Wed, 10th August, 2022 Karratha Travel Stop, south of Karratha to Miliyanha Campground, Millstream-Chichester National Park, WA (Python Pool & Fortescue River)

6.30am 13 degrees, bit of cloud around.

Headed off to Millstream-Chichester National Park, between Karratha and Tom Price. Clear sky ahead.

Driving beside the rail line between Tom Price and Dampier. Same spinifex covered hills so it looks green and pretty with lots of Sturt Desert Peas and pink wildflowers along the road edge. Seems to be some maintenance work happening on the rail line. Two empty ore trains are sitting waiting to be able to pass that area.

Into hillier area - no open flats now, just rolling hills. Slow climb up a hill to the top where we stopped for a cuppa. You could think we are on the Atherton Tablelands with the cool breeze, rolling green hills and red soil, but you won’t find dairy cows here!

Across the railway line then a causeway over the upper reaches of the Harding River. Two trains full of iron ore are waiting on this side of the rail maintenance and there are more workers doing something else.

Now into flat open area as we turn onto a gravel road which goes up to Roebourne. We are in the National Park now and going to Python Pool which is nowhere near the campgrounds. The road is very corrugated so Steve stopped and let some more air out of the tyres. Back into low hills so rolling up and down them and then back onto bitumen.

Stopped at Mt Herbert. Only going to do the walk to the Summit as we are driving around to Python Pool. Along the base then up the not so steep side to the top. Lots of pretty flowers along the way. Very windy too.

Lovely view - not sure where Python Pool is in all those hills. The wind is very cool up here. Looks like the bitumen continues for a while but we can see dust where a vehicle is on the dirt road that continues on to Roebourne.

Walked down a track to overlook the car park. There appears to be a track going down but it is a bit steep for me.

Back down and heading to the car park - looking at Mt Herbert summit.

Around the base of the hill to a cleared area called Panorama Lookout.

Through the hills towards Python Pool which must be in that gorge as we can see cars there.

Turned off onto a short rocky track to a small car park. Two couples with their camper trailers were just about to leave so we waited and took one spot which was level so we could make lunch. There were two picnic tables and we walked up to the one under the tree as the sun is quite hot but the breeze is still cool.

Put our togs on. Only a short walk to Python Pool. The Cameleers Lookout is up the steep hill and along a ridge and it follows the old route that was first taken by camel and bullock teams.

Nice walk along the edge of the creek - looking back down the creek.

Some others were enjoying their dip. Obviously the waterfall only runs for a while after the wet season.

It was freezing cold though not as cold as Emma Gorge was but after a swim to the other side I warmed up to enjoy floating in the water. There is no wind here and the sun is shining down so it is lovely.

I got out so I could take a photo of Steve. There is water is dripping down off some limestone on the far wall - must be from a spring as there is no water further up.

Scanned around. I walked around a bit to try and see further up where the water would come down over the falls.

More people arrived so we headed back. We drove down the road a bit further. Looking back to the top of the waterfall.

We checked out where an old campground was which was marked on the Hema. It was by a creek - only a cleared area now, no camping.

Headed back to Mt Herbert and over the corrugations again. A couple towing their van stopped us to ask about the road condition. They had only just started so we said this section was the worst of it.

Back on the main bitumen road then we turned onto the Millstream-Pannawonica Road which runs along the bottom edge of the national park.

Across the Fortescue River which is just a wide treed floodplain here with pools of brown water. You can see the flood debris in the trees.

Open flat country so we have a good view of a long range ahead of us which is the Hammersley Range according to the Hema map.

Turned onto the Millstream Road which is gravel again. Into Deep Reach Pool which is a big lagoon in the Fortescue River system. I made a cuppa while Steve went over to a couple who have tyre problems. Their van tyre had blown and they didn’t realise so now they just have a broken rim. After swapping that over he noticed the truck tyre was flat and was about to get his spare for that when Steve arrived and told him about ‘dog turds’ (as he calls them) to fix the puncture. He didn’t have any so Steve gave him a couple and that fixed his leak. He will definitely be getting some.

Put our togs back on for another swim in the pool. We followed the bitumen track to the viewing platform. A couple of information boards on the way.

Dreamtime story about the pool. Not that good a view as the reeds and a gum tree block the view.

There is a wide set of steps nearby for access to the water. I went down and reached out to take a further along the river. Would be nice to have a canoe.

Steve went in first.

There were reeds right beside the steps so I just had to fall in and swim out a bit to get away from the reeds - don’t know what might be lurking in them.

I floated for a while as it wasn’t cold and we chatted with an English couple who have lived in Australia for 20 plus years but still sounded very English. Another couple came and we had a lovely time chatting.

We drove along the track to the Cliff Lookout. Apparently someone caught a good Barra in there. Getting through the reeds from the bank might be a problem.

Walked along as the cliff got higher from the river. There is a walking trail from the campground to the pool.

Passed the turn off to the Stargazer Campground - a big open paddock. Along to the main campground which is near the old homestead. Met the camp hosts - we are in the site near theirs.

Oh no, the water tank is leaking again but this time it is just a little on the bath mat. Steve pumped out some water into the buckets and we are all good. Will have to get it looked at one day somewhere!

Sat outside with our drinks in the last of the warm sunshine then went inside as the cool night air descended. All quiet here.