Wed, 11th Dec, 2019 Kurrajong Campground, Cape Range National Park, Exmouth to Barradale Rest Area by Yannarie River, WA (exploring)

Add to Mildura plaque info yesterday

I read in one of the brochures that the hull sat on the reef undisturbed until WW2 when allied planes used it for bombing practice.

7.30am 27 degrees, clear sky and light breeze. After breakfast we went down for a swim – so clear and calm. The white line of waves on the reef is very distinctive this morning with less wind.

A cool wind sprang up so we decided to just walk in the shallows – sooks that we are. Spotted a small reef shark cruise by then a shovel-nosed shark had fun burying itself. A stingray came by too.

Packed up and headed back north.

Stopped at Milyering Discovery Centre. I asked the staff about Yardie Station – they said it was handed back to CALM in the 1980s and became a Conservation Park. I asked about Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef that we noticed on the map. It was closed now but we noticed some framework for canvas covers. I thought it was a school education centre but it is a privately owned high-end Eco Lodge. They laughed at the thought of schools paying the exorbitant prices people pay to stay there.

Lots of information and things to check out.

In the dome I found the name of one shell I found on our way north – The Heart Urchin. The Sea Urchin were the ones Steve made a cairn out of. The slugs we have seen are called Chitons.

In another room there was info and photos about Cyclone Vance and the Whaling Station.

Now we know who Thomas Carter Lookout is named after. He took up the first of four pastoral leases around this area in 1898 and he discovered some palms.

We watched some of a DVD called ‘Naturally Ningaloo’. The section about Manta Rays was interesting as each one has its own special markings.

Wow there are a lot of caves and sink holes in Cape Range – obviously there is no access to the public.

Great poster showing Yardie Creek and its gorge that we walked up yesterday.

Stopped for a cuppa at Hunters Beach below the lighthouse. More information about the Jurabi Coastal Park.

Windier here.

Good waves are rolling in for Surfers Beach to the north. The main reef seems to finish near here so the waves can roll in.

Around to the east side of the VLF towers. Fascinating looking at the towers and all the tie down wires etc. Amazing feat to build that back then. Continued on up the east side of the cape.

Notice about the Point Murat Naval Pier which is a great diving area. It is to the left and the boat ramp is to the right.

Bundegi Beach is the northern end of the Ningaloo Marine Park and World Heritage Area. It looked so nice I just had to have another dip as it is quite hot again already. Steve kept lookout for sharks (haha) but only spotted a turtle.

Headed back with emus wandering along the roadside before the Holt Communication Centre. Spotted another ‘big thing’ – a whale shark. Just managed to get a photo as we drove by.

Into Exmouth township where we grabbed some fresh fruit and vegies from the IGA. Drove out of town to Town Beach which is in the Exmouth Gulf. Nice mural on the toilets and lots of green grass in the picnic area.

We went further along where there was room to park. We can see the marina. Very nice but it is still and hot here.

Had a quick lunch then realised we missed seeing the ‘Big Prawn’ so headed back into town. There is a water point there so while Steve topped up the water tanks I wandered around reading the information and taking pictures. Now we understand about the prawn processing factory we saw at the turn off to Charles Knife Gorge. We are lucky to see the prawn as it is usually put into storage for the cyclone season.

Nice neat town with lovely trees. The flowers are fascinating.

Obviously this was the site of the old Information Centre – now it is an art gallery. There was an information shelter on the other side which I checked out. Cape Range is 80km long and 20km wide. As we have learnt everything about the area and its history we are skipping the new aquarium and galleries this time.

Headed south again and topped up with fuel at the cheaper 24hr bowser. Amazing how much we used driving up and down the Cape Range National Park. Since we topped up we have covered 365km.

Continued south then turned off onto the track up to Potshot Canyon. It was named Potshot after the shot holes left by explosive charges detonated to trigger miniature earthquakes for seismographic studies during the oil searches in the 1950s. Meandered along trying to find somewhere to leave the van. After crossing a few dry creek beds Steve decided to pull off onto a flat creek area and we unhooked the van. We left all the roof vents open as it is very hot now – 40 degrees.

Continued along the track winding our way up the canyon crisscrossing the creek beds till we arrived at the end.

We climbed up the steps, can’t go up to the top anymore.

Somewhere up there hikers arrived from the walk from Thomas Carter Lookout.

Looking to the other side and up another valley then around to the canyon we just drove up. 

 Zoomed in.

Back to the van and hooked up again.

Back to the main road then down to near Learmonth where we stopped at the Krait and Potshot Memorials.

Very hot in the sun but we are ok under our big Bunnings hats. It must have been terrible for all the defence personnel living here in these conditions with canvas tents etc to live in. Climbed up the hill to read all the information. First about Operation Potshot.

Then the Jaywick Operation – the Z Force trained in Cairns in the House on the Hill (where we used to go dancing when we were 16). Two missions – one successful, one not with a very sad ending.

A ball float and floating tank are on display.

Got some better photos of the Solar Observatory as we passed. The info board in Exmouth said it was opened in 1979 and is part of a world wide network that monitors solar activity 24 hours a day. This site was chosen as Exmouth has in excess of 3500 hours of sunlight per year.

Continued south through Exmouth Gulf Station. The homestead is over on the hill to the east on the Rough Range (only looks like rolling hills) – now I realise that was just the name of the range rather than the description of it. The Hema shows the site of Rough Range No. 1 Oil well further east of us.

Down to the turn-off to take us east to the North West Coastal Highway. Up and down the red sand ridges covered in dead-looking grass.

Passed Bullara Station which is a working cattle station that has homestead and camping facilities in the cooler months.

Onto flat red soil country and grasses. Steve battling with a strong side wind.

Entered Girilia Station, a de-stocked wilderness station, that also has camping facilities and advertises great fishing at Girilia Bay which is at the southern end of Exmouth Gulf.

Back into spinifex country with a long sand ridge beside us.

Turned north east onto the North West Coastal Highway and entered ‘The Pilbara’.

The wind is behind us now so ‘Pat’ is very happy zooming along even with the hot day.

Rolling over red sand ridges – much easier on the bitumen compared to when we were doing this on the Canning Stock Route.

Clouds in the north and east as we continued on. Crossed the Yannarie River (wide and dry) then pulled into the Barradale 24hour rest stop. Barradale is the name of this station. There is an old house nearby but no one was about.

We chose to drive down closer to the river to try and get some shade for the rest of the afternoon as the wind is very hot and dry.

6pm 41 degrees in the van. Such a contrast to the coast where it was a much nicer temperature.

Had dinner after the sun had set.

Lightning started flashing to the east – would be nice to get a good drop of rain to cool things down.

10pm 35 degrees. The wind has stopped – so glad we have our 12 volt fans.

The lightning is still flashing in the distance – no rain.