Tag Archives: Southwest

Aussie Lap – Esperance Pt 2

Locations:, Esperance, Wharton Bay and Cordingup.

Regions: SouthEast, Goldfields- Esperance

Dates: Tue 13 Feb – Fri 16 Feb

Temperatures: 18 – 39 Degrees

Tuesday 13 February 18 – 26 degrees

Tuesday is part jobs, part exploring so first up is starting a load of bread. Once all the folds are done and the bread is set aside for its first rise we head out to Lucky Bay Brewery; just outside of town, for lunch.

Before going to lunch we check out Wylie Bay. This piece of coast can be driven on, due to the crusty compacted white sand and its a 22km drive from there to Cape Le Grand.

Wylie Bay is beautiful, with some rocky areas and one you can cross a small inlet to. Once out on the rock we spy “Sammy”.

Sammy is the name used for every seal that visits Esperance. We spied Sammy cavorting in the shallows but they soon moved further out, presumably due to us. I was fortunate to get one reasonable photo of their little face peaking out of the water.

Lunch at Lucky Bay was awesome. We enjoyed a Prosciutto, Tomato and Rocket Salad and a Hellfire Pepperoni Pizza!

Wednesday 14 February 15 – 26 degrees

Happy Valentine’s Day!

A cooler day today so Rob is taking me for a drive out to Wharton Bay; 100 km East along the Coast towards Cape Arid, on recommendation from a local fellow he met and had a chat with.

The drive is unassuming and the landscape could be outback in any state really, with a mix of low rolling pastoral land and scrub. There are more stands of trees between pasture blocks though, which is good to see.

Wharton Bay is just beyond Cordingup and it’s worth the trip. A beautiful Bay with that same stunning white sand. We climb a short trail up an overlooking rock formation for the most spectacular views.

We head down for a swim amongst the surfers and it’s very refreshing.

We sit on the beach to dry off and unfortunately I get bitten by a March Fly on the top of my left foot. My skin reacts badly to these bites so I know I’m in for a few days of swelling, itch and discomfort, even with antihistamines and SOOV a gel I got onto a while ago. These flys have been everywhere we have been lately and it seems the only deterrent is a slap as Aerogard certainly doesn’t work! If anyone knows of a good deterrent and or remedy for bites, please let me know.

We leave Whartons Bay and head to Condimgup Tavern for lunch.

Thursday 15 February, 18 – 37 degrees

It’s a hot one today so I’m up early cooking, baking bread and washing clothes, then grocery shopping.

When we leave Esperance we plan to travel back up to Norseman then across the Nullabor fairly quickly as we will be off grid and are expecting a few hot nights with the current heatwave. Having a couple of meals ready will help reduce heat in the van and makes for an easy evening after a long day driving. Yesterday I made a batch of San Choy Bow, today Ratatouille and as most meals last two days that will get us through to Sunday.

My left foot has swollen during the mornings work so I elevate it for a while and we finish the day with a lovely swim at Twilight Beach.

Tomorrow we head off, back towards SA. Stay safe and be kind.

Aussie Lap – Perth to Esperance WA

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.

Aussie Lap – Windy Harbour

Location: D’Entrecasteaux National Park

Region: South West WA

Date: Tuesday, 31 October 2023

Temperature: Northcliffe 8-21 degrees, cool morning, overcast, then sunny from late morning. Top of 20 degrees at Windy Harbour

Today Rob planned a day trip to Windy Harbour in D’Entrecasteaux National Park. The drive out and back is interesting as the landscape varies from soaring Karri forest to coastal scrub, then more forest then back to coast scrub.

We stop for a short hike up Mt Chudalup. 1.0km return with 187mtr ascendency so straight up with a steep rock climb to the summit.

The hike is relatively quick with a few slips on the pebbles as we go up stairs and slopes. The rock climb begins with pretty bridges and walkways over wet areas and the surrounds are filled with flowers. Amazing 360 degree views from the top all around of the coastline and surrounding country. The wildflowers are beautiful and there is so much colour in the lichen and flora. Very well worth the climb!

After Mt Chudalup we continue onto Windy Harbour, a small holiday village with many beach shacks that are obviously used year round given the amount of chimneys and I hear that the tide is much lower than normal, perhaps due to the full moon two days ago?

We head straight out to Cathedral Rock and spend a while chatting with fellow travellers Alana and Wayne from Iluka in Northern NSW.

Next we drive out Salmon Bay lookout and then Natures Window. The views of the Southern Ocean are stunning and the overcast day has well and truly disappeared and the sun shines.

We stop at Tookalup for a picnic lunch and a bit of whale watching and we were lucky enough to spot a Mum and Calf travelling along the coast.

After lunch we finished our Southern Coastal visit with a walk on the of the Survivor’s Coastal pathway, 5.2km return from Windy Harbour and then Rob took a dip at Windy Bay.

A big hello to two couples we met over the last two days; Chris and Neil Woods wandering Australia from Adelaide in South Australia and Alanna and Wayne from Iluka, in Northern NSW. Both long term travellers and lovely people, very happy to stop and chat.