Millstream Chichester National Park

Days 46-47, Tuesday / Wednesday 27-28 July

Day 45 was a long and tedious day driving from Broome to Karratha along the Great Northern Highway. We have left the ‘Kimberley’and are now in the ‘Pilbara’.

On Tuesday we stocked up on fresh stuff for a week inland. We left Karratha via a side trip to the Burrup Peninsula to look at petroglyphs up to 40,000 years old . Awesome. It was humbling to think that over a thousand generations of humanity have been going to the one site to either create or see art and stories. We didn’t take any photos of the petroglyphs themselves as the traditional owners have requested people don’t.

The site of the ancient petroglyphs on the Burrup Peninsula, near Dampier.

It was then a scenic and interesting drive south and east into the Millstream- Chichester National Park. We set up camp at the lovely Miliyanha Campground and went for a sunset walk. Miliyanha is a beaut spot on the traditional country of the Yindjibarndi people, alongside the Fortescue River . We acknowledge the Yindjibarndi’scustodianship of the land and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

Our campsite at Miliyanha
Sunset cliff top walk
Amazing wildflowers everywhere
View to the South East with the Hammersly Range on the horizon

A bit of a sleep in on Wednesday morning ( 7am)… although dawn is also arriving a little later as we have come a fair way further south and west from the last few weeks. Plan was to double back to the northern end of the park , do some walking and then have a dip in the Python Pool waterhole. Plan came unstuck when we reached the Roebourne – Wittenoom road to see a ‘road closed’ sign . A one hour return drive to that point for naught. We did get to see a massive ore train heading from Tom Price to Dampier as we waited nearly 15 minutes for it to pass across the highway. These are seriously long trains!

No Python Pool…. But a seriously long train !

Afternoon spent on a walk along the Fortescue River, then a lovely swim at a place called the ‘Deep Reach’. A late moon rise saw a spectacular star show above our heads at dinner time – the Milky Way out on a great display,

Day 48, Thursday 29 July dawned quite chilly compared to previous days and weeks. We had a Roo with a Joey join us fir breakfast.

Ness did another lap of the river and wetlands, then it was off towards Tom Price via the Rio Tinto private road

Paperbarks on Ness’ morning walk
Morning view over the river
One of many ore trains on the Rio Tinto private road side to Tom Price

Plan this afternoon is to head out to Karijini National Park … we may not have comma for a few days .

1 Comment

  1. outbackvoyager's avatar outbackvoyager says:

    MT your travels have been awe inspiring and most interesting, thanks. I see you saw my most favourite flower, the Sturt Pea, which I came to love whilst a kid at Woomera, where it bloomed over most of the surrounding donga. I trust you Camper and VW have provided you both with the comfort one would expect? Have to any redress on the damaged tyres? Currently at Tanunda with Sue for a few days. Cold and soon a fair amount of rain expected (by the forecast). Happy travel and God Bless……..Dad & Sue. xx

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