Still heading inland

Monday, 20-6-11

Wave Rock, Hyden, WA

We continued our trip inland, moving towards Hyden. We visited the small town of Varley, just a small town in an agricultural area but it has a very cute rabbit cemetery. The cemetery is in memory of all the rabbits who lost their lives because of the Rabbit Proof Fence.

Hippo's Yawn, Hyden, WA

We then arrived at Hyden and booked into the Wave Rock Caravan Park as there are no campsites in the area. After lunch we tackled the Wave Rock and Hippo's Yawn Walks.
The rock formations are just magnificent.

A 'tafone', Hyden, WA

Most of the rocks in this area are tafoni (which is plural for tafone). A tafone is formed when salt crystals which are trapped within the rock are eroded away resulting in a hole or crack forming in the rock and then erosion causes the rock to split or crack.

The walks are sometimes gradual but sometimes quite steep. We managed them quite well but had a couple of ache the next day. We walked about six kilometers that afternoon as we decided to walk to the Breakers, a smaller version of Wave Rock before it got dark.

Tuesday, 21-6-11

Today we drove approximately 20ks to the Humps and Mulka's Cave. Here we found more spectacular rocks to climb and admire. Mulka's Cave has some of the most significant rock art in Western Australia. Most of the art work has been done by stenciling.

Rock Art, Mulka's Cave, Hyden, WA

Here we saw some great examples of tafoni and gnammas. A gnamma is a waterhole formed in the rock by erosion.

A 'gnamma', The Humps, Hyden, WA

Crawf at the Humps, Hyden, WA

Street sculptures, Hyden, WA

After our long walk around the rocks in the morning we went into Hyden for lunch. Hyden has some very interesting street sculptures which tell the history of the town. They are all made from old scrap metal and make a great tourist stopping point. After lunch we went back to the caravan park where we visited a wildlife park with some interesting animals and then a toy soldier display which proved to me that some men never grow up, a brilliant display.

Wednesday, 22-6-11

Kondinin was our next stop after refuelling at Hyden. Kondinin is a small farming town in the middle of red soil farming land. We had our lunch and walked along the main street where we found an op-shop which Crawf had to look at. While there he was asked to draw the local raffle.

Swimming Pool at Gorge Rock, WA

We then went to Gorge Rock and set up camp in the rest area. At one time there was a hall, tennis courts, sports ground, school, swimming pool, scout campsite and amphitheatre at this site. The swimming pool which was constructed by damming an area between the rocks was kept clean and drained annually by the locals and the area was a very popular spot in years gone by.

Thursday, 23-6-11

Moving towards our next stay we passed through Corrigin, a nice little town with a very interesting dog cemetery.

Corrigin, WA

Corrigin, WA

 The doggie graves are often very elaborate and sometimes very basic.

Corrigin also holds the record for the number of Dogs in Utes. They surely love their dogs in this area.

We then travelled north to Bruce Rock, another small farming town.

 

 Friday 24-6-11 and Saturday 25-6-11

Bruce Rock is a very friendly town, we talked to the locals in the street, shops and at the sports club. Bruce Rock is not as large and spectacular as some of the rocks we saw at Hyden.

We had a walk around the rock and then decided to drive to Muntadgin and had a picnic lunch at the rest area there. There is a very traditional country pub but it was closed and I suspect it only opens for local special events.

The Munty Pub, Muntadgin, WA

A well at Bruce Rock, WA

Sunday, 26-6-11

Today we travelled towards Quairading, on the way we stopped at Shackleton for a picnic lunch next to the smallest bank in Australia and then continued to Quairading. Checked into the caravan park as the free campsite at Kokerbin Rock was too small for us. Good value in the caravan park, pay for 2 nights stay for 3.

It works out at $11 per night.

Quairading is only 165k from Perth and is a very large grain growing area, when it rains.

Kokerbin Rock is reported to be the third largest monolith in Australia.
It has some very spectacular views from the summit which both Crawf and I managed to reach. We are becoming very good rock climbers.
Some of the rock formations are as good as those at Wave Rock.

Kokerbin Rock, WA

Kokerbin Rock, WA

Smallest Bank in Australia, Shackleton, WA



 Quairading has several interesting sites including the Pink Lake which is blue on one side of the road and pink on the other. The pink colouring is caused by some bacteria in the water combined with the salt which is very highly concentrated in the lake.

Pink Lake, Quairading, WA

Remains of Rabbit Proof Fence No. 2
Corrigin  to Quairading, WA

Grain Silo sign, Quairading, WA

 The remains of No.2 Rabbit Proof Fence can be seen in several locations. There were 3 fences built in WA in the early 1900's in an attempt to keep rabbits out of the state.

Miniature road train, Quairading, WA

Other things of interest in Quairading are the signs around the town depicting the grains grown in the area. They are represented by the grain family of Wesley Wheat, Basil Barley, Ollie Oats and Lucy Lupin. The sign near the grain handling silo is possibly the funniest.
Crawf went to visit the local Vintage Machinery Club and discovered a wonderful little miniature road train. It is used as a children's ride at the local festivals and fund raisers.