Australia
Marble Bar

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    • Day 29

      Marble Bar Day 1

      August 13, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

      We parted ways with Russ, Michelle, Kate and Brooke this morning, no, we didn't have a blue, they are heading down the coast, snorkeling, swimming and exploring the reef and we are headed inland to check out the gorges and to play with the big trucks. Today we headed to Marble Bar, planning to free camp because we thought everything would be booked out. To our surprise we were able to get 2 nights on a powered site in the caravan park so we grabbed them. We didn't do much today, just drove in the 200 odd kms, set up, relaxed and wandered down to the pub about 5pm for a drink and a yarn. We are planning to go exploring tomorrow.Read more

    • Day 30

      Marble Bar day 2

      August 14, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      Today we packed a lunch and headed off early to explore our surrounds. First stop was the Marble Bar which is about 5kms west of the town and crosses the Coongan River. When we got there we thought it was a great spot but we were a bit disappointed in the Marble Bar. Turned out we were at Chinaman Pool and not right on the Marble Bar. This really is a petty spot with grass and picnic tables, black swans, pelicans, ducks on quite a large but not huge waterhole and lots of other bird life in the surrounding trees. After a look around, too early and too cold for a swim, we headed off to the Marble Bar car park about another hundred metres from where we first turned in. It is sign posted Marble Bar Pool but there is very little water. The colours and size of this Jasper Bar is quite impressive. From there we headed out to Glenn Herring Gorge a drive of about 35 km with the first 20 bitumen up to the turnoff to Sanjiv Ridge one of Gina Rhineharts iron ore mines. The drive into the Gorge wasn't bad but I don't think I would take a van in. You can drive right in and it is only a thirty minute return walk along the river bed. It was pretty spectacular and well worth the trip out. We then headed back towards town and got sandwiched between 2 Road trains headed to Port Hedland. Being curious, I thought this was a good opportunity for a chat. I asked a few questions and found out they carry 151 tonne of iron ore and all up they weigh 206 tonnes with 106 tyres on the road. They travel half way to P.H. and drop their trailers and hook onto empty ones then return back to the mine, fill up and then travel all the way into Port Hedland with the next load.. So they do one and a half trips a day, about 450kms.
      We called into the flying fox lookout and the Jasper fossicking area then headed out to Doolena Gorge about 40kms out on the Port Hedland Road. We were going to free camp there on the way into Marble Bar but fortunately I missed the turn off. I say fortunately because it was not easy to get into, big potholes filled with bulldust, and once you started on the track nowhere to turn around with a van on. I don't know if we would have made it. There were three campers in there in an assortment of small off road ,caravans and campers. But it is fantastic spot. A big river running through a small but beautiful gorge. At the moment it is only a big waterhole but lots of waterbirds, pelicans, black ducks, egrets, and others. We had lunch and headed back into town and went up the watertank lookout took some photos then back to camp and had a well earned drink after a long and satisfying day.
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    • Day 76

      Marble Bar

      October 7, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

      It holds the record as the hottest town in Australia, and it's pretty hot today 🌡 but loving the dry heat (not humid), makes it feel like being in a Wagga summer!

      We had a wonderful afternoon fossicking and exploring the sights around town. We found some jasper for our collection but sadly not enough water at Chinaman's Pools for a swim, but checked out the views of the town from the Water Tank Lookout.Read more

    • Marble Bar

      May 11, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

      Marble Bar, the hottest town in Australia. Named for the distinctive rock bar that crosses the Coonhan River. The rocked was later discover not to be marble but jasper.

      Finding gold was our aim. Nice town, cool pub sadly no gold that we could find.Read more

    • Day 14

      Marble Bar

      April 26, 2017 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      From Nullagine we drove to Marble Bar, another quaint retired gold mining town. Had a drink at the famous Iron Clad Hotel which funnily enough has opening hours of 12 to 2pm then 4.30 to 8pm. We arrived at 1.40pm and had 20 minutes with an entertaining group of locals. They told us to come back at 4.30 and we'd see the same faces only they would be even funnier because they'd be even more tanked. We then drove out to Marble Bar Pool to see how Marble Bar got its name. As you can see in the photos the rocks are marbled but they are not actually marble. Marble Bar has the reputation of being the hottest town in WA, but while we were in the area it was absolutely perfect.Read more

    • Day 2

      2 driving days down, 1 to go

      May 4, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

      It’s been both an action packed and incredibly boring drive up so far…
      Max has, most likely Gastro, and is showing all the standard symptoms of that (“both ends”). The aftermath is now in the washing machine…

      Centine has travelled like a champ, loving being so close to her big brothers (who also like it I think), plenty of big naps, when she gets cranky she is fed, and when sleepy a soothing bit of music. Loving life!

      Hugo is an old hand at this by now - reading books, a movie now and then, snacks and looking out the window.

      The disco has split a cv boot, but that won’t stop it. I might try a bush repair with a bit of glue and sticky tape…

      Today was also the first bit of dirt, and all went ok. A few superficial bits of damage caused by rocks, but the stone stomper is certainly doing what it’s supposed to be.

      Tonight we will have a pub meal at the local here in Marble Bar, then push on to Broome tomorrow.
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    • Day 185

      Marble Bar

      July 9, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

      For a change, we decided to stay at the caravan park and have dinner at the pub. It was a great thought. The caravan park was packed with freezing cold showers, and the pub wasn't serving dinner. There is not a lot to Marble Bar, 1 pub, a general store, motel, police station and the Court House.Read more

    • Day 76

      Marble Bar flora & fauna

      July 31, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      Was lovely to see some of the native shrubs just breaking out into bloom in the area.
      Stunning Stuart Dessert Peas growing along the main street.
      *Wickham's Grevilla
      *Wrinkled Indigo
      *Stobbs Goodenia.
      *Shrubby Lamb Poison.
      and *Pink Eyes were all spotted on the Jasper Deposit Rd.
      The *Many-leaves Petalosrylis was spotted driving out from Chinamans pool.
      * All flowers are my best guess from my newly aquired book. Having a great time trying to figure them out as there are some that are very similar.
      Trainning Graham to stop on command while I jump out for photos 😆

      Some very tame Galahs let me get close for a photo at the park in town.
      It was lovely to see our first pair of Black Swans at Chinamans pool.
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    • Day 76

      Marble Bar

      July 31, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      Marble Bar is known as the hottest town in Australia. Thankfully we had a pleasant day.
      We were amazed to see a beautiful stone building in town it reminded us of South Australia. It was built in 1897. Currently houses the police, court, information center and a museum.
      The Ironclad hotel built in the 1890 is another interesting building. We popped in for a cold drink. And a look around.
      The lookout at the water tower gives you a great view of the town and surrounding areas. The drive up is a bit rough but worth it.
      Out of town the Chinamans pool has some great bird life. Plus a grassy picnic area. Marble Bar pool has a great reef of Jasper. If you continue out to the Jasper Deposit you can take samples. Wetting the rock brings out it's full range of colours.
      We enjoyed exploring Marble Bar. It's a lovely little very well kept town with some very interesting history and scenery.
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Marble Bar, MBB

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