Meekatharra {Caravan Park}

A place where my Mum & Grandparents lived for a time, another one of those locations that in the early to mid 1900's was bustling with people is now all but forgotten.  I've passed through town many many years ago but this time, on our journey to Kalgoorlie we decided that we would stay the night to allow us time to explore the town before we kept moving.

 

 

We stayed at the town caravan park, which was surprisingly busy considering.  Nothing fancy but for what we paid and where we were you really can't complain.

Monday before we headed off we took a drive around time, reading the signs, taking in the sites and more importantly looking over the 'Old State Battery' where my grandfather had worked for may years.  There wasn't much left there but it was still great to see it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right now to continue our journey to Leonora via Wiluna.

Newman {Caravan Park}

We rolled into Newman at 5pm after our day exploring, tyre changing and driving.  The smalls certainly had had enough of being in the car when we finally arrived, actually if I am honest I think that we all had.

We stayed at Keegan Caravan Park, which was a big park and used partly as a mining camp.  That said we had a nice spot, close to the amenities and even better the use of the washing machines and dyers was FREE {perfect time for sheet washing}.

Friday saw us heading for a drive around town, checking in at the visitors centre, driving to the town lookout and of course organising two new tyres.  It was a reasonably warm day so the smalls enjoyed a swim in the pool in the afternoon.

 

 

 

Saturday, 'Grandfinal Day' meant that we only had the morning before J wanted to be in front of a TV somewhere that had beer on tap!  So we headed out to check out the town lake, Kalgan's Pool and Three Pools.  It took much longer than we expected and there was certainly some 4WDing involved but we had a great morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The original plan was to drop Justin at the tarven to watch the game but we all decided to stay and enjoy a nice lunch.  It turned out to be another warm afternoon so when we finished up it was time to head home for a cooling swim, well for everyone but me.

 

 

Sunday it was that time again and we packed up to start making our way to Meekatharra for the night.

Hamersley Gorge - Road to Newman {Day Trip}

After finally heading off from the caravan park in Tom Price, sans our DVD players {which I now need to work out how to get from Wyloo Station} we made our way around to Hamersley Gorge.  We got there just before lunchtime but decided to head down to take a look and then find a shady spot for lunch.  Making lunch where the car was parked before wasn't really an option!

The walk was actually really easy, just some stairs down to the bottom and then up the rock face to the pool.  It was a lovely spot and would be amazing to explore further down the gorge in the water to see it all up close, but alas that would have meant swimming in freezing water with the smalls and we don't have a floating device for that, so we took what we could see and enjoyed that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After making lunch we made for our drive around the back of Karijini which considering it was gravel for most of the way to Wittenoom it was a really good drive... Till we blew a tyre on the camper.  What is it with us and tyres this year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a quick look at Wittenoom, as we didn't want to arrive in Newman too late.  Hard to believe that until recently {well somewhat} it was a busy town mining a terrible product.  I would have liked to have explored the gorge but didn't want to stay the night in the town, so next time.

 

 The drive heading to Newman really wasn't what I expected.  It was so hilly, with so many ranges, gorges and driving right through them all.