Day 108 – Kulin to Ravensthorpe

A nice quite morning. We want to hit the road reasonably early. We think we want to try and get to Esperance on the 30th, The showground is operating as overflow camping accommodation, you can’t book, although I’m told by the local Visitor’s Centre that there is plenty of room. Esperance has a fireworks display on so I want to be sure we’re OK, so arriving the day before is prudent.

From Wave Rock to Esperance is 400km, so we figure we’ll drive the 100km to Wave rock, it shouldn’t take more than a few hours to see it and we can maybe get another 100km or so down the road today. The Van park at Wave rock doesn’t have a great reputation either.

So we head off west of town on the “Tin Horse Highway”. Kulin, in order to try and stave off oblivion started an annual horse racing event. Then, as a way of promoting it some local farmers starting creating these horse sculptures (most with a sense of humour) out of old stuff lying around the farm….Like Tin… I’d have to say, I think these farmers have become a little competitive in this. It’s quite funny and the kids obviously love it.  (Google “Tin Horse Highway” images for heaps more)

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Via Hyden, the town just before wave rock.  They have a row of metal sculptures that highlight some of the towns history, quite a nice way of doing it.

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Wave rock is such a disorganised place. Given the number of vans that come in here there appears to be no van parking, the car park is really just a patch of dirt, so there are a few vans parked in odd locations. We leave the main car park and pull up a few 100m back up the road.

Wave Rock itself is actually rather impressive. I was keeping the expectation low, but it’s worth the trip. We take a walk over the top of the rock (it’s not frowned upon here), then around the base to Hippo’s Yawn, another rock formation. By 12 we’re done, so it seems sensible to keep going.

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There are a few van parks between here and Esperance, but after last night I’m keen on something else. Ravensthorpe has free camping for self-contained RV’s. In the end it’s not as good, this is on the main southern highway and we’re right on the highway – but it’s free, seems safe and there’s a decent toilet block across the road. Plus a playground for the kids – sorted.

The kids go play for an hour while I check out the town – only takes about 20 minutes. I’ve scouted out the few options for dinner, but the best places are closed, and the pub looks really average. We decide on DIY tonight, maybe we’ll eat out for breakfast tomorrow.