We took our time leaving Bullara on Saturday morning, got some sausages, and a sticker for the car. We had about an hours drive to Warroora (pronounced Warra) Station for our last slice of Ningaloo Paradise. We were staying at the homestead site as it had toilets and showers. It was nothing special but did the job. The best bit was taking the 4WD track and discovering Maggies Beach, which we spent most of Saturday afternoon hanging out swimming and fishing, and then went back again Sunday morning. Sunday was a bit windy which made us all the more grateful for the beautiful afternoon we spent the day before.
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We left by about 9:30 and had the 5 hour drive to Cheela Plains Station. It was time to start going East again! Cheela Plains had also been recommended by fellow travellers and it lived up to expectations. It was a little Oasis in amongst the red rock of the Pilbara. A large station (half a million acres) with a small campground, they had a cafe and did meals every night. The camp sites made a circle around a lovely grassy area bordered by trees. Every night the camp host lit the communal fire and everyone sat around on the lawn watching the sun set. It also helped that it was top of the list for best shower of the trip!
The next day we spent out on the station doing their 4WD track, seeing the sites and swimming in the waterhole. Sam was cranky because I made her wear a muzzle as they bait on the property.
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Tuesday we were up early to drop Sam at the kennels at Tom Price, and heading out to Karijini NP. We got to see a beautiful Pilbara sunrise and sunset whilst on the road that day. Karijni was absolutely stunning, although different to my expectations. Starting with Hammersley Gorge including Hammersley Waterfall, and Spa Pool, which was stunning but small and busy.
We then walked Joffre Waterfall, Knox Gorge, and Kalamina Gorge. They seem to be struggling with drought up northern WA too, and many of the waterfalls weren’t flowing, and the waterholes shallow, slimy, and green. Still breathtaking nonetheless. Most of the walks in the park are classified as class 4 or 5, and we saw people getting lifted up sections they couldn’t climb, very narrow steps with steep ascents, and Ewen helped carry one lady up who had rolled her ankle. I feel like a Karijini Physio would do good business.
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We were a bit disappointed as a reasonable section of the park was closed for maintenance, and then we discovered the very last bit of the 4WD track was also closed (despite no signs telling us earlier along the way) - so the shortcut we had planned, turned out to be a long drive back out and around to Dales Campground. We got into camp in the dark and had a quick noodle soup for dinner serenaded by the sounds of the Dingoes.
Packing up camp and heading to Ngirribungunha (Dales Gorge) we walked the gorge to Jubula (Fortescue Falls), up to Jubura (Fern Pool), and then back along the Rim walk. These were the swimming holes I had been dreaming of!
We had a quick tofu salad wrap in the carpark and then head back to Tom Price to pick up Sam. Feeling like spoiling ourselves we got some steak and bacon at the supermarket and made Steak Sangas for dinner. We had a lovely grassy site at the caravan park which was relatively quiet.
Up again before 6am on Thursday we had about 10 hours of driving to make to Barn Hill station (just south of Broome), we had made it to the Kimberley! We had been thinking of staying somewhere in-between but honestly it seemed there was a whole lot of nothing out there, so we just kept driving!
We made it to Barn Hill as the sun was going down and struggled to find our campsite the dark. I actually hate arriving to camp after dark, and we had done it twice in 3 days! Another quick dinner and off to bed.
Friday was spent doing our Everest of laundry, reading, and fishing. Sam loved running around the very wide beach, and low tide exposed rock pools that some of the other campers were sitting in enjoying a beer.
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Barn Hill was a surprisingly busy and large station, they have a bowling green, and a cafe that sells fresh bread, and vanilla slice.
We were having a nice time so decided to extend our stay.
See you next week as we explore Broome and the Dampier Peninsula.
Love Laura, Ewen, and Sam xx