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Around Oz 2023-24
  • Tanya Simmons
  • Tanya Simmons

Around Oz 2023-24

An open-ended adventure by Tanya Read more
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  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Sunset Cruise Lake Argyle

    July 18, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We did this cruise when here last time. Just had to do it again.

    The highlight is jumping off the boat to watch the sunset. Floating in the water drinking a beer or wine. They do give you a noodle. For the huge body of water it's amazing to find that it is not really cold...unlike the infinity pool at the van park. It's really cold to swim in.

    Plus spectacular views, Crocs, what more could you ask for.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Wyndham

    July 19, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 29 °C

    What a lovely drive along the Great Northern Hwy out Wyndham. The best road we have been on since leaving Brisbane. Fantastic Van Park. Very neat and tidy. I can't remember when we have been greeted so warmly at check-in. Plus info on everything you would ever need to know while staying here. Looking forward to trying a croc pie from the bakery.

    We stopped at The Grotto on the way. You can swim there if you wish to take the 144 stone steps down then back up again 😬. You will all be thankful to know we didn't attempt it.

    Then a up the road a bit was Maggie's Valley. Named after the first person to drive a car though the valley. A huge pull in area with under cover picnic tables.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Telegraph Hill Wyndham

    July 20, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Telegraph Hill offers uninterrupted panoramic views of the dramatic and rugged landscape on the outskirts of Wyndham. The site where the telegraph signalling station used to stand during World War I and II.

    All that remains on the top of the basalt hill now are some of the ruins from the house that used to stand on the site.

    It was a fantastic look back in time. Well worth taking the easy stroll around the walking track.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Prison Tree @ Wyndham

    July 20, 2023 in Australia

    Continuing up King River Rd is the Prison Tree. What a magnificent Boab with such an interesting history. No idea how old it is, but must be ancient.
    There is also another Prison Tree near Derby. Must have been a popular for of incarcerating prisoners in early times.Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Rock Art @ Wyndham

    July 20, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Driving up King River Rd near the Moochalabra Dam is the site for some interesting aboringinal caves and rock art. Was a bit of a climb up and scramble down but use oldies managed ☺

    Was very interesting. We had not seen caves hollowed out like this before.Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Marlgu Billabong Conservation Park Wyndh

    July 20, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Marlgu Billabong is a short distance from Telegraph Hill and sits on the edge of the Ord River floodplain. The billabong and surrounding area attracts thousands of water birds. Over 160 species of birds have been recorded here, including migratory birds from the northern hemisphere.

    We enjoyed doing some bird spotting. Was a bit envious of the pros with their expensive cameras and lenses. But still pleased with the job my phone did. Apparently lots of crocs here, but didn't spot any.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Wyndham

    July 21, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We have had a fantastic time in Wyndham. So much to see and do.
    Stayed at the local van park. Best host ever. Lovely neat clean park with everything you could want.

    Had some off road adventures. See the places we visited in extra posts on Wyndham.

    The big croc was a must do photo shoot. Visited the stunning Warriu Dreamtime Statues. The biggest Boab in captivity. Ripped into croc pies for breakfast this morning. Checked out the amazingly good fishing jetty...didn't go fishing. Picked up some local barra to pop on the fire for tonight's dinner.

    Did we like Wyndham...You bet we did 😉    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    (Bow River) Desmonds Parking Bay

    July 21, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    On the road again...heading down the Great Northern Hwy toward Broome.

    Free camping again tonight, add for the next few days. The finches have been keeping us amused this afternoon. Graham has our little fire going to cook dinner. Barra, potatoes baked in foil and salad YUM.Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Piccaninny Creek Lookout Walk

    July 23, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    We walked as far as the Piccaninny Creek Lookout. A great view over the valley to the domes. Was busy looking at the view and tripped over a rock. No damage to me, but put a bend in my hiking stick😂.
    I do love the dome that looks like a face.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    The Beehive Domes

    July 23, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    The Bungle Bungles are famous for the magnificent grey and orange banded domes. Known as the Beehive Domes.
    The domes are made of sandstone deposited approx 360 million years ago.

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Cathedral Gorge

    July 23, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Following the trail among the Beehive leads you Cathedral Gorge. A iconic natural amphitheatre. There is water there. I remember there being more water when we visited about 8 yrs ago. I thought we had a swim there. But could be wrong.Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Echidna Chasm

    July 23, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    Our last adventure for the our day at the Bungle Bungles was Echidna Chasm. The walk in through the dry creek bed is lined with palm. But very rocky underfoot and very uneven. The best time of day to visit is around midday when sun shine straight down making the chasm glow. We were lucky to see this on our first visit. But with time constraints this time we missed it. Still worth the walk in to visit.Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Bungle Bungles WA

    July 23, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    We pulled into Spring Creek free camp yesterday just before lunch. Have to get in early to get a decent spot...gets very crowded. Only place to camp and leave your van for a day trip in at the moment.
    Left the van a Spring Creek today to do the 53k drive into the Bungle Bungles. It can take up to 2 hrs to do the drive in. With lots of creek crossings...which we love. Plus the track is winding, hilly, corrugated ... which we don't love. For 4wd high clearance vehicles only. Only single axle towable units.

    We traveled in and camped for 3 nights I think about 8 yrs ago. Had our tent and left our camper locked down at the Halls Creek Van Park. So had more time to explore. Was bitterly cold at night.
    You will be looking at doing about 200k driving to cover the park properly. All on dirt roads with corrugation and creek crossing.
    We spent a full day there today. Have a great time revisiting old favorites.
    Walked almost 20k today. Our biggest walking day yet. Left when the sun was coming up, drove out as the sun was going down...will sleep well tonight 😴

    PS... There was a really unusual gravilla. Don't think I have every seen this one before anywhere.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Mary Pond WA

    July 24, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Still heading down the Great Northern Hwy.
    Free camping tonight at Mary Pond. What a great place. Heaps of room. Loos and a dump point.
    Had some very nice beef cattle as neighbours.
    The Mary River is lovely. Great to drop a line on one side of the old causeway and rock pools on the other.
    Has been a cool, windy day. Have been snuggled up in the van resting after our big walking day yesterday at the Bungle Bungles.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Ngumban Cliff

    July 25, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Another fantastic free camp. We have camped here before. I think on our first trip to WA. We were treated to an amazing sight. As the sun set a harvest moon came up behind us. I have never seen this before or since. Was truly special.

    Has been incredible windy the last couple of days. Thankfully it has died down now. Dust blowing everywhere. Our trusty van tows like a champ. Don't feel the slightest moment when the wind gusts hit.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Mimbi Caves

    July 26, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    An early start this morning. We were on the 8am tour at Mimbi Caves up the road from last night's camp at Ngumban Cliffs.

    The tour was lead be Ronnie a fascinating aboringinal elder. We were welcomed with a smoking ceremony and tales of the blue tongue lizard and the mudlark. As well as stories rich in local culture. The German Lutheran ministry also played a part in the history of the area. With an old rock building built by them for shelter. Plus a chess set they used on show. The caves themselves were very rocky and in places a little difficult to navigate. But we were rewarded with some stunning views where the sun broke through and illuminated the pools of water inside.
    We were offered billy tea and damper as well as my stories and songs but Ronnie.
    All in all an interesting morning.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Ellendale Lagoon

    July 26, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Another great free camp site tonight. Heading south west from Fitzroy Crossing.
    Made a new friend. She seems to like to welcome new arrivals. I have a sneaking suspicion that she cons campers out of food.Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Nillibubbica Rest Area

    July 27, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Another night another free camp. This time a 24hr rest stop. Starting to get crowded. Have been invited to evening drinks around the fire. So will stroll over shortly.

    We be heading into Broome to do a restock. Then heading south. Had originally planned to stay in Broome for a night or 2. The car and van need a good clean. Plus get some other jobs done. Graham was very shocked to find there was no vacancies for about 2 weeks, one place had nothing to September. He didn't believe me when I told him we probably wouldn't get anything.
    No great loss we have been there before and nothing we wanted to do again.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Broome to Port Headland

    July 30, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    Currently doing the 600k drive from Broome to Port Headland. Not the most exciting stretch of road we have driven. Have been working on a granny Squares crochet jumper that I started on this trip between my turns to drive. Packed all my odd balls of 8ply to use up.

    Ducked into Broome for shopping, water and fuel. Then back on the road. I think we have both been living off the grid to long, we were glad to leave the traffic and people behind.
    More free camping. Our first night was at Goldwire Rest Area, lots of nice shade spots here. Then on to the Afghan Well Camp, one of those spots you need Wikicamps to find. Didn't find any well. But a ok little place to pull off for the night. Graham whipped up his signature spag bol for dinner. So I got the night off.

    There was two roadhouses to pick up fuel on this road. The Sandfire and Pardoo. The Pardoo has closed down. We should have enough fuel from our fill up at Sandfire, but filled the spare Jerry can as well. Can duck into Port Headland if needs be to top up.

    Will be turning off to head out to Marble Bar just before Port Headland.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    Doolean Gorge near Marble Bar

    July 30, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Wow...what an amazing free camp. Thank Wikicamps...would not even known it was here. So signs on the road.

    Stunning red hills, a lovely gorge, beautiful gums and some great birds.
    We also saw our first ever wild camels on the way in today 🐪

    Will leave the van here and go into Marble Bar tomorrow. Check out the pub and hopeful have a nice lunch.

    Big tick ✔ for visiting Mable Bar. Another place on our list that we haven't been to before. So pleased we have, just to stay at this great camp spot.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    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.    Read more

  • Tanya SimmonsAround Oz 2023-24Traveler

    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.    Read more

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