MT. AUGUSTUS … the biggest rock in the World!

The 350 km from Meekatharra to Mt. Augustus was over harsh rangeland topography. Mostly it was a reasonably good road, but the section between the boundaries of the two Shires was no-man’s land, and obviously neither wanting to spend the money it requires for up-grade. We were glad we left the caravan back near Meeka.

This is part of the Western Desert. It’s dry, stony, dusty. But they graze cattle here. Their pads are along the side of the road as they walk back and forward each day for a drink. In New Zealand we grazed 1 cattle beast to the acre; I’d love to know how many acres to the beast it is here.

After we passed several station complexes [nothing at all like Fossil Downs] and some mining sites, suddenly we got our first glimpse of Mt. Augustus. It’s massive. Also majestic, and a bit mysterious. One shouldn’t compare one place with another, but we loved the atmosphere at Mt. Augustus. Was it because of the absence of hordes of tourists? Everyone who was there had traveled this route with one purpose in mind … to see, walk on, or climb Mt. Augustus.

The Tourist Park was great, with lovely green grass to camp on, amongst the red-brown sand and giant gibbers. Yallawerie Lookout, not far from the station homestead, gave a great 360º view of the surrounding landscape.

We arose before sunrise, so that we could see the sun light up the eastern side of the rock. During the day, as the light changed so did the colours on the rock. As we drove around, we photographed the different angles. Cattle Pool, a permanent water-hole in the Lyons River was a popular picnic destination.

We walked up the Saddle Track to The Pound, where cattle were held in the droving days before heading down to the rail-head at Meekatharra. We enjoyed the lower short walks. But we jibbed on the walk to the summit; rising 650 metres in 6 kms is not our idea of a walk in the park these days.

It was a great sojourn. But I ask myself: Is that the last three nights I spend in our tent?