Wed, 18th Oct, 2017 Principality of Hutt River, WA (Kalbarri NP gorges)

7.30am 18 degrees, cloudy but the sun is peeking through.

Met our neighbours, a couple from Townsville. Chatted for a while before we headed off to explore Kalbarri National Park. Stopped at the Post Office to send off the letter to Erica.

Lots of these white flowers poking out of the plant.

Stopped first at Binnu which was once a railway siding.

Big grain bins across the road.

Turned off the main highway then up to Warribanno Chimney.

The flies were terrible so on with the fly nets – even Steve succumbed.

Followed the trail up to the chimney. The remains of a cottage.

Nearly up to the chimney we spotted a fridge.

 In it was a book to sign and some more information. (Still can't work out how to turn these around on the blog site)

  

At the chimney, looking down.

Then up the chimney.

View from the 4 sides of the chimney.

Followed the trail down the other side then around through the remains of the furnaces.

We walked up the flues.

To the opening under the chimney.

Turned around and headed back down. The flues separate to go down to different furnaces.

It has warmed up now as we head into Kalbarri National Park. Through the pay station – we still have our yearly NP pass.

Pretty flowers along the way.

First stop at Ross Graham Lookout – died at such a young age. Lots of signs about the temperature of the gorge which can be 10 degrees hotter than Kalbarri.

Headed down the track – great views over the Murchison River.

Continued down the track – pretty flowers.

Great map of the Murchison River coming all the way from near Meekatharra. It is the second longest river in WA, 820km long and has a catchment area of 82,000 sq km (larger than Tassie).

Found a nice spot to enjoy the river view.

Back to the truck – another pretty bush.

Around to Hawks Head. Great view from the carpark.

Nice walk down to the lookout.

Looking upstream with “Hawks Head” on the right.

I wonder when this bit fell down into the river.

Below us then downstream. Needs a good flush out.

Spotted a duck or water hen doing duck dives into the weed.

Back out to the main road – lots of pretty flowers and different areas have sort-of pine trees or dead looking banksia trees.

Another 24 km to the turn off to the next attraction. The ranger waved us through as we had our year pass. Down to a T-intersection – we went left to Nature’s Window area. They are making a Skywalk nearby – the road to it is still closed. We had heard on the news that there is some problem with the financial side so it probably won’t be open this year as promised. Great view over the river and the country beyond. Funny little flat-topped hill in the distance.

Found a nice picnic table for lunch with a fabulous view. We sat in the shade but had to move into the sun as the wind was so cold but the sun is burning – go figure!! The road and picnic areas have all just been upgraded. Now it is bitumen it would be great to come in after the wet and see the river in flood.

Interesting information.

Don’t think we will do the Loop Walk.

Walked down the trail to Nature’s Window. Great view.

Looks like a fracture in the rock.

A bit of colour.

Further around to a lookout platform. Looks like a piece broke off the point.

The river does a big loop – not much between the two paths of the river. Looking on the other side as the river continues downstream.

The sandstone has so many colours and shapes.

The clouds are disappearing which is great for the photos. Nearly at Natures Window.

On the flat area in front of the window looking down the narrow barrier between the river but I think it will be a long time before it collapses and the river joins up.

Waited for all the internationals to take their ‘many’ photos of each other. I did a selfie then a lady offered to take our photo.

We walked down the path of the Loop Track for a bit. Looking back up to where the Lookout platform is.

Continued on to see if there is a gap behind the thin bit.

Love all the shapes and colours.

Not a cave.

Walked back to the car-park then around to the West Loop Lookout. The river continues its way north first then it turns south then west to the coast at Kalbarri.

Back in the truck and back the 6km to the turnoff then 5km further on to Z-Bend Lookout car-park. They are still doing up the road and car-park area here.

 Followed the track to the Lookout. Found a cute friend along the way.

  

More about the nasty looking scorpions. Not sure how these could be their tracks as erosion would have worn them away by now!!

The Murchison gets bendy here – we are upstream from Nature’s Window. We can only see the elbow. Zoomed in as well.

  

Lots of bits broken off – I wonder when that happened. Great cliff face.

Walked back off the Lookout platform to another platform in the joint between the rock which highlights the joint further down the river. Amazing how the trees grow anywhere.

Back the 25km to the main road and into Kalbarri. There is a Station that has homestays and caravan park called Murchison House Station which was established in 1858. The road to the Lookout on Meanarra Hill is closed so we pulled over to get a photo of the Murchison River as it nears the ocean.

Nice entrance to town.

Down to the river.

Around to the mouth.

Followed the road around to the mouth then up the hill.

Stopped to check out the view over Back Beach and further south to Syphon Beach. Wild weather and the wind is cold.

Walked up to the Memorial for the ‘Zuytdorp’ which was wrecked near here in 1712.

Great view over Chinaman Rock, the mouth then up the river and over Kalbarri. Big rocks at the entrance so the boats have to head north first to go out to sea.

Zoomed in on the limestone capped peak of  Meanarra Hill – it is 207m above sea level.

Steve spotted some dolphins rounding up fish and jumping through the waves. Too hard to get a photo though.

A dredge is working to keep the mouth open.

Drove down to Chinamans Beach for a cuppa out of the wind. Even the trees don’t cope with the wind.

A boat from the dredge is working back and forward obviously checking the depth.

Decided to drive back down the coast back to camp – a few surfers are catching waves at Jakes Point.

Turned off into Wittecarra Creek. It is believed that two Dutch sailors were marooned here in 1629 as punishment for their part in the Batavia mutiny.

The creek doesn’t make it to the sea but has some water in it at the moment.

Continued along the road – will do the coastal walks tomorrow. Past lots of sheep with their lambs and more grain fields.  Still very windy.

Back to our van in the ‘foreign country’. Got our drinks and put jumpers on as the wind is cold. Joined Steve from Townsville and another couple from Perth for a chat as the sun went down.

Back to the van for a hot shower and dinner. No TV reception here – we only just get phone reception.