As I write this draft we are sitting on top of Mt Nameless (1128m) just behind our caravan park at Tom Price. It took us an hour to climb but more about that next update.
After leaving Coral Bay we had a short journey of 150 kms to Exmouth. We spent a couple of nights in town then headed out to Cape Range National Park. Site 10 Mesa Camp – that was our address for the next 5 nights. We had a superb site, shaded by trees with a lovely view of the water and beach. Bush camping – so we had no power or water. We spent the days swimming, snorkelling at a few various sites along the park and of course, walking the beach. There were 11 sites at our camp and about 9 other camps along the coast in the national park. Cape Range National Park is the coast side of the Exmouth peninsula, about 40 kms long with a mountain range (or what we would call hills!) running down the centre of the peninsula, with Exmouth (town) on the other side of the range. One morning we drove down to the southern end of the park to picturesque Yardie Creek and did a short walk up the gorge. We’d only planned 3 nights in the park but enjoying it so much we extended to 5, but that was as long as we could make our gas and water last, so back to town.
The distance between towns is getting longer now, the further north we go. The drive from Exmouth to Onslow seemed endless. Almost 400 kms of flat plains and floodways till we got almost to Onslow where we come across a welcoming landscape of mountain ranges. Nunnaturra Roadhouse where we stopped and made lunch was the only signs of civilisation on the whole trip apart from a few vehicles we passed.
Not many people visit Onslow and we had bypassed it last trip so we decided to go and visit. Its supposedly renowned for its fishing – not that we saw anyone reeling any in! We spent a day walking to 4 Mile Creek, 4 miles from town, which worked out to be about a 15km return walk. That quietened us down for what was left of the afternoon so the only thing to left to do was to sit back and relax with a book. The next day we visited old Onslow town. Unfortunately its been left to ‘die’ and nothing much remains other than the old stone police station and gaol and an overgrown cemetery. On the way we found a lovely little spot called 5 Mile Pool. It was so picturesque and serene with wild budgerigars nesting in the gums. You could swim there but we weren’t game on our own.
The temperature is still in the low 30’s getting down to around 18 overnight. So very pleasant!
As I mentioned at the beginning of the update we are now in Tom Price, the gateway to Karijini National Park which we have heard so much about. We are really looking forward to the next week while we explore all the gorges and waterholes. So back to some more bush camping!
Cheers to all
Muzza and Jude
|  | 
|
