Karijini to Millstream-Chichester Nation

Leaving Karijini, we made sure to grab a quick shower—our last one for a couple of nights! It felt like a luxury before we headed off to rough it a bit.
The landscape changed dramatically along the way. We left behind Karijini’s dramatic gorges and towering escarpments, and the terrain gradually gave way to wide open grassy plains.
A quick stop at Tom Price, a mining town which had the best coffee. Here we secure a mine road permit so we could drive along the Rio Tinto Access rail road. Omg. Lucky we have the very dedicated Zoe with us to watch the induction video! About 20 km down a mine access road, we found ourselves stopped at a red signal. Welcome to Hamersley, Western Australia—Rio Tinto country.
Out here, their massive iron ore trains stretch up to 2.4 kilometers long (that’s 1.5 miles!), with up to 236 wagons ( Jano counted 244) each hauling 116 tonnes of ore. Fully loaded, these behemoths can weigh around 29,500 tonnes.
And yes, they’re driverless.
Which is fine—until there’s a problem. Then they stop. Completely. Like the one we encountered.
We ended up stuck at a rail crossing for 1 hour and 35 minutes, waiting for a call to go from site control all the way to Perth to approve someone to manually move the train.
Omg, what a wait. Remote travel really throws you some surprises.
Millstream Homestead greeted us with a sense of quiet history. Once a thriving pastoral station, the homestead still stands, and walking through it is like stepping back in time. The stories of the early settlers and traditional custodians are thoughtfully presented—so much to learn and reflect on.
Nearby, we visited Deep Reach Pool on the Fortescue River—a wide, serene stretch of water that feels almost surreal in the surrounding arid landscape. Sadly, signs of a fire that swept through the park about a year ago are still evident. It was started by a lightning strike and has left a scar, burning much of the vegetation and some park infrastructure.
Still, nature shows its resilience. We hiked up to the Cliffs Lookout, which offered stunning views—an oasis amidst the harshness, truly breathtaking.
Tonight, we’re camping at Stargazers Campground, which feels fitting under these expansive night skies. We’re constantly in awe of this beautiful country and how quickly and dramatically it can change.
Dinner was an absolute treat—Mexican lentil mix loaded with veggies, spices, creamy avocado, cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. Delicious and hearty. We really do eat well on the road! And for the wine lovers among us—don’t worry, we’re well stocked.Baca lagi