granite rocks and due to weathering over time, if you put them under a microscope you would see they have rough surfaces known as frosting, when you walk on the sand the particles rub together and that causes a squeaking sound.

    There was a local (photo) just chilling out near the beach.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    Hellfire bay3Frenchman's peakFrenchman's peakPicnic bay next to twilight beachFouth beach sets coming through

    Last day exploration esperance

    September 12, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Checked out Cape Le Grand beach, a bit more protected from the winds but Hellfire bay, is thought to be named after St Elmo’s fire, a blush flame like electric discharge that sometimes appears above ships masts.
    The colours again are the aqua blue and the sand here is super white and also squeaks when you walk on it.
    We had this beach to ourselves for about 20 minutes before others started arriving.
    The beach had numerous cuttlefish pieces all around, this would be my pick for the swimming.
    Had lunch at Lucky bay and then
    drove to Frenchman’s peak but didn’t climb as it was a 2 hour trek and we ran out of time.
    Fourth beach was looking awesome today with a few sets coming through, a few people swimming at Twilight beach today but 11 degrees is way too cold for me.
    Off to Kalgoorlie tomorrow.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip

    Kalgoorlie

    September 13, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Arrived, then spent the day looking around the town, tried to get into the Questa Casa the oldest historical brothel in Australia but you had to book and the tour was full.
    Visited the Goldfields War Museum, checked out the Super pit lookout then up to Mt Charlotte Lookout, the view was great the highest point in Kalgoorlie.
    This is where the water reservoir for the whole town is and the water is pumped all the way from Perth in a massive amount of pipes.
    There are many pipes that run off the Main line to every town along the route giving them all a constant water supply service.

    We did the Kalgoorlie Gold mine super pit tour and it was excellent and the guide, Wes, knew his stuff,.
    He was a baker by trade (20years) then started doing some part time tourism work then he was offered a job to remodel and set up the Kalgoorlie tours and Charters, then ran the place until Covid hit then worked in the mines driving dump trucks.
    Now back in full swing with the tours,

    He told us that the gold mine only had locals working in it, no FIFO as the CEO is a local and wants the locals to have jobs.
    They roughly get a golf ball size of gold to every ton of rock, 1 dump truck out of seven would have gold in the rocks.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    1Our 1st roadhouse stay 👍Not much here

    Travelling the Nullabour

    September 15, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Left Kalgoorlie after our morning tour and headed to Norseman and start our crossing the Nullabour and stopping overnight at Caiguna Roadhouse, a nice little spot, had a cooked meal as was too lazy to cook our own after a big day, arrived late at 6:20pm after dark (normally would not drive after sunset).
    The lady who ran the place Kaz was amazing, we chatted to her for a while before she closed up for the night.

    Off to the Nullabour roadhouse for the night.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    1

    Nullabour

    September 15, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Stopped for morning tea at Mundrabilla Roadhouse nice coffee and 1/2 a cake 😂.

    Not a lot to see crossing Nullabour as mostly flat with little vegetation, a few roadhouses and a lot of trucks and extremely windy.

    Nullabour roadhouse is another level 🤔    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip

    The Head of the Bight

    September 15, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    Went to The Head of the Bight and sighted some whales and a mother with a calf, the viewing platforms are terrific adding some protection from the enormous winds we have been experiencing the last few days.

    To the east of this spot you can see the sand dunes that have been pushed up the height of the cliffs over thousands of years by the winds strength and direction.
    The dunes are moving further inland at a level of eleven meters per year.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip

    Streaky Bay

    September 16, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    Left Nullabour roadhouse after sunrise but what a sunrise to see, arrived and decide to shout ourselves to a seafood lunch at Cafe, great spot right next to the long jetty/pier.
    Had a walk around town and found that the local school (kids under 18years) can make wine for fund raising, so we bought 2 bottles through the local bottle shop.

    They can’t drink it, can’t sell it, can’t buy it but they can make it, makes sense 😂😂😂    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip

    Whistling Rocks & Blowhole

    September 16, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    Took a drive out to the rocks and blowhole, the wind was atrocious and you were sand blasted all the way out to the platform.
    The view on the other hand was spectacular the waves were massive and the ocean was extremely angry.
    Due to the ferocity of the waves they were whistling exceptionally well. The blowhole was working great but the waves from the other side were crashing and causing a massive spray covering the blowhole platform.

    Chechen out Cape Bauer and the coastline was amazing too.

    It started raining and had to get there on a dirt road too, needed a good wash after that.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip
    Kimba road stop
    Kimba road stop, big bird 😂Head out of Port Augusta

    Peterborough

    September 17, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Due to rains in Streaky Bay we couldn’t get into some other places of interest in fear of getting bogged and blown away so we
    decided to leave Streaky Bay early as the winds became stronger and the rain came and went at random.

    Headed home and going through Kimba and Broken Hill due to weather warning in lower NSW

    Overnight at Peterborough before heading off tomorrow.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip

    Cobar

    September 18, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Decided to wait around for the tyre company to open in the morning and have it replaced, don’t want to push our luck with driving on without a spare🤔.

    Needed a glass of wine tonight 🍷🍷

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip

    The long Road Home

    September 18, 2022 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Left Peterborough and the day started off with a good early start and then just out of Cockburn (50 klms out of Broken Hill) got a right side flat Tyre on the caravan, pulled up pretty quickly to save the rim.
    Caravan jack wouldn’t work so grabbed the Hilux jack, drove van up onto some timber I had to get some height to get jack under the axle.
    A long distance truckie, John pulled over and stopped to check on us, he helped me with the wheel change as we were right on the edge of the road, couple of minor injuries as wheel nuts must have been put on with rattle gun 😡 and the bushes next to van on other side were sharp 🌳.

    On the way in tried ringing everyone we could find to see if we could get it replaced before moving on but to no avail, being a Sunday and nothing open.
    Took a chance without a spare and drove to Cobar (500 klms) to our overnight park booking.    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip

    Dunedoo

    September 19, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Last town we stopped in before getting home, arrived at 5:40pm and found out that when the tyre let go it damaged the handbrake cable was damaged, as the last two nights we stayed hooked up we didn’t need to use it.
    Get home and found it pulled out when tried to use it on slope in driveway 😡
    Had to get under van while still hooked up do some quick repairs to be able to lock the brake on.
    Looks like a new one will be fitted soon.

    .    Read more

  • Mark & Valerie’s Aussie trip

    Home

    September 19, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Home now van emptied and ready for tomorrow for the van and car cleaning while Valerie takes care of the washing

    Trip end
    September 19, 2022
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