Desert walnuts (Turtujati) Owenia reticulata stands out with its very dark green leaves. We had seen them over the past two days but they were abundant south of Port Hedland. Other species of Owenia are found in rainforest and dryer scrubs on the east coast. Some of the branches have very twisted limbs give the … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 21 – The Road to Karratha (pm)

Port Hedland was named after Swedish-born mariner Peter Hedland who visited the area in 1863 and recommended it as a future port. The local Kariyarra and Nyamal people know the place as Marapikurrinya. The osprey was up early. The early bird gets the worm….sticks. We had seen a number of small flocks of budgerigars. These guys … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 21 – Port Hedland (am)

We pass the salt works with large evaporative ponds on the way out of Port Hedland. Marble Bar is about 200km from Port Hedland inland into the northern Pilbara. We were told it would be hot, no ifs or buts. But along the Great Northern Highway there were buttes. Buttes with Turtle Head near Marble … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 20 – Marble Bar

Today we travelled 420km on the Great Northern Highway to Port Hedland. The title should have read, “Trucks, trucks and more trucks.” Mulla Mullas (Ptilotus sp) outside our room at Tom Price Not far out of Tom Price, we encountered our first very wide load of the day. Luckily, they soon came to a stop … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 19 – Great Northern Highway

The contination of the range behind our accommodation in Tom Price Tassel tops (Ptilotus clementii) – one 0f five Ptilotus species outside our cabin RIP Lookout on the road from Tom Price to Karajini. There are thousands of tributes written on rocks around the carpark to the departed. Pilbara kurrajong Brachychiton acuminatus (centre of photo) … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 18 – Karajini Gorges

The view from behind our cabin of Mount Nameless (yes it is called that locally) although it has had an Indigenous name for thousands of years – Jarndunmunha. No-one asked the Aboriginal people what it was called. There are a lot of Little Corellas in Tom Price town area. Tom Price is the highest town … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 17 – Karajini National Park

Today, we enter the Pilbara with some of Australia’s most stunning ancient natural landscapes dating back 3.5 -4.3 billion years. It has significant national parks along with the iron ore industry, one of the leading contributors to Australia’s economy. Back to Radio Hill Lookout for the daytime view. Spinifex Mount Whaleback Mine has the largest … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 16 – Into the Pilbara

Today a 422km run along the Great Northern Highway. Commercial Hotel (The Commie to locals) at Meeka built in 1907 – our accommodation and dinner venue last night. Meekatharra Hill Lookout Ptilotus on Meekatharra Hill Open cut from the old Meekatharra Gold Mine On the way to Peace Gorge Peace Gorge was named after World … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 15 – “Hello… Newman”

Early morning glow at Dallwallinu We enter wildflower country And you thought I was bad Wubin is a town north of Dallwallinu. I know it’s a bit corny but I tried to get a Wubin Sandwich there. According to a local, wildflower season doesn’t start for another 3 weeks but there are patches of colour … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 14 – The road to Meekatharra

Car service in the morning – there is no Subaru service centre for the next 5000km of our travels. We leave at lunch to link up with the Great Northern Highway to begin our drive north through the centre of WA. Artwork on Northam’s historic 140 year old Flour Mill. “The Last Swans” pays tribute … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 13 – The road to Dallwallinu

Just a quick stop into Perth for a rest/washing day and car service tomorrow morning before heading north-east into the interior. We will be back in about a month for a longer stay in the capital. After over 5000km of travel, we reach the Indian Ocean. Cottesloe Beach – the beach is always a shore … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 12 – Perth

This is on top of the Corrigin Roadhouse – home of the world record for the largest continuous queue of Dogs in Utes (1,527). This record-breaking event was held in Corrigin in 2002. Now that deserves a round of a paws. One of the farmers adopted a dog from a blacksmith. As soon as the … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 11 – Central Wheatbelt