It was a big day’s drive for us when we left Karlamilyi yesterday. 360kms, of which the first couple of hours were undertaken at a bone jarring 30kph over the corrugations which were constant until we had left the park. The Western Talawana track to Newman was mainly in excellent condition, making for relatively easy driving. Having reached the sealed Marble Bar Road, our first bitumen in two weeks, the smooth smooth driving was short lived as we turned off along the Kalgan river to find a camp spot we thought would be close to the road. It turned out that it was in fact 24 hubs locked kilometres from the road, involving driving along rivers – this time not dry ones! Check out part of the route we filmed on the phone on our way out this morning! Our level of confidence was rather less on the way in, but ‘local knowledge’ had given a degree of reassurance. “There’s a bit of water to cross but nothin’ too deep”.
It was a beautiful spot to wake up in, the river was relatively warm & had a fine mist rising from it in the early morning. Bird life was prolific. We needed to move on as food supplies were running low, plus we needed a phone signal, but both of us recognised that this was a camp spot worth recording for the future. Now at Newman for shopping/washing etc before heading south to Mt Augustus NP then Kennedy Ranges NP.
We did a day trip from Newman into Kalgan Pool, but I don’t remember the track being that wet! Also went to Weeli Wolli – worth doing.
The climb up Mt Augustus is pretty speccy, if the knees can manage it. But avoid the gully track!!
Look forward to seeing what the Kennedy Ranges camp area is like now – used to be nicely off the tourist routes….
A beautiful part of the world indeed. The colours are so intense and saturated. Thanks for sharing a spot we cannot get to without a long drive without the van and it’s comforts! I am getting too old now for swags…