STREAKY BAY - POPULATION: 1,059

THURSDAY 13.2.2014: Detoured to Streaky Bay - loved the name and the place! Streaky Bay is a coastal town on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula, just off the Flinders Highway 303 km north west of Port Lincoln and 727 km by road from Adelaide. The town of Streaky Bay is the centre of an agricultural district farming cereal crops and sheep, as well as having established fishing and tourism industries.

The first European to sight the area was Dutch explorer Pieter Nuyts, in 1627 in the Golden Zeepaard. In 1802 Matthew Flinders named Streaky Bay whilst on his voyage in the Investigator. In his log of 5 February 1802, he describes: "And the water was much discoloured in Streaks... and I called it Streaky Bay" It is now known thought these streaks are caused by the release of oils by certain species of seaweed in the bay.

Puddles had a play, then the humans lunched at the Streaky Bay Hotel.

B-I-G CROSS

CEDUNA (SA) - POPULATION: 2,289

WED 12.2.2014: Following yesterday's heat we woke with great apathy to the prospect of yet another two golf holes today! Nundroo Wombat Hole Par 5 520m was to be our first, but alas had to be cancelled due to an electrical storm and torrential rain. It has to be recorded that Sybil was prepared to play regardless of the elements, but Carole was a little reticent to venture forth with the iron given the lightening. Whilst we bemoaned missing out on playing the hole, both "athletes" welcomed the outcome. Drove out of the storm and to our final golf hole.

 GOLF REPORT: DAY 7 - Penong Windmills Par 4 260m (Carole 4 - Sybil 4).

NULLARBOR GOLF OUTCOMES:

Carole 4 Sybil 4. 

Dummy Spits: Carole 2 Sybil 1.

Golf Balls: Lost 0 Found 12.

Time spent searching for golf balls outweighed playing time.

Ball tracking skills have improved.

The course can be played only using a putter.

Competitive traits do not diminish with age, regardless of competency levels.

Confirmation that neither player will be taking up golf at a later date.

A must for people travelling the Nullarbor. Take your own clubs, balls, tees and if only playing holes NOT attached to golf courses, the Rifle Range and Fraser Station, the playing fee of $70.00 per person is not required.

 

 

 

 

 

Consumed the last of our rations for lunch and headed for the SA Border check. Next stop was Ceduna and the A1 Caravan Park - only $18.00 per night because "there is a trench at the back of the park." Found the trench and would have to say that the park's name was hardly reflective of its condition! 



 

The name Ceduna is a corruption of the local Aboriginal word Chedoona and is said to mean a place to sit down and rest. Proclaimed in 1901, the town has played an important but minor role in Australia's overall development due to it being a fishing port and a railway hub.

STILL ON THE NULLARBOR!

B-I-G NULLARBOR ROADHOUSE WHALE

TUESDAY 11.2.2014: First stop was at the Nullarbor Road House where we filled up with petrol at $2.11 a litre - winner! Again, had been warned that petrol on the Nullarbor would be expensive, but this was just a little excessive!

GOLF REPORT: DAY 6 - Nullarbor Dingo's Den Par 5 538m: (Carole 3 - Sybil 4). Had to walk the entire hole to reach the tee and must say the Leylands were fatigued before they began - the h-e-a-t! Could not even drink the water we carted all over the course as it had boiled. Today, the heat was the winner!

Called into Head of the Bight, a premier whale watching area where the white sand dunes and beaches meet the Bunda Cliffs of the Nullarbor. Whale watching season is from May 1 - October 31. Had planned to stay at a free camp, but it was way too hot so spent the evening at Nundroo Road House ($20.00) - did not leave the air conditioning of the motorhome! 

HEAD OF THE BIGHT

THE NULLARBOR - SA SECTION

MONDAY 10.2.2014: Sightseeing on the Nullarbor - who would have thought it! The Great Australian Bight Marine Park currently has an amalgamated native title claim over the region that combines the Mirning, Wirangu and Yalata people’s claim.

THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT

T-H-E NULLARBOR

Nullarbor National Park earned its name from nullus arbor - Latin for 'no tree'. Nullarbor's dry plain is covered with small, hardy bluebush and saltbush shrubs. The shrubs thrive in arid conditions by drawing moisture from the atmosphere through their leaves and absorb the equivalent of their weight each day.

FLOWERS ON THE NULLARBOR!

NULLARBOR BUNDA CLIFFS

Nullarbor Bunda Cliffs - the plain drops 90 metres into the pounding Southern Ocean. The Bunda Cliffs stretch in an unbroken natural rampart for over 200km from Twin Rocks, Head of Bight to the Merdayerrah Sandpatch.

 

 

 

Stayed at Peg Rest Area 164km east of Border Village.

THE NULLARBOR

SATURDAY 8 – SUNDAY 9.2.2014: GOLF REPORT: DAYS 4 & 5 – Mundrabilla – Watering Hole Par 4 330m: (Carole 3 – Sybil 2).

Border Kangaroo – Par 3 160m: (Carole 3 – Sybil 3).

ROOEY 11 STATUE
WA/SA BORDER VILLAGE

DROVE FOUR DAYS HAVE TO REST FOR TWO! Checked out the Eucla Motor Hotel and yes it was very well laid out. Onward to the WA/SA Border Village – checked in, paid for two nights. “Where is your dump point located?” “Not working and given our location it will be a while before it is fixed.” Have to say the accommodation was worlds apart from the Eucla facility. Settled into our outback retreat – showered and shaved, but only one leg per day as it was a timed $2.00 shower. Sojourned to the Border Village Bar and had a flutter on the pokies (long time between pokies in WA). 

THE NULLARBOR

FRIDAY 7.2.2014: When travelling the Nullarbor we had been advised that the Eucla Motor Hotel/Caravan Park was the preferred stay. Carole rang the Eucla and WA/SA Border Village – both were $25.00, but the second stay advised that they had a dump point, winner!

Episode 2 – The Border Saga: Having realised that we had overstocked on food we had fast tracked our eating in order to minimise waste – salads, salads, salads! When speaking to the WA/SA Border Village about accommodation Carole also enquired about quarantine restrictions. “Which way are you travelling?” “East.” “Oh, no problem, you don’t pass through quarantine till you reach Ceduna, only those heading west have their checks done here.” Great, Ceduna in our estimation is another 3 days away which in practical terms equates to us having consumed too many rations – eating out tonight!

GOLF REPORT:  DAY 3 - Madura – Brumby’s Run Par 3 125m: (Carole 3 – Sybil 1).

Today was the day that our six month old computer turned itself off and has not surfaced since – so many options for repair on the Nullarbor! Spent the evening at Jilah Rockhole 10km west of Mundrabilla.

THE NULLARBOR

CAIGUNA BLOWHOLE

THURSDAY 6.2.2014: First stop was at the Caiguna Blowhole. Blowholes on the Nullarbor have been formed by weathering through to underground cavities. The Caiguna cave has clearance heights of about 0.5 - 1.5m. All caves breathe to some extent and air movement at one cave entrance on the Nullarbor has been measured at 72km/hr. There are 20 or so caves on the Nullarbor and it is the driest karst (limestone), area in the world. Daytime temperatures can be high, with the average rainfall low. Sporadic heavy rain occurs about three times a year. As there was no water in the blowhole we ventured closer to examine the cavity - looked in and there lay a pit full of snakes. Not often do the Leylands move with speed, but it is arguable who beat whom back to the motorhome!

ARTIST'S IMPRESSION

GOLF REPORT: DAY 2 - B-I-G golf day - played 2 holes. Caiguna - 90 Mile Straight Par 4 310m: (Carole 2 - Sybil 0). It has to be said that you really do appreciate the enforced driving stops as it breaks up the Nullarbor stretch.

 

 

REALITY!

Cocklebiddy - Eagle's Nest Par 4 347m: (Carole 2 - Sybil 1). Stayed at Moonera Tank Rest Area 47 km west of Madura.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW GOLF SHOULD BE PLAYED!



T-H-E NULLARBOR!

WEDNESDAY 5.2.2014: Nullarbor Links – The World’s Longest Golf Course is a unique 18-hole par 72 golf course spanning 1,365km with one hole in each participating town or road house along the Eyre Highway from Kalgoorlie (WA) to Ceduna (SA). The Leylands ARE NOT golfers, but one could not miss out on this tourist attraction. At Coolgardie Seconds Shop $15.00 equipped us with 2 woods, 2 irons, golf balls, tees and a golf bag. Carole is right handed, Sybil left! Talked to the Kalgoorlie Caravan Park Manager about our plans and he kindly donated a left handed putter to the cause. It has to be stated from the outset that the Leylands are E-X-C-E-E-D-I-N-G-L-Y competitive and irrespective of the activity or skill competency neither party handles a loss well! Therefore, from the outset the disadvantages under which both competitors are playing must be recorded in print!

Carole – whilst having a selection of clubs for the approach, will have to putt left handed. Previous experience whilst as a Teacher some 40 years ago.

Sybil – will be playing the entire course with a putter. Previous experience – two games over 30 years ago.

All 18 holes are not being undertaken as some are attached to golf courses and it will depend on ease of access as to which are played – LET THE GAMES BEGIN! 



 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOLF REPORT: DAY 1 – Balladonia – Skylab Par 3 175m: (Carole 1 – Sybil 0). Seemed like a good idea at the time, but probably not the easiest course to tackle after such a long time between golf games!

SKYLAB DEBRIS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre Second World War Boiler transported from a Menzies (WA) mine site in 1962 to form part of the original Balladonia Roadhouse. The Nullarbor Roadhouses were built to cater for travellers attending the 1962 Empire Games in Perth.

FINALLY - A PHOTO WITH HUMANS,
SIGN & ALMOST THE ROAD!



Episode 1 – The Border Saga: Preparing for the Nullarbor crossing was akin to a military campaign – rations (petrol, water and alcohol), were secured and then a meal plan to cater for what had been determined would take us 8 days to complete the mission. Bought up big at Kalgoorlie, stocked everything as the Nullarbor Roadhouses are renowned for their overpricing. Another ‘Charlie and Boots’ moment – it will only take 4 days to reach the Western Australian/South Australian border and of course you cannot take any fruit or vegetables across the border! Forgot the Nullarbor is in both WA and SA - hmmmm! B-I-G drive 223km to the Baxter Rest Area 67km west of Caiguna. 

KAMBALDA - POPULATION: 2,705

MONDAY 3 - TUESDAY 4.2.2014: Drove into Kambalda and headed for the caravan park as it was only $20.00 per night – even more cost effective would have been the 24 hour free camp that was not advertised in the ‘Bible’. Fell across it later when shopping! Originally founded in 1897 as a gold mining town during the Goldrush frenzy, Kambalda was all but deserted by 1908. The township came alive again during the 1960’s nickel ‘boom’ which resulted in the discovery of one of the worlds’ largest nickel sulphide deposits in the area and the opening of Australia’s first nickel mine.  

 

Took a drive up to Lake Lefroy lookout – approximately 510 square km in area and located on the edge of Kambalda and Widgemooltha. The lake forms part of an ancient Paleo-drainage river system which dates back many millions of years. Salt lakes form when the water flowing into the lake containing salt or minerals, cannot leave because the lake is landlocked. The water evaporates leaving behind any dissolved salts and making an excellent place for a salt lake. On a windy day Landyachts can be seen sailing on Lake Lefroy.

YET ANOTHER SALT LAKE!





Spent Tuesday evening at Fraser Range Rest Area some 109 km out of Balladonia. Had some locals visit the camp!

KALGOORLIE-BOULDER

SUNDAY 2.2.2014: Began the day at Mount Charlotte Reservoir. In 1903 the pipeline water system which is the terminus of water piped from Mundaring Weir in Perth to the Goldfields was turned  on with a golden key. Provided an excellent view of Kalgoorlie.

Onward to the KCGM Super Pit Open Cut Lookout where you view the largest working gold mine in the Southern Hemisphere.







Hammond Park is a tranquil oasis with duck ponds, aviaries, animals, picnic areas and a mini Bavarian Castle with an estimated 40,000 gemstones - beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

BURG BREITENSTEIN (Castle Broadstone) - "The Barons of Breitenstein" built the castle and it became a brilliant old ancestral home. The most famous of them all was the "Knight Hermann of Breitenstein." The castle was first mentioned in history in the year 1171.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Visited Boulder and "The Little Boulder Sweet Shop" (n-i-c-e), plus enjoyed the architecture of the main street. Had lunch at the Recreation Hotel.