We better find gold or else!!!

Off to SA and WA via Nullabor Plains and KALGOORLIE Gold fields...after that who knows... Read more

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We better find gold or else!!!Traveler
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Day 39
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 1:08 PM
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: 375 m
Australia Kambalda -31.21024, 121.67321531°12’37” S 121°40’24” E
Salt Lakes and Gold
June 25, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Kambalda, a tidy town with a Woolies, a pub, a sports stadium, second hand shop and the best drive-thru coffee and savoury pumpkin muffin stop in the world!!( Maybe an exaggeration)
Lookout on the outskirts to 700km plus Salt Lake with some water( normally dry but there has recently been 14inches of rain) and real operating gold mines!! They drill down 1 .4 kms initially under the salt lake then go up... Amazing stuff!!Read more
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Day 39–40
June 25, 2024 at 3:21 PM - June 26, 2024
1 night
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: 405 m
Australia Coolgardie -30.954438, 121.17537430°57’16” S 121°10’31” E
1
Coolgardie and it is very cool 😎
Jun 25–26, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Last freecamp before Kalgoorlie! Had fun exploring the town, not much here except an IGA and lots of beautiful old buildings some derelict and some not!!
Wide streets and red soil footpaths...reminded me of Winton in Qld.Read more
Traveler Deb said 😁
6/26/24Reply
TravelerLike the cactus. Xx. The town looks really oldie worldie. Fascinating. Xx
6/27/24Reply
TravelerIt was, we definitely stepped back in time there...
6/29/24Reply
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We better find gold or else!!!Traveler
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Day 40
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 2:44 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 368 m
Australia Kalgoorlie-Boulder -30.748177, 121.47200530°44’53” S 121°28’19” E
Kalgoorlie/ Kalgoorlie-Boulder
June 26, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Well, ever since we arrived in Kalgoorlie 3 days ago, it has rained!! So no gold-detecting for this little black duck or her drake...but plenty of time to plan where we r going to gold-detect when the rain stops and the ground dries, and to learn how to use Trilobite and Tengraph computer programs for wanna-be gold prospectors!!!!
We also got to explore the town, the pubs, the coffee shops, and catch up on the washing...Read more
TravelerLooks wonderful, full of character. Good luck in learning the computer lingo. That in itself would have Dave and I beaten!! Xx
6/29/24Reply
TravelerThanks Lesley!! 🌻
6/29/24Reply
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We better find gold or else!!!Traveler
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Day 45
Monday, July 1, 2024 at 12:32 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 376 m
Australia Five Mile Hill -30.687721, 121.47075930°41’16” S 121°28’15” E
2
Let's go Detecting...
July 1, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Finally we get to go detecting! The weather is clearing and after another very interesting day yesterday exploring this heritage city with a real cosmopolitan vibe as well, we are ready to hit the Goldfields...Ready, Set, Go!!!!Read more
Traveler Mark certainly looks the part. :)
7/1/24Reply
TravelerReady for a gold party...
7/1/24Reply
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We better find gold or else!!!Traveler
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Day 45
Monday, July 1, 2024 at 12:56 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 352 m
Australia Coolgardie -30.660875, 121.47477830°39’39” S 121°28’29” E
1
Let the Gold -Detecting begin...
July 1, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Woohoo!! Day 3 into gold-detecting- slowly cleaning up Australia bullet by bullet...
TravelerMark looks happy!
7/1/24Reply
TravelerHappy to be detecting at last...
7/1/24Reply
Traveler You certainly look the part Mark. We'll keep an eye out for you on 'Aussie Gold Hunters' on the telly. Xx. 🦘
7/1/24Reply
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We better find gold or else!!!Traveler
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Day 49
Friday, July 5, 2024 at 5:19 PM
🌙 11 °C
Altitude: 359 m
Australia Somerville -30.765929, 121.45466430°45’57” S 121°27’17” E
2 2 1 3
Broadarrow- great pub but no gold😔
July 5, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 11 °C
Today was our 5th day straight gold-detecting...I am feeling quite tired so will have tomorrow off...Mark will still go out though. Not much at Broadarrow now, except a fabulous pub, one sheep and two goats!! Once a thriving gold town, now a ghost town, like so many of the small towns round here!!Read more
TravelerMaybe tomorrow the elusive Nugget will materialise 💥
7/5/24Reply
Traveler It is a lovely tree - no koalas hiding away tho.?? Xx
7/6/24Reply
Traveler What a hard life the people had back then. X
7/6/24Reply
TravelerYes, glad I wasn't born back then!
7/6/24Reply
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Day 54–68
July 10, 2024 at 8:27 AM - July 24, 2024
14 nights
🌬 15 °C
Altitude: 358 m
Australia Somerville -30.766669, 121.45513830°46’0” S 121°27’18” E
1 1 1 1 2
Goodbye Kalgoorlie- nice to meet you!
Jul 10–24, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 15 °C
Leaving Kalgoorlie today in the pouring rain with no gold😔. Our friends found another nugget yesterday which was exciting for them! And of course we are happy for them...😉.
Normally it doesn't rain in Kalgoorlie so they never even built a drainage system so there is water everywhere...
Off now to Hyden and then Margaret River. Had a great time here exploring multiple old pubs, mines, Goldfields and some great tourist attractions. This week is NAIDOC week, so Tracey and I went to an aboriginal movie last night called 'The New Boy' by aboriginal director Warwick Thorton- absolutely brilliant 👏, totally recommend it. Starred Cate Blanchett and Debra Mailman, and the actor (Aswan Reid) who played the young aboriginal boy was truly superb. If you get a chance watch it!!Read more
Traveler Fabulous Mark & Sam .. you are having some wonderful experiences… loved your Unlucky bay pics also… stunning environment…. Sorry I didn’t comment when you posted 🤗😍
7/9/24Reply
TravelerThat is alright!! Lucky Bay👏👏👏 is a must....divine!!
7/9/24Reply
Great to see what you are both up too. X [Lori]
7/9/24Reply
Traveler🤩🤩🤩😜
7/9/24Reply
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We better find gold or else!!!Traveler
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Day 54
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 3:40 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 370 m
Australia Merredin Aerodrome -31.524948, 118.31516431°31’30” S 118°18’55” E
Merridin- quick drive-thru...🚐
July 10, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Not much here...
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Day 55–56
July 11, 2024 at 1:10 PM - July 12, 2024
1 night
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 271 m
Australia Kulin -32.507655, 118.50293832°30’28” S 118°30’11” E
3 2 2 2 1 2 1 1
Wave Rock- Hyden
Jul 11–12, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Got in late to Hyden and stayed overnight at a truck stop with a view! Walked around, and on, Wave Rock and Hyden Rock, lunched at the Bakery. Now off to Bunbury.
Wave Rock brings 140,000 tourists per year to Hyden, and was first made famous in National Geographic in 1967...Read more
Traveler Moose with flaring nostrils 😂
7/11/24Reply
TravelerYeah????🤣
7/11/24Reply
Traveler Up close and personal. You did better than us on KI. Lol.
7/11/24Reply
TravelerThese guys were very used to people...
7/11/24Reply
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Day 56–57
July 12, 2024 at 9:14 AM - July 13, 2024
1 night
☁️ 10 °C
Altitude: 124 m
Australia Mumballup -33.528659, 116.11222833°31’43” S 116°6’44” E
1
Mumballup- in the land of ups...
Jul 12–13, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Overnight freecamp opposite Mumby pub and on the Billulmum Track...woke to cows mooing and a very soupy fog! Off to Margaret River now...
The whole south-west corner of WA, has place names ending in 'up'...
Ps. Just found out 'up' is aboriginal for 'place of'...Read more
Traveler Very pretty. X
7/12/24Reply
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Day 56–58
July 12, 2024 at 1:39 PM - July 14, 2024
2 nights
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 87 m
Australia Margaret River -33.972448, 115.10319233°58’21” S 115°6’11” E
Marg's River and Surrounds
Jul 12–14, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Lovely, lovely region of WA. From caves, to wineries, to sheep and dairy farms as well as magnificent surf beaches. What more could one ask for???? We would have loved to have spent longer here...
Camped for 2 nights at a private sheep farm/ camping ground during lambing season, there were little bubs everywhere and apparently lots of twins this season!!🐑🐑Read more
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Day 57
Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 1:48 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Australia Storm Bay -34.35441, 115.16692234°21’16” S 115°10’1” E
Abalone at Augusta
July 13, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Took a lovely country drive to Augusta today, seaside town known for green-lipped abalone- which is a real delicacy, priced at 300 dollars for 1 kilo!!
Interesting abalone fact: they live in ocean ranches.
They also have a range of wines at the Ocean Pantry here which are cellared on the ocean floor for one year. They sell for 200 dollars a bottle. Needless to say, we ate lunch at the pub up the road!! Much cheaper...Read more
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Day 57
Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 2:07 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 31 m
Australia Groper Bay -34.366718, 115.15636834°22’0” S 115°9’23” E
Australia's most southern-western point
July 13, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
... is Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse!!! Still operating to this day!
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Day 58
Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 10:35 AM
☁️ 13 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Australia Blackhurst Park -33.600825, 115.10528333°36’3” S 115°6’19” E
Dunsborough to Busselton to Mandurah
July 14, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
On the road again heading north, hopefully will get a bit warmer. 🤞
Stop off's at yuppy, beachside town of Dunsborough, town of the 1.841km long pier in Busseltown and home of the giant sculptures at Mandurah.Read more
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Day 58–60
July 14, 2024 at 3:46 PM - July 16, 2024
2 nights
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Australia Halls Head -32.542647, 115.68688132°32’34” S 115°41’13” E
Perth to Prison
Jul 14–16, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Beautiful freecamp in Jarrahdale. From here we explored what we could in the surrounding areas. Limited time as we are now on a much tighter time schedule!! We will definitely have to come back when we have no time restrictions.
The highlight of our time here was definitely the underground Fremantle Prison tour. We climbed down 20 metres of ladder, attached by a safety harness, and explored by foot and by boat the underground water tunnels.
Western Australia has always had a shortage of water, and water was needed by Fremantle and also the ships coming into 'Freo' port and there just happened to be a large supply directly under the Prison... so in the 19th century they put the prisoners in shackles, to dig down 20 metres through limestone, and to build the labyrinth of tunnels. Now, that is hard labour. This water supplied the town and port of Freo for 3 decades.
(No prisoners escaped during the building of these tunnels!!)
The Prison closed in 1991, the tunnels were restored, and a year later it became a major tourist attraction!!Read more
TravelerA lovely history of the prison. 1991 wasn't that long ago when it was closed. Amazing buildings and architecture. Glad it's getting warmer for you both now. Xx ❤️
7/16/24Reply
TravelerMe too!!
7/16/24Reply
Thank you Sam for the photos & commentary, has been wonderful of you to share the journey with us. [Narelle]
7/19/24Reply
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We better find gold or else!!!Traveler
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Day 60
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 1:15 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 262 m
Australia Mount Campbell -29.313333, 115.89833329°18’48” S 115°53’54” E
The Pinnacles
July 16, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Today we started our trek to Cue via The Pinnacles. Snapped a shot of Perth CBD from truck as we sped past, enjoyed a leisurely ocean drive with views of giant white sand dunes and turquoise waters all the way to the desert Pinnacle Park in Namburg National Park, near Cervantes. The park was much bigger than I thought it would be and did take my breath away upon first sight. The Pinnacles are limestone rock formations of many different sizes and shapes and no-one is exactly sure how or why they came to be. We wandered around the 1 km track and grounds, and decided it was once a very large underwater termite/ant habitat, given the shapes and markings on rocks🤣.
Arrived at Three Springs RV Park, went for a 5km run through town( not much here), and completed our dinner/movie/bed routine. Slept soundly and woke to birds and a purple/orange sunset and another glorious day. Life on the road is so, so good!! To coin a popular internet trend from 10 years ago( so my nephew informs me) Mark and I have regularly been saying to each other "Y.O.L.O" which stands for "You only live once!!" 🌄🌞🚐Read more
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Day 61
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 10:26 AM
🌬 18 °C
Altitude: 311 m
Australia McCarthys Well -28.508326, 116.56123128°30’30” S 116°33’40” E
"A good doer upperer..."
July 17, 2024 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
We have officially entered Outback WA!!
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We better find gold or else!!!Traveler
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Day 61
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 11:07 AM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 337 m
Australia Jocker Well -28.439631, 116.7519628°26’23” S 116°45’7” E
Jokers Tunnel and Lake Wownaminya
July 17, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
100 metre tunnel dug thru shale/granite rock, with a pick'n'shovel to find gold! This IS Australia!!!!!!
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Day 62
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 4:11 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 440 m
Australia Cue Hill -27.421468, 117.89870127°25’17” S 117°53’55” E
Just over 300 people live in Cue
July 18, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Only the pub, post office and petrol station open here!!!! All the shops in the main street are closed , so sad🙁.
We did about 6 hours of gold -prospecting today and then the weather deteriorated badly becoming very cold, wet and windy!!
Quiet arvo catching up with chores and BAS for my business, reading and listening to TED talks...
We leave in morning for Meekatharra!! Mark is pumped...
We have also caught up with the rest of our group, so there are now 10 of us, 5 vehicles. Two of the couples have had to go home due to ill-health.😣Read more
TravelerThat sunrise is spectacular!
7/18/24Reply
TravelerYeah it's a beauty hey!! The colours are divine...
7/18/24Reply
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Day 65–69
July 21, 2024 at 9:48 AM - July 25, 2024
4 nights
☀️ 12 °C
Altitude: 456 m
Australia Nowthanna Hill -27.04732, 118.6624927°2’50” S 118°39’45” E
2
Off Grid to Find Gold
Jul 21–25, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Well, we went off-grid on John's cousin's tenement for a while east 50kms from Meekatharra. There was definitely gold found but unfortunately we were not fortunate. So if anyone wants to buy a gold detector just contact Mark!! 🙂
No, he hasn't given up yet but he is disappointed.😔 Hopefully he will have more luck in the Pilbara- this will be our last chance to gold detect this trip in WA.
We also explored the ruins of the Quinn Hotel( 1895). Lots of tins and old cooking utensils and bottles etc.
We had a wonderful time learning the Geology of the area as John's cousin is a geologist so learnt heaps! Also, the fires at night were THE BEST!!

All up FIVE pieces of gold were found!!!!!Read more
Traveler There has to be a story here somewhere :)
7/23/24Reply
TravelerI know....fascinating shape...
7/23/24Reply
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Day 68–70
July 24, 2024 at 11:48 AM - July 26, 2024
2 nights
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 598 m
Australia Shed Bore -24.711245, 119.6076224°42’40” S 119°36’27” E
Stuck in Kumarina
Jul 24–26, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
The truck is not happy!! Fuel issues apparently. We made it to front of roadhouse with the aim of refuelling for trip to Port Headland but when we went to restart engine there was nothing ...
So we were towed by bulldozer to back of roadhouse as we were blocking access to fuel tanks, and have spent the day waiting for a mechanic from Neumann to come and work his truck magic...
Still waiting..Read more
TravelerDam, The joys of being on the road! Maybe a special experience awaits you folk there :)
7/24/24Reply
TravelerTruck now fixed. It was fuel filters...on the road again tomorrow...will buy new filters to replace old ones and fingers crossed 🤞 all will be well.. we did have a nice down day here and enjoyed the meals at lunch and dinner- they were excellent, showers great too, and Mark learnt alot more about his truck!!!! He is now happy Mark, instead of sad Mark....🙂
7/24/24Reply
TravelerMechanic got here about 4pm....
7/24/24Reply
TravelerCost 300 bucks to get him here from Neumann...he was a lovely, young fellow...
7/24/24Reply
TravelerHi Alan
7/24/24Reply
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We better find gold or else!!!Traveler
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Day 69
Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 6:57 AM
☀️ 4 °C
Altitude: 622 m
Australia Meekatharra -24.201704, 119.68747424°12’6” S 119°41’15” E
Now Neumann
July 25, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C
We made it to Neumann after mechanics visit, but needed filters still so stopped at roadhouse on outskirts of town to meet mechanic. Two hours later we were still there! Now in carpark at the shopping centre and Mark is doing the remains of repairs needed to tanks. Apparently our truck was fitted with the wrong filters...
Mark is on a steep learning curve today.

Neumann seems to be a typical outback town with lots of aboriginals out and about and a strong police presence...

Our group is now 4 vehicles /8 people. We said 'goodbye' to another couple in Meekatharra!! Bye Jenny and Mark....Read more
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Day 70–71
July 26, 2024 at 8:44 AM - July 27, 2024
1 night
☀️ 12 °C
Altitude: 573 m
Australia Port Hedland -22.474964, 118.71977822°28’30” S 118°43’11” E
1
Auski Roadhouse
Jul 26–27, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Overnight stop at roadhouse. Got in late! Sunset run, shower, dinner, movie, bed, wake-up, coffee, brekkie, pack up, go....
Off to Karajini N/P today...
Traveler Some heavy breathing there 🙃
7/28/24Reply
TravelerI was in the middle of my run!!😏
7/28/24Reply
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Day 70–71
July 26, 2024 at 11:30 AM - July 27, 2024
1 night
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 671 m
Australia Fortescue Falls -22.46654, 118.54811922°27’60” S 118°32’53” E
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2 3 1 1
Karijini- MAGNIFICENT AND AWE-INSPIRING
Jul 26–27, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
We could only spent one night here but oh! so worth it!!!! We will definitely be back for longer. This oasis in the desert is Western Australia's 2nd largest National Park. Home to many gorges, wild dingoes and stunning natural plants, trees and rocks, we were permanently with open jaws, wonder splashed all over our faces...
Add this one to your bucket list!!🤩🤩Read more
Traveler That dingo looks worrying. Perhaps he's frightened of you lol. Xx.
7/29/24Reply
Traveler Awesome.
7/29/24Reply
Traveler Makes the ones we saw look insignificant. X
7/29/24Reply
TravelerYou needed to go more north to Darwin and you would have seen even bigger gorges ie. Katherine, kakadu, litchfield N/P'S
7/29/24Reply
TravelerAnd bigger termite mounds too!!
7/29/24Reply
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Day 71–73
July 27, 2024 at 3:16 PM - July 29, 2024
2 nights
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Australia Cooke Point -20.299433, 118.6399720°17’58” S 118°38’24” E
Iron ore and salt at Port Hedland
Jul 27–29, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
We didn't know what to expect from Port Hedland...but were pleasantly surprised!
The biggest producer of iron ore and salt in the world, this industrial town does not stop.
Lucky they have the Port Hedland Hotel and Pretty Pools to facilitate some much needed rest and rejuvenation.Read more
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