Pilbara camping - Part 3 - Karijini to Mt Augustus - Western Australia

Hi everyone, I hope you have enjoyed my last two posts about camping in Karijini National Park in Western Australia's Pilbara region. If you ever come to Western Australia, and have time, you should visit, particularly if you are here around July-August.
If you missed the posts you can catch up here -  Karijini Camping - Part 1
 and here - Karijini camping - Part 2


Today we are back on the road again, heading out of Karijini and heading towards Mount Augustus - the world's largest monocline.
But first the town of Tom Price - 108km from the Karijini's Dales Gorge campground.
We need to fuel up and buy some fresh supplies for the next leg of our trip, plus a quick email catch up and mail some post cards.

Situated on the edge of the Hamersley Ranges, Tom Price is Western Australia's highest town, 747metres above sea level. Tom Price's economy is dependent on the iron ore industry. The area was only appraised for mining in the early 1960's, so Tom Price is a very young town.  

 To keep reading and see more pics, please click on "read more" .....


If you would like to learn more about Tom Price, please click here - Tom Price

Tom Price is located approximately 1600 km from Perth and is situated on the edge of the Hamersley Ranges, within the Shire of Ashburton. It is the highest town in Western Australia at 747m above sea level, hence the name "Top Town" - See more at: http://www.ashburton.wa.gov.au/visit-ashburton/tom-price#sthash.q48NbyJN.dpuf

 You can see an iron ore train and some of the landscape below.

We had been to Tom Price a couple of times before, so didn't stop for long, and were back on the road again late morning, and were now into unknown territory for us. We pulled off the track for a late lunch before turning onto the Ashburton Downs-Meekatharra Road, 231km from Tom Price and 295km to Mt Augustus. 

I think the sign and the pics below say it all - we are a long way from anywhere - 

I think those are the Capricorn Ranges in the distance - on the Tropic of Capricorn.  Desolate it might be......

But it is far from boring..... watch out for stock along the road. There are no fences and you wouldn't want to run into this fellow with the horns. I am amazed at the fortitude of people who come out here to forge a living out of this country.

We thought these rock formations, which looked like pieces of slate stacked on their sides, were really interesting

 This is a 4WD road and conditions can be varied depending on when the grader last came through. There can be corrugations, dips, creek crossings and washaways.  We had been told the road was rough, but we found it to be in fairly good condition, although we stopped and chatted to a group who had a flat tyre.  Make sure your tyres having plenty of tread, and it is wise to carry two spares.  Please drive according to the conditions and take notice of the road signage. We drove around 60-70km/hour.

Around 4pm we started looking for a potential campsite and pulled off the side of the track around 4.15pm and set up camp. Doesn't look like much I know but it was so lovely being out in the bush totally away from anyone. Not one vehicle went past during the night. We made a small fire and toasted marshmallows after dinner. 

We weren't near a watering point, so no stock wandered through during the night.  Something to be aware of if choosing a camping spot in station country.

 I always have my camera....I liked these mud patterns....and the small plant pushing up through the cracks.

Perfect peace and quiet.... we had a wonderful nights sleep. Just the dark sky, the nearly full moon and the stars for company.

We were up early to see the sunrise on the nearby hills...

We wanted to get on the road early so we had breakfast, packed up and left camp around 8am, crossing the Ashburton-Meekatharra shire boundary not long after leaving our camp.

Some kangaroos were out having a hop and a forage....

It was another beautiful blue sky day and we drove through a vast landscape of mountains, creek beds, floodways and winding roads, scrub, spinifex and changing vegetation.  And wildflowers. Can you see the spikes on the one in the bottom RH corner?

We travel with our Hema gps map navigator as well as paper maps, but it is always comforting out here to come to a signpost and know you are on the right track

Only 145km to our destination Mt Augustus. Here is the view from the Yallowerie Hill Lookout...nearly there.....a hot shower and hair washing is calling....

And this is where I will leave you till next time, when we camp at Mt Augustus for a few days and explore this amazing "anticline" rock. 


Thanks for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. Have a wonderful week.

I am linking up to Mosaic Monday, Travel Photos Monday, Our World Tuesday, Wednesday Around the World, Travel Photo Thursday, and What's It Wednesday.  Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
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You might also like 
-  Karijini Camping - Part 1
 - Karijini camping - Part 2
- Holland Track, following the path of the prospectors

 

Tom Price is located approximately 1600 km from Perth and is situated on the edge of the Hamersley Ranges, within the Shire of Ashburton. It is the highest town in Western Australia at 747m above sea level, hence the name "Top Town" - See more at: http://www.ashburton.wa.gov.au/visit-ashburton/tom-price#sthash.q48NbyJN.dpuf