Tues, 28th Mar, 2017 Rest Area, 30km east of Hyden to McCanns Rock carpark, SW of Kalgarin, WA (Wave Rock & The Humps)

7am 15 degrees, clear sky and no wind. Listened to the news on ABC Radio about Cyclone Debbie heading towards Airlie Beach and Bowen.

8am heading to Wave Rock so we can have a full day there.

Passed more road signs to more rocks, Allan Rock, Graham Rock. Steve said maybe it was the surname of a pioneer of the area!! No there are just lots of granite rocks jutting out but not high enough that you can see them across the fields.

Into Wave Rock carpark. There was a chap painting who works for the Shire. I thought we could use our parks pass but it is managed by the Shire so the $10 entrance goes to the upkeep of the paths etc. There is a caravan park right beside the rock and across the road is the information/café with the Lace Place, Toy Solider Collection, Wildlife park and wildflower display which we will check out later.

Checked out all the info. The Wave became famous when a keen photographer, Jay Hodges, won world recognition for his photograph of Wave Rock at the 1964-65 New York World Photography Fair. The photo was later printed in the National Geographic and Walkabout Magazine bringing it to the attention of the world and making it an iconic tourist destination.

In the next shed there were more boards but obviously done at a previous time.

Followed the track to the ‘rock’ and found the start of the wave. Steve went for a surf.

More info.

On top of the rock is a rock wall which stops the rainwater from flowing over the rock. It then flows to a dam up on the rock and is used for Hyden’s water supply. Quite amazing as it was done in 1928.

Walked around a bit further for my turn at surfing – Steve said I have no idea how to surf!!

So he showed me how.

Then he tried to climb up it!! Didn’t get far.

In the middle – looking left then up and then to the right.

Walked to the other end – looking back. Then I climbed up a bit for another shot.

As we continued around the base we noticed the capping cracking off.

A few huts provided more info on the quarry at this spot.

Further around we came to the info about the dam then climbed the steps to check it out. The lower wall was the first one built in 1928. The next wall came in 1951.

Looking back to the quarry site.

Up the rock face to another platform for a view of the dam.

Bit of a wobbly wall but it must work.

Steve spotted a lizard.

Followed the info board pathway along a fault line in the rock.

The rock pool beside the sign was dry.

Further over were lots of boulders.

The lizard we saw was actually a dragon.

Got to the top of the rock for a top view over the dam then out over the salt lake area to Lake Magic.

Found a rock pool with water in it.

The hollows are home to plants and animals.

Across the other way looking at the catchment wall then across to Hyden and the grain bins.

Another hollow area.

I spotted two dragons doing their bobbing action and tried to get a video of them.

Steve found some rocks to make a cairn.

The Humps on the horizon – bit smoky as the farmers are burning off the stubble getting ready to plant.

Another hollow with another small wave.

In the centre of the hollow is a lone Sandalwood tree.

Continued along to cairnville – lots of loose rocks here where they used to quarry the rock and tourists have been leaving their mark (like we did) by building a cairn.

Another seam in the rock.

These are the rocks we saw in the distance when we first climbed up. Lots of interesting weathering here.

Steve squeezed in and around this split rock.

I found a cute little cubby.

Looking further across to the rock where the Hippo’s Yawn is.

This is the seam we saw when we first climbed up near the dam. It looks like someone has glued the rocks back together.

Here we climb over the wall to get back down to the ground on the entrance end of the Wave.

Another plaque about the birds and trees below us.

Last plaque as we walk down.

The other side of the wall and further along above the wave there has been a breakaway.

Looking back along the Wave from up on the rock.

Back to the van for a cuppa then I dug out my fly net and we headed off along the edge of the Rock to find Hippo’s Yawn. Lovely Salmon Gums along the way.

Back to the Wave entrance then we turned left and walked along the bottom of the rock. This spot is marked as the Waterfall on the map but there is no info about it, only about the lichen etc.

Bright red bottlebrush.

Continued along the edge of the rock reading the info about Life on the Edge as we went.

Found a hole.

We reached the end of the catchment wall. There are a couple of holes along the wall which need patching by the looks of it.

Climbed up the rock and we could see another wall on the higher part of the rock.

Don’t I look great in my fly net.

The path narrows now as the bush comes up to the rock now the water can flow freely off the rock into the bush.

Further along the capping is cracking and plants are growing in the cracks up on the rock.

Lots of interesting weathering patterns to see.

Finally at the Hippo’s Yawn. Hope he doesn’t close his mouth.

Steve went up to check out his tonsils.

You can see right out through his ears!!

Looking out his mouth.

More info.

Walked further around, lots of loose boulders.

Walked back along the Wave Rock Circuit to the carpark.

Drove out and through the salt lakes towards the airport following the walk circuit.

Not much happening at the airport.

This must be the emu fence the lady at Varley mentioned – the entrance to the Wave Rock Resort.

We parked the van next to Lake Magic. So clear and inviting and with its high salt content you would float very easily. It is formed from gysum.

Steve tasted it and said it was much saltier than sea water.

Info about weather forecasting and names of clouds. Not many to look at today.

Obviously with the recent rain other low areas are full of water now.

The other side of Lake Magic.

Zoomed in on the Rocks of Hippo Yawn than Wave Rock, the hollow where the dam is then The Breakers.

Chatted with some other couples who did the whole circuit that we saw at Hippo Yawn. We cheated and drove out. Walked into the Resort area – all very quiet though we saw a car in one of the units. Nicely presented even with ‘green’ grass. The cottages were built in 1998 and the development is owned by 3 local farmers who have invested in their town.

Found this old army tank come paddock clearer.

Walked around the other side and found a big amphitheatre still under construction. Found two plaques explaining the construction.

They have used the emu templates to create another fence.

Interesting construction.

Back to the resort to the swimming pool with island in the middle. Even has a rinse off shower and it sprays well – I tried it and nearly got soaked.

Drove back to the shops and went in for a look. Gorgeous old Model T Ford.

The ceiling is covered in dried wildflowers. One collection is in the shape of a butterfly.

A display of stuffed birds. Access to the Wildlife Park is from here. Lots of different animals and birds etc in a 7 acre natural bush setting. As we have seen them all in the wild we gave it a miss.

Interesting story.

Top photo of the wave and tractors.

The Lace Place is a collection started by Mrs Margaret Blackburn OAM JP of Perth (1920-1990). The Mouritz family of Hyden purchased the collection and added it to Valerie Mouritz’s collection of antique gowns and wedding dresses. I took a quick photo but we didn’t go in, nor to the Toy Soldier Collection created by Alex Smith which has approximately 6000 figures and took over 50 years of collecting, restoring and re-producing toys.

Across the road is the caravan park with its cute fence.

Drove back along the road to the Breakers Picnic area. Had lunch in the van, too many flies wanting to share our lunch!! Listened to the news on the radio about Cat 4 Cyclone Debbie – 262km/hr winds recorded at Hamilton Island. Poor things.

Walked up the track to check out the Breakers.

It doesn’t look steep but Steve was only just staying there.

Walked back to the easier spot to climb up onto the rock. Steve found a basin to wash his hands in amongst all the boulders.

We are on the other side of the dam so the catchment wall continues around this rock as well.

Back down we walked along the track some more and found more boulders.

Back to the truck and we headed out and onto the road to The Humps, 16km north. Parked and checked out the info board. There is a dam here too but the catchment wall is along the bottom rather than up on the rock itself.

There are two walks, we will do the Kalari Trail over the rock.

First to check out Mulka’s Cave and all the handprints.

More info before we head into the cave.

Steve heads in first. It is a big cave and an opening on the other side too. We climbed up onto the boulders inside to check out the handprints.

The handprints are very faded though they came out better in the photos using the flash.

Looking back out the opening.

Then we followed the trail around the rock base then started the climb up.

Lots of boulders strewn everywhere.

More info plaques. View up to the Amphitheatre part of the rock and then down the rock valley.

Rock pools.

Another view down the valley.

Armchair shaped hollow.

A wannabe wave – very wobbly one!! Photos from different ends and angles as we walked past it and up onto the top of the rock.

Another wave above that last one.

Top view over the paddocks being prepared for seeding.

Weathered boulders resting at the top, on the slope and down the bottom.

On top of the world – now marked with a survey marker.

View down to more granite area and the catchment wall going around the base.

The top continues on to where a cairn is.

The wall continues around till it reaches the dam.

The cairn had been knocked down so Steve rebuilt it.

We have left our mark.

Followed the markers back down the side of the rock through more loose boulders.

Steve found a dragon ‘Kalari’ who was busy bobbing his head so we reckon the bobbing isn’t just for mating!!

Steve and his friends head down hill – I have my fly net on – I’m the smart one. Steve just sounds like a steam train going whoosh whoosh with his mouth to blow the flies away!!

Made it to the bottom of the rock and around to the valley bottom. A couple who we chatted to at Lake Magic were heading up the hill.

Someone made an earth dam here at the bottom.

Back to the truck and van and back into Hyden for a cuppa at the Sculpture Park.

On the other side was the railway line and shed.

Lovely salmon gums line the road.

Across the road was the Lions Park with little sculptures and a rock table setting.

Just got a photo of a travelling shearing set up.

Headed west out of town to Kalgarin (aboriginal name of a nearby hill and means ‘place of fire’) – a tiny farming community of about 50 people. Small and Proud is the town’s motto. It was first noted by Surveyor General JS Roe in 1848 and settled in the 1920s. It became a soldier settlement site and was gazetted in 1931 and a school built in 1932 but that closed in 2005. The railway was so come past but that changed in the 30s as the railway was built from Lake Grace. It is famous for wildflowers and its annual Gilgie Races (type of freshwater crayfish found in the local dams). There is a Museum come Van Park nearby but we have seen enough ploughs, tractors etc though it has a collection of gramophones and records which would have been interesting. The Millaa house gramophone has gone to my cousin Chris who is planning to restore it so hopefully one day we will hear the old records play again. The old school had a ‘cool’ mural and a big cactus.

Found some Mallee Fowl though I think they are bigger than the real ones.

Continued along the highway a bit then turned south to find McCann’s Rock to stop at for the night. Back onto the dirt roads.

Small area but room enough for us at the base of the rock. There is a tower and a dam up on the rock for agricultural/stock use.

Across from us were some sheds which we check out and they were for campers. Nice BBQ and a big fire pit area.

In the bush we found an entrance gate and tin shed toilet so obviously it is used by the RSL.

As the sun was heading down we walked up onto the rock and found the dam.

They have raised its capacity by adding another brick.

Climbed up further for a view back over the dam and the catchment wall that feeds the water into the dam – such a smart idea.

Up to the tower which we think is for two way radios.

Nice view back over the dam and the fields.

Someone is burning off his field to get ready for planting.

Walked down the other side then followed the wall back around to the dam. Steve explained that the hole before the dam is for the silt to fall into – though it seems a bit deep or they must get some good rain to get it up and over the wall into the dam.

Our camp site.

Did some blog then headed back up the hill to get a photo of sunset. As I did a camper pulled in parked right behind the van.

Nice colour in the sky with the smoke in the air.

Then another one came and parked beside them. It seems the way with the international visitors – they need security and camp on top of each other and us!! They obviously haven’t walked over to check out the camp BBQ area or they would have parked right beside that!

Didn’t worry us as the wind is picking up and it is cooling off so we were inside the van. They will have to listen to the HWS heat up and if it gets cold I will be putting the diesel heater on!!