Month: June 2021

Walyunga National Park

Walyunga National Park is about 40km north-east of Perth along the Great Northern Highway. It is a wonderful place for a day trip. Camping is also possible and requires prior arrangement with the ranger.

Walyunga National Park is located in the Avon Valley where the Avon River joins the Brockman River to form the Swan River. The river runs through the park, forming a number of tranquil pools, as well as rapids, which are part of the annual Avon Descent race.

Numerous pools and rapids in Walyunga National Park

There are a number walking trails from an easy 1.6km return trail to moderate difficulty 11km return trail. We took the easiest – considering that we stopped so many times to take pictures, it took us a lot longer than indicated 1 hour :).

Along Walyunga Heritage Trail

Like all national parks, Walyunga is a photographer’s paradise. We visited this place in June, which is not the wildflower season. Yet there were many other interesting living things to look at.

Being easily accessible and in a relative proximity to Perth (only about 1 hour drive), it is quite a popular place. There are two picnic sites with barbecues, picnic tables and toilets. Entry fees apply and dogs are allowed.

Respite at Sandy Creek near Newman

Sandy Creek picnic and free camping spot near Newman
Sandy Creek, near Newman, is a hidden gem. It is a free camping spot, popular with locals.

After leaving Kalamina Gorge in Karijini National Park (due to heavy rains the park closed), we headed towards Newman to find some place to stay there for a night. We dropped in at the information centre for the kids to buy souvenir coins and for us to get information on the road conditions, as well as some possible places to camp. It was still raining heavily when we left Newman and at 5.30pm it looked quite dark. The ladies at the Information Centre shared with us local’s secret spot – Sandy Creek.

Driving under the rain towards Sandy Creek, just off Newman
At the entrance to Sandy Creek off Marble Bar Road 100m

Travelling on Great Northern Highway from Newman we turned onto Marble Bar Road and travelled for approximately 24.5km before turning right (after Kalgan Pool track) onto unmarked track. Travelling for about 600 meters we have arrived at what looked like a campground. Ahead of us was a creek which under the rain and in the dark we did not want to attempt crossing. So we followed the track on the right. There was a 4WD Landcruiser Troopy with a pop top and we parked not far away from it.

Camping at Sandy Creek. This is how it looked in the morning.

It rained the whole night but the rain stopped in the morning giving us a much needed break to get out of our very tight and full of stuff dwelling.

The kids measured the depth of the crossing. It was too deep to wet our boots.

Kids measuring the depth of the water

We found a narrower passage further away and jumped over it onto the other side. Sandy Creek was actually further away. It looked like a small river with so much water in it after it rained.

The place looked very beautiful and quite magical even though everything was wet. We decided to get some rest and stay here for another night.

Trees reflected in the orange coloured creek

Kids were busy the whole day building houses, bridges (in fact, the whole village!) out of what they found on the ground – stones, leaves and branches.

“Bush” kids

I went for numerous walks around with my camera looking for more insects and flowers to take pictures of.

And Brian cooked a nice “Sandy Creek roast” for us.

Sandy Creek roast

We also drove through the first creek to see what was on the other side. That is where we saw the actual Sandy Creek. There was another camper, a lovely couple, who parked just near the creek. They told us that Sandy Creek was formed because of the water that has been pumped out by the local mine. The first crossing before Sandy Creek was the overflown water from heavy rained that gathered in the ground holes.

Time to check and pump the tyres before heading home

It was a lovely respite for us. Being on the road for many hours we really enjoyed a day of not driving and going anywhere but simply resting and enjoying the place as it was. A true outback experience.

Simple things we enjoyed at Sandy Creek

Millstream Chichester NP – an oasis in the desert

Millstream Chichester National Park in Pilbara is an amazing place to visit (as an extension of the trip to Karijini or a day trip from Karratha). It is the place where gorges with their lush vegetation, pools and rivers form a striking contrast to the rocky, spinifix-covered hills, creating a refreshing and welcoming oasis in Pilbara region desert.

Getting there

Access to the Millstream-Chichester National Park from Karratha is via a sealed road. It is 134 kilometres, a 2.5 hour drive. To travel from Karijini (we travelled the other way round – from Millstream Chichester down to Karijini), we used Nanutarra-Munjina and Roebourne-Wittenoom roads. The roads for the most part of the journey were unsealed and at times corrugated and it took us nearly 4 hours to get to destination. If you travel from Karijini, visiting Hamersley Gorge – the most remote gorge of Karijini National Park – is a must. It is on the way and it is the place of immense beauty, like everything else in Karijini.

Travelling in the outback can be a lonely experience. This was one of only a few vehicles we saw while travelling on Roebourne-Wittenoom Road from Millstream Chichester to Karijini. 

Camping at Millstream Chichester

We stayed at Miliyanha Campground, which is a nice bush camp close to the pools and gorges. For $11 a night (prices back in 2021) you get a huge camping spot, access to drop toilets and kitchen with hot water.

Miliyanha Campground

Wonderful in all respects, the only annoying part of our stay at Miliyanha Campground was ants which were there in thousands. Wearing gum boots, as well as having an ant spray to spray all round the caravan to prevent ants from climbing is a solution though. We had to borrow the ant sprayer from the friendly camp hosts but learnt a lesson to be better prepared next time.

At Miliyanha Campground

Deep Reach Pool

Deep Reach Pool in Millstream Chichester National Park is a large (much larger than you would expect in the desert) permanent pool with warm but quite deep waters. It is rightly considered an oasis in the desert. This is a beautiful place, well maintained and cared for with BBQs and picnic tables. It offers opportunity not just for a refreshing dip but swimming for long distance, if you are up to it and not scared by the serpent Warlu 😊, which according to Yinjibardndi people quietly resides in the pool. As such, this unique place of a cultural significance should be treated with respect and care (motorised watercraft is prohibited there to keep noise to minimum, so as not to disturb the Warlu Serpent).

It goes without saying, Deep Reach Pool was the highlight for our kids, who enjoyed swimming there.

Swimming at Deep Reach Pool

Cliff Top Walk

Next to Deep Reach Pool (and only 2km away from Milliynha Campground) is Cliff Top Walk, which is an easy 600m return walk with three vantage points to view the Fortescue River and the distant Hamersley Ranges.

Cliff Top Walk in Millstream

Python Pool

Python Pool in Chichester Range is a fresh water rock pool at the base of an impressive red ochre cliff. It is a great place for swimming and picnic.

Python Pool

Python Pool is about 2.5 hours drive south of Karratha (a popular spot for locals to visit during weekends) or an 1 hour drive from Miliynha Campground in Millstream Range, where we stayed for 2 nights.

On the way to Python Pool

The scenery on the way to Python Pool is quite breath taking. The views kept changing as were were approaching Python Pool.

Travel Nut Family at Chichester Range

Pilbara region and Millstream Chichester, in particular, is home of spectacular Mulla Mulla plants. You can see lots of them in the red iron ore rich area, growing in carpets or sometimes as a single plant. 

Mulla Mulla – an icon of Pilbara

Pilbara Olive Pythons

While we didn’t see any, we were told that Python Pool is frequented by Pilbara Olive Pythons (on the outer side of the cliff face). However, we did see this gorgeous beauty in Miliynha Campground, just meters away from our camping spot. On our second night, as Brian left off to the kitchen with loads of dishes to wash, I suddenly heard him screaming: “Bring camera!”. Rushing with a camera to his voice, I saw a huge python lying across the driveway, blocking the path. Luckily, Brian is very cautious and had a torch with him. We estimate the python was around 4 meters.

Pilbara Olive Python at Miliyanha

While not poisonous, the mere size and length scared us. Nevertheless, we were eager to take have a closer look at it and were cautiously getting closer and closer, trying to take better pictures of it. To share the delight of our finding, we called the neighbours to admire the python.

A closer look at the python

Wildlife

Wildlife is abundant in Millstream Chichester National Park, especially closer to the water. There are 22 species of dragonfly there, including beautiful red and blue dragonflies.

Red dragonfly at Python Pool

There are a number of various types of lizards in the park.

Lizards at Millstream Chichester

Sturt’s Desert Pea is another icon of Millstream Chichester (found mainly in the Chichester Range) – a unique and beautiful wildflower.

Red Sturt's Desert Pea
Sturt’s Desert Pea

Millstream Chichester is a wonderful place to explore for a couple of days – to swim in the pools and creeks, admire flora and fauna and simply rest in a beautiful place.