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Wokalup Circuit

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The Wokalup Circuit is always a great Day Trip. This outing occurred on Saturday, 15 May 2023.

After meeting at Pinjarra we headed south towards Wokalup and then turned east toward the Darling Scarp.

Our Road Trip consisted of:

Gilbert Karel (Trip Manager) – Toyota Prado
Warren Peers – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
Greg Mazengarb – Landrover Discovery
Duane Buckenara – Nissan Patrol
Peter Walpole – Landrover Discovery

The initial 10 kilometre stretch of the track was relatively easy, providing a smooth start to the Trip with no significant challenges.

However, with the inclination of track so too did the difficulties increase – all emanating from the overnight rain. The track became slippery, posing challenges for all vehicles. One particular hill climb had a choice of two routes – one considerably more difficult than the other. I decided to tackle the harder line. About 80% of the way to the top the slippery mud brought me to a standstill. Winch time!

Duane defied our expectations and drove his Patrol to the top without too many issues – what became the standout accomplishment of the day. Other members of the group attempted the hill climb but ultimately opted for the easier track to reach the top. This challenging hill climb was only the beginning – marking the commencement of the more demanding sections of the Circuit with ruts, rises and rough sections that tested skills and vehicles.

Time for lunch – after which we briefly lost our way but managed to find the correct track after some searching. The hills and track continued to provide us with excitement and challenges throughout the remainder of the day, leading up to the major hill climb at the power lines.

Although some of us had tackled this hill on previous trips, we found it even more rutted and slippery than expected. We made the decision to leave this challenge for our next visit and called it a day.

Once again, the Wokalup Circuit did not disappoint. It proved to be an exhilarating trip, throwing up many challenges that tested our vehicles and our four wheel driving skills. Wokalup is a beautiful area and, combined with the challenging tracks, it’s an excellent choice for a top quality Day Trip.

 

 

© 2023 Gilbert Karel and Kim Epton
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Ninghan Station

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Ninghan Station Outback Experience

July 2021

It is time to head north to finish the school holidays.

For all the Outback Truckers fans, a haulpack heading north was a welcomed disruption.

With its very out of place architecture, particularly for Western Australia’s Wheatbelt, New Norcia in the Wheatbelt is always a great stop.

We made a stop for lunch at the delightful Jenny’s Kitchen in Dalwallinu. Next up was a visit to Wimmera Farm to see The Windmill Shed. On the outskirts of Dally, Jim Sawyer, the font of all knowledge when it comes to windmills, was there to show us his two sheds of windmills. What a character! What a collection!

Leaving Dallwallinu we travelled to Wubin and, just north of this important transport hub, turned into our campsite for the night at Wubin Rocks. Of course, there was the obligatory Cockburn 4WD Club style campfire.

An early start saw us head north for the final hour to arrive at Ninghan Station. After meeting the owners, Don and Ashley Bell and seeing their prized gold collection, we dropped the camper trailers and headed up the mountain track to the peak of Mount Singleton.

The views were spectacular. It was one of the highlights of the Trip.

In times past the Ninghan area was as a meeting place for the Badimaya, Nyoongar, Yamatji and Wongi/Wongai peoples to trade ochre, and gum from grasstrees.

Much rain had fallen in the weeks prior to our visit (Cyclone Seroja was just one event), so the ground was well watered – deceptively soft in places.

The station is scattered with spectacular granite rock formations, with rock pools and wild flowers to decorate.

Camping locations on the station, no matter what site is chosen, are amazing. We chose to camp at The Breakaways. For those who arose very early, the sunrise was something else!

On Sunday morning we climbed Warrdagga Rock a huge granite dome that rises about two hundred metres above sea level. It is steeped in local history and is of extreme significance to the local indigenous people, known as a ‘birthing’ place.

Travelling past Karrawan Well (local name), we stopped at another amazing rock formation, near the soak. We decided this was a very fitting place to have a lineup of vehicles and to celebrate Graham Salter’s birthday!

As Sunday wore on it was time to head home with some members of the group heading south on the Great Northern Highway to Cockburn and others taking a longer route via Paynes Find.

After viewing the local museum the trip home for this cohort was along the eastern side of Ninghan Station.

 

 

 

© Andrew and Joanne Newhouse and Cockburn 4WD Club 2021-22
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Waroona Dam

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Day Trip to Waroona Dam, 80 kilometres south of Cockburn, on Sunday 2 May 2021.

Hynek Bouska, Stuart Clifton-James, Mark Gray Jenny Jaksic, Warren Peers, Glenda Jones, Lance Martin and Trip Leader Elvis Mestric, did a circuit of the Dam, finding fun places along the way to try out their 4WDs.

On to the next challenge.

And so ended a successful day at Waroona Dam.

 

Mt Jackson Gold Prospecting

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Mt Jackson goldfields is in the Yilgarn, 70 kilometres north-north-west of Koolyanobbing and adjacent to the Mount Manning Range Nature Reserve.

Gold was discovered in 1894 and a few small mines were developed shortly after.

The reefs were small, some rich, all at a shallow depth. A lack of water and battery facilities hampered development, and no mine was large enough to warrant the investment to resolve the issues. Little of the ore raised was actually crushed, and gold obtained. The goldfield slowly died. It revived briefly during the Bullfinch speculation bubble in 1910-1911, but after that it reverted to a prospecting area. More information.

The Club’s Road Trip in July 2020 covered a lot of territory. No gold was found but plenty of places were visited, sights seen, adventures experienced, and good company enjoyed.