We drive up to the Five Rivers again to see the view a little better in the morning without the clouds. The view is a little better, but there is quite a haze around so still not super clear.
Kids have a swim while we packup and get ready. But not before a picture in front of “the largest Boab Tree…….in captivity” It’s in the van park. Then a quick morning tea at “the most northern bakery in W.A”. They have to put croc in everything up here, including Pies.
On the way back to the highway we pass the turnoff the Gibb River road. This is a dirt road that heads across the north of the state and ends up near Broome. I’ve looked at it closely as an option, but it’s pretty rough and we will just end up in the same place by taking the bitumen. We’ve also been told that most of the stations along the road, even places like El Questro, are closed for the season, so even if I had wanted to, it may not be an option at this time of year. At least I got to see the start of it.
As we get back to the main highway, we see the turn off to Halls Creek, yeah I’ve heard of it. What they fail to tell you is this is the main highway to PERTH. That information might be helpful. Not Broome, not Port Hedland, no, Halls bloody Creek.
No mention of Perth.
As we head off, were not sure how far we’ll get. We heard back in Lake Argyle that the Bungles National Park and the Van Park was closed due to fires, although the WA National Parks website is no longer reporting it being closed. Due to the heat I don’t think we’ll get to see it.
We are aiming for Halls Creek, but Justine is reading the reviews and they are a bit grim.
For all you Cold Chisel Fans, here is Bow River…. True!
We pull up early at a Road House/ Van Park at a place called Warmun. They have a pool (of sorts). It’s cool. We let the kids chill out and relax. A few brumbies seem to have made this place their home.
After booking a spot for the night and paying, we are informed that the pool is closed until at least 4pm, as a storm had come through the night before and it needed cleaning. We had a look in the pool – it was fine, but the gate was locked so there was nothing we could do but sit in the van with the A/C running and playing card games for a few hours.
Pool finally cleaned by 4.30. We go for a swim, then head back to the van for the night.
Van park to ourselves….again
When I was on the Gibb River Rd way back in the early 90s it was a pretty standard dirt road…a few corrugations and creek crossings…I did it in April and a late wet season but wasn’t towing a van. I don’t know about how people see dirt roads nowadays …some people even think dirt roads can ONLY be negotiated by 4WD…I did the Ernest Giles ‘Highway’ between Kings Canyon and Stuart Highway in a Nissan Pulsar…yeh, pretty rough but I just did the drive slowly and it was a great drive. Passed one other vehicle…a jackaroo driving a HQ Statesman!! But to be fair, the GRR itself is just OK…but its what you can see on the peripheries that make it worthwhile, especially Bell Creek Gorge.
Yeah, all the other dirt I’ve been on served a purpose, the GRR for us just took us to the same place the bitumen would take us, so we chose the easier route.
The Boab Tree is amazing, I would love to have it my garden. Wow!