Locations: Brunswick, Collie, Wagin, Dumbleyung, Hopetoun, Esperance

Regions: Great Southern and South East

Dates: Tue 6 Feb – Sat 10 Feb 2024

Temperatures: 17 – 40 (Heatwave 7-10 Feb)

It feels sad to be leaving Perth after five months of it being our base. Especially hard to be saying goodbye for now, to family and friends.

Brunswick Tuesday 6 Feb

Happy birthday to Lynda D for yesterday xx.

Rob and I set off for Brunswick, then leave the van at the towns RV stop on the oval and then drive to “Honeymoon Pool” a campground on the Collie river. Not suitable for caravans unfortunately but a great spot for camping.

The water is so clear you can see the bottom and the campground has a platform and steps down to the water. We swim and chat with other travellers during the heat of the afternoon before setting off to find Wentworth Dam wall and its famous murals, part of the Collie mural art trail.

Collie – Dumbleyung Wednesday 7 Feb

Happy birthday Kay Fry xx. Temp 19-35.

Rob and I start the day with a quick trip to Bunbury farmers market. For a foodie like me, it’s an amazing place with some really great ingredients like Harissa and Za’ atar! After a quick breakfast of Rhubarb & Greek Yogurt Granola, spinach and Ricotta roll and coffee we hit the market. Beware though it’s a bit like IKEA – one way only. Take your time and enjoy 🤩.

Back at the van we load groceries and hitch the van , then set off for Collie and the art Trail walk.

The art trail is scattered around the centre of town and links to the murals at the Dam wall in the Ferguson Valley that we visited yesterday. We arrive at 12:30 and it’s 32 degrees which is hot but not too bad and so we do part of the walk. The murals are interesting and some of them are really stunning. A few of my favourites here.

Collie is a great town with lots of walking trails and the Munda Biddi bike trail passes through here. The town has a lovely park in the centre with toilets and showers and the Main Street on the other side of the rail line which runs through the middle is full of charming historical buildings that are still in use today.

Wish we could stay longer…

Our next stop is our camp at Dumbleyung, 160km East of Collie so round 200kms today. On the way we pause at Wagin to see the big ram. Wagin reminds me of Harden-Murrumburrah NSW, where I grew up as it too is wheat and sheep country with rolling hills and in late summer, dry as toast!

Our camp tonight is at Dumbleyung oval and I bake bread before we set off the next day.

Dumbleyung is a small town in this vast wheatbelt. It has lots of history including the land speed record set by Donald Campbell in in his vehicle the Bluebird.

On December 31, 1964 a crowd gathered on the shores of Lake Dumbleyung to watch English speedster Donald Campbell break a world water speed record.

Mr Campbell clocked an incredible 444.71kph across the lake in his bright blue hydroplane, the Bluebird.

Earlier that year, Mr Campbell set a land speed record at Lake Eyre in South Australia.

Dumbleyung – Hopetoun Thur 8 Feb

Temperature 19 – 38

Still heading East, oOur drive today has lots of very straight roads and continuing wheat fields.

We pass through Lake Grace literally; which is mostly salt, as the lake is on both sides of the road. Lake King further on is mostly salt alsoand then we run towards the South.

Between Lake Grace and Ravensthorpe we moved into the South East region WA.

About 15kms out of Ravensthorpe the temperature at 38 starts to drop and by the time we reach Hopetoun it’s at a much cooler 25.

Hopetoun Thursday 8 Feb – Sat 10 Feb

Temps 17-27 – perfect 🤩

We were hoping to free camp with a beachside stay but on arrival it was full so luckily the local beachside caravan park could accommodate us. After setting down we spend the afternoon exploring the beautiful beach. The water is cool and the sun is warm.

Friday we spend the day exploring the Fitzgerald National Park. We visit Mt Barren and the lookout, then Cave Point and West Beach for a swim.

Cave Point is awesome and we can see Mt Barren to the left and West Beach to the right.

West Beach is beautiful, wild and windy and we have the whole place to ourselves. We explore rock pools and find one sheltered from the wind, almost like a spa!

We finish the day with sunset on the beach after an early dinner. Hopetoun is lovely, isolated, quiet and cool. A great place to relax with a great National park to explore nearby. One to come back too I think.

Next stop Esperance.

Lots of love to all. Stay safe and be kind to one another.