We began this week by packing up and then heading to the car wash area and giving the van and the car a very good wash. By the time we had finished there was a bit of red dirt around, so this was either from the Savannah way (in July) or the Mine Permit Road from Tom Price to Karratha (September).

We then left Esperance and headed to Kalgoorlie-Boulder, stopping at Norseman on the way for lunch. Arriving in Kalgoorlie-Boulder we checked into the caravan park and set up before heading out for dinner. The lady at the office told us not to worry about the scaffolding as the building was safe, we weren’t sure what she meant until we remembered that the area was hit with an earthquake in April this year. There is still so much damage in the towns that has not yet been repaired. We also had the issue that some of the attractions we were hoping to get to were still closed waiting for repairs.

This meant that we shortened our list a little so when we went to the Information Centre to book into the Super Pit tour and the Underground Tour we found we had to wait until Monday, 2 extra days to do these tours. After discussion we decided to use the days as logistic days and relaxed a little preparing for the Nullabor trip in a couple of days. Monday came and so did the heat! We headed to do the underground tour and were taken down a lift 4 at a time (no time to be claustrophobic!) and then walked through several of the old timers mine shafts. It was interesting to see what they did to shore up the walls and how they mined, knowing we were going to be doing the Super Pit Tour later today. We were only able to go down to the second level but there are 12 all up, the only issue is that the lower 10 are full of salt water! When they brought us back up at the end of the tour, they overshot the area to get off the lift and we had to be let back down, they made out it was on purpose but we did notice the looks and realized it should not have happened.

We then watched another Gold Pour, this one was a little more laid back than the one at the Perth Mint and we all got to hold the gold bar! The demonstration was very informative and I think making it hands on for the kids made it stick in their minds better. Then it was time for a quick lunch and then onto the Super Pit Tour, for the Super Pit Tour we had to be in long sleeves and long pants, thankfully we were in an air-conditioned bus so that helped.

We were amazed at the size of the Pit, 3.5km long X 1.5km wide X 600m deep, and they are currently widening it by another 400m to make it almost 2km wide! At this stage they are still trying to determine if they can go any deeper as they are getting close to reaching the salt water level in the land. The trucks come down one side and go up another so that it is a circuit therefore reducing the possibility of accidents. The tour lasted 2 ½ hours and took us to several lookouts within the mine plus past all the workshops, crushing plant, processing plant and up extremely close to the 240 Tonne trucks! It was also interesting to see the old timers mine shafts coming out of the huge wall at varying intervals. Apparently the timber they used to shore up the mines have arsenic in them so when a truck comes up carrying any of it , it is sorted and put in a pile but they are unable to burn it so they are still trying to work out what to do with the stockpile!

Although we had to wait to do these tours, it was well worth it and the last thing we did before leaving Kalgoorlie-Boulder was to go and see the Super Pit at night. It was spectacular. The mine runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and if you want to work there you have to live in the town, they do not allow for fly-in, fly-out staff like most of the other mines.

After our extended stay we then headed off along the Nullabor. The drive was different to what I expected and we had hills and quite dense forests to drive through. Then after Balladonia the vegetation began to change more, becoming less tress and more shrubs to eventually being grass with a few scrubs before changing back to more shrubs. There are more trees than I thought but then again someone who came through many years ago would have a different story.  Not long after Balladonia we came across the longest section of straight road “90 mile” and although it is straight it definitely is not flat!

After Caiguna the vegetation changed to be more grass and less trees, we even went over a grid! We have seen some fences indicating that there are stations nearby. Just before arriving at Madura we went through the Madura Pass. We were driving along when we saw a sign for the Lookout and came around the corner to find we had to descend the Pass and we were looking over the Plains!

The next day we were heading along the next part of the Nullabor when we began hearing a funny noise from the car. As a result we booked it in at Ceduna to get some repairs done, this was done as we reached roadhouses with phones and amongst our sightseeing for the day.

At Eucla we were able to see the Old Telegraph Station ruins which have been uncovered and we were able to see quite a lot. Our next stop was the WA/SA Border (where we lost 2 ½ hours due to daylight saving!) – it’s hard to believe we have been in WA for 3 months! There is definitely still so much more to see.  We then drove along the Bunda Cliff and then called into the Head of Bight to see the spectacular cliffs but unfortunately we were about 2 weeks late for the whales – oh well next time.

We were heading for Penong and decided to continue on to Ceduna so rang the Big 4 and arranged a really late check in. Our experience getting through Quarantine on the NT/WA border was still in our minds so we got everything in a box and expected a long process but once we handed over the box they let us keep going. It was great, maybe the fact that it was 8.30pm at night helped! We then spent a day in Ceduna waiting for the car to be repaired and it just so happened to be another hot day, but at least it is a dry heat so seemed a bit more bearable.

Late in the afternoon we found out the car would not be ready till tomorrow. Then that night the cool change came through and we were hit with a lot of dust and broke the hatch off our roof.  We could actually hear the wind coming but did not have enough time to get everything away. It was an experience to have to wind the van down to do some repairs before we could head off to bed. At least we can’t say our trip has been boring! We hope to get the car tomorrow and head along the Yorke Peninsula.

Next week we travel to Port Lincoln and then to the Flinders Ranges

Till Next Time

The Ross’