Yallabatharra to Pink Lake to Kalbarri WA

Sunday 29th April 2018
Well off we go on another day of sightseeing. Will we reach our destination today, only time will tell. We have many points of interest to see on our way from the homestead to Kalbarri.

As we head out from the station we stop at the Lynton Heritage site which is located on the property. The Lynton Convict Hiring Depot (1853–1857) was the first convict depot north of Fremantle. It was established on 22 May 1853 with the arrival of 60 ticket-of-leave convicts and Pensioner Guards (retired British soldiers). It was established to supply labour to the Geraldine Lead Mine and to local settlers. By 1856 a store, bakery, depot, lockup, hospital, lime kiln and administration block had all been built but a lack of fresh vegetables had seen the convict population ravaged by scurvy. It was decided to close the settlement in 1857. Lynton remains the most intact example of a regional convict depot in Western Australia.

Then on to the Pink Lake in Gregory. It was very much pink on this side of the lake as opposed to last night on the other side where there was much less water. The lake has a pink hue created by presence of carotenoid-producing algae Dunaliella salina, a source of ß-carotene, a food-colouring agent and source of vitamin A. Depending on the time of day, the time of year and the amount of cloud cover, the lake changes through the spectrum of red to bubble-gum pink to a lilac purple.

From here we headed on to some lookout points along the way to Kalbarri. They wereGrandstand, Island Rock, Natural Bridge (we did a little walk between Island Rock and Natural Bridge and back), Eagle Gorge Lookout, Pot Alley, Red Bluff and finally Chinaman’s Beach for lunch. We met a couple of young German tourists with whom we exchanged travel stories and tips for each of our holidays. They were interested in how to gauge if it is safe to swim in the surf ie. how do you know if there is a shark? Anyway DB gave his usual story that it is safer in the ocean than driving a car.

Next we went and checked in to our home for the night on Murchison House Station. Another farm subsidising their income with campers. These have been our favourite sites so far as they are friendly, more rustic and peaceful than the caravan parks. Yet again, Murchison House does not disappoint. We are camped by the river which was quite lovely for an afternoon dip and refresh. After our swim, we ducked out to Kalbarri National Park and did a quick walk to Z Bend lookout where we saw a couple of gorges. Unfortunately the light was getting a little low so was half in shadow.

Next we did our usual and chased the sunset. We headed back in to Kalbarri and went to Red Bluff lookout where we got to see the sun set and the moon rise in spectacular glory. A fitting end to a great day. Slipping back in to old habits we arrived back at the campsite in the dark to cook dinner. Oh well, we are trying. At least we were checked in and knew where our site was as it would have been very difficult to choose where to stay in the dark.

Well we have had another full day, enjoyable but very busy.