Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 23 – Millstream-Chichester National Park

Millstream Chichester National Park is accessed via Warlu Rd west of Karratha.

The road was built and upgraded as it follows the coal train lines for maintenace access. It wsn’t long before we saw our first train of the day. There were many more seen throughout the day before the national park access roads.

Sturts Desert Peas were much taller along Warlu Road.

They are obviously a pea when you see these. Will be great for my next podcast.

Another load going to Dampier Port

It consists of two main areas – the Chichester Range (above and below) dotted with spinifex and snappy gums and the Millstream with permanent pools fed by springs with water from the underground aquifer. Travel advice: a gravel section of road into here was horrendous with deep corrugations, washouts and rocks scattered across the road…

…but incredible scenery.

Panorama Lookout to the north

Australian kestrel at the Panorama Lookout

There is an old Camel Trail over the range.

The Cameleer Trail was used by camel teams from the 1860s. The camels always liked Wednesdays – Hump Day.

The escarpment on the way to Python Pool

Python Pool – a permanent freshwater plunge pool located at the base of a cliff in the Chichester Range escarpment. It was quite tranquil until the swimming tourists arrived – with the peculiar habit of shouting as soon as they hit the water. We had encountered them at Karajini – easy to spot carrying towels throughout the park.

Zebra finch

Millstream-Chichester has over 20 species of Ptilotus.

The road into the Millstream crossed the Fortescue River floodplain

Hibiscus beside the road

Deep Reach Pool – Nhanggangunha is a large permanent pool fed by an aquifer.

Millstream Palms on Deep Reach Pool

Rainbow bee-eater against the grey skies.

Cliff Top Lookout

Cliff Top Walk views of the Fortescue River

Hakeas were prominent along the cliff top walk

Millstream Homestead (1919) – you know you are getting older when historical homes are younger than your grandparents’ home.

Bird (yet to be identified by us) on an old windmill

We were disappointed that the Wetland Walk through Millstream wetlands was closed due to cyclone damage from earlier this year but the guy below babbled on about how nice it is here.

Grey-crowned babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis rubeculus)

The access road to Millstream was lined with wildflowers. We had looked for bustards in the national park to no avail but nearly collected one walking on the road on a curve. I managed to miss it. It was a magnificent sight as it took off (although in an absolutely terrified state). Poor bustard!