18 May 2017
After a bit of a slow start and a coffee from town we made our way out of
Quorn, heading for Warren Spring.
This was a bitumen road, the gorge was 21 kms out of town. The dirt road into the gorge was wet and there was water flowing across the track in some
places.
It was quite pleasant to admire the pines and the high rock faces.
We head back to the main
Hawker Stirling North road stopping by Simmonstone Ruins. Here a couple were having morning tea and they told us that that just had a big bog out further west a bit. They were quite happy for us to lead them out.
Kanyaka Homestead ruins were next, and I was surprised at the number of ruins that were in the one place.
It was mostly overcast today, not much sun. A few sprinkles of rain here and there but could see quite a few heavy showers in the distance at various spots.
We stopped at the Surveyors Cairn before making our way on the dirt to Old
Beltana. Here we had a look at the old railway station, and the town too of course. There was a cemetary there as well and I was surprised at how many "modern" graves there was.
We also went to
Beltana Station where we admired the Giles Monument as well as the really good museum.
Back on the main road we eventually arrived to
Leigh Creek. The town seemed quite deserted, with the majority of houses empty.
![Warren Gorge]()
Warren Gorge
![Kanyaka Homestead Ruins]()
Kanyaka Homestead Ruins
![Surveyors Cairn overlooking western side of Wilpena Pound]()
Surveyors Cairn overlooking western side of Wilpena Pound
![Beltana Railway Station]()
Beltana Railway Station
![Giles Monument Plaque, Beltana Station]()
Giles Monument Plaque, Beltana Station
![Giles Monument, Beltana Station]()
Giles Monument, Beltana Station
17 May 2017
Rain in the wee hours again. New swag is waterproof. Had some weetbix and peaches with milk and took off down highway.
We had heard about the
bakery in
Wudinna so we had a coffee and donuts etc..
Further along the
Eyre was the John Darke memorial, a sad story written on the
plaque.
Kimba for some more food and a look at the big galah.
The sun rarely came out today, not a lot of traffic.
Lincolns Gap had these huge tanks by the road so stopped for a look.
Port Augusta is an interesting place. Couldn't quite work it out. Got some supplies and took off for
Quorn. I was going to go through Emeroo but was advised against it (rain had and forecast).
Going through the mountains I quite enjoyed it as there is nothing near
Perth that's quite like them.
Quorn is great. So good we are still here :-)
The whole town has a special character about it. The corner store seemed to be stuck in a time from long ago.
![Caravan Park]()
Caravan Park
![Corner Store]()
Corner Store
![Lincoln Gap Tanks]()
Lincoln Gap Tanks
![Darke Memorial]()
Darke Memorial
![Kimba Galah]()
Kimba Galah
![Open Road]()
Open Road
16 May 2017.
There was a few showers of rain overnight at Nullabor Roadhouse.
After a slow start in the morning we once again followed the
Old Eyre Highway to the east.
I couldn't believe just how good the track was. The first stop was Ivy Tanks.
Apparently when I was a baby I fell out of the rear car door here and fell on the ground. There was not much left of the building, only the foundation stones and slabs. The tanks were still there however were no longer in use. There was an old junkyard as well - there were many old cars, bottles, cans and tyres.
Next stop on the same track was Waltabie Tank, not much remained here either.
It was another cloudy day, though it didn't rain all day - the sun only came out for very short periods.
Coming back onto the main
Eyre Highway we stopped at
Nundroo for lunch then
Penong, were we had a look at the big windmill.
Onto
Ceduna where we refuelled and got some spare supplies. Mr Plod pulled me up here asking for a breath test and why my number plate was crooked.
Tried to head into the Conservation
Reserves north east of town to try and
bush camp somewhere however could not find a way past all the farms so ended up in
Wirrulla Caravan Park.
The town BBQ did not work so ended up getting some toasted sangas from the pub.
426 kms today.
![Ivy Tanks]()
Ivy Tanks
![Ivy Tanks]()
Ivy Tanks
![Ivy Tanks]()
Ivy Tanks
![Ivy Tanks junk]()
Ivy Tanks junk
![Waltabie Tank]()
Waltabie Tank
![Australia's biggest Windmill - Penong]()
Australia's biggest Windmill - Penong
15 May 2017
Left
camp west of Madura to the
Madura Pass. I always love this view of the Roe Plains. We went down the old pass and Dad commented that he hadn't been down this pass for 59 years.
We then traveled along the main highway again until Eucla., stopping to look at the view and the various plaques.
We had decided to try the
Old Eyre Highway until Nullabor Roadhouse. After refueling at the Border Village we joined the old highway a bit down the road.
Generally the track was in pretty good nick. Bit stoney in
places. We tried to find
Coompana Rockhole however did not even though we spent some time looking.
We visited a couple of caves one of which was Koomooloobooka. It was great to feel the cool air blown out of the mouth.
There were a number of abandoned wells and water points as well.
We camped up at the roadhouse. 393km today.
![State Border]()
State Border
![Madura Pass]()
Madura Pass
![Old Eyre Highway]()
Old Eyre Highway
![Koomooloobooka Cave]()
Koomooloobooka Cave
![Old Well]()
Old Well
14 May 2017
Seemed pretty cold this morning.
Left
Norseman for the Old Telegraph Track 20km south. There was a road closed sign at the start. A few small puddles around. We were going to take this track to
Balladonia, we went back to
Norseman.
Then we head east along the
Eyre Highway.
Overcast in the morning. Most of the day actually.
Stopped at
Newman Rocks,
the pool of water was massive and quite clear. This would be a great spot to
camp - lots of good spots and far enough away from the highway.
Stopped for break at
Balladonia, had a look at the museum there.
Steady stream of traffic all day. Stopped for lunch at
Caiguna. Had a look at the golf hole there part of Nullabor Links, the longest gold course in the world.
Now camped at the far back of a
parking bay off the highway, 20 clicks west of Madura.
![Norseman the Horse]()
Norseman the Horse
![Old Telegraph Track]()
Old Telegraph Track
![Newman Rocks]()
Newman Rocks
![Longest Straight Sign]()
Longest Straight Sign
![Golf hole at Caiguna]()
Golf hole at Caiguna
13 May 2017
Left
Perth in the morning about 8:30am.
Even on a Saturday morning it takes a fair bit of time to get out of the city.
Out through
Brookton, where we stopped for some morning tea - we being me, Dad and the dog Massie.
Passing
Corrigin we stopped at
Gorge Rock for a look. It was a fine sunny day, a few clouds now and then, about 21 degrees.
At Kondinin, passed through, however stopped to take a picture of the old Golden Fleece sign, now a
BP.
Lunch at
Hyden Bakery, wanted to buy some milk but couldn't anywhere.
We headed east on the
Hyden Norseman Road. The road was in good condition though there was a few slippery bits, left over from previous rain. The bugs were alive and twice we had to manually clean the windscreen - a few spots of rain now and then.
Stopped in and had a look at the local breakaways, interesting that most areas around here have their own local breakaways.
Now in
Norseman - total kms today 633.
![Gorge Rock]()
Gorge Rock
![Hyden Norseman Road]()
Hyden Norseman Road
![Breakaways]()
Breakaways
Further pictures can be seen on Facebook here:
HERE