Tuesday, November 26, 2013

D'Entrecasteaux National Park, Western Australia

My 4wd club was off to the D'Entrecasteaux National Park for the first week of the school holidays from 28th Sept to 4th Oct. The Pajero towing a camper and I started off from Kal before the Paj had problems with its 4wd just 40mins out of Kal and had to turn back to get it checked out with no guarantee that it would come on the trip. As 2 other vehicles were meeting us at the campground I had to push on and keep going. Before I headed into Norseman, the Paj said they were still coming on the trip! Problem not completely fixed but good enough. Nap, lunch and fuel at Norseman while waiting for them.

After Salmon Gums we took Rolland Rd, a dirt road and short cut to Albany. Stopped at Ravensthorpe for fuel. It has to be the best road I've been on for a long time. So much better than the Great Eastern Highway. As we were 3hrs behind schedule, it was late when we got into Albany so we camped at Kalgan River Chalets. Rain made the whole week interesting.

The Kalgan River Chalet overlooked the Oyster Harbour Bay. If it was sunny and not raining it would be a beautiful scene to wake up to.

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We met up with the Jackaroo and NT Paj at camp. Shannon campground is fantastic for a week or more stay. It has flush toilets, hot showers and other amenities. Water is not suitable for drinking and there is ample firewood.

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Since it had been raining there was bound to be lots of debris on the roads and the tracks and water filled potholes.

We already knew ahead of time that Summertime Track, Fisherman Track to Broke Inlet were closed for the season and Moore's Track closed due to flooding. First stop Monday was a trip to the Northcliffe visitor centre to get the latest on the tracks. Then off to Windy Harbour and the beach. We went on the beach but the lead Paj wasn't keen to go any further as the sand was getting softer as we went along. We didn't take risks on this trip even though we were in a convoy. I haven't had any problems on the sand at this point with tyres down to 20psi but when turning around to get out, I got stuck where the Jackaroo and NT Paj (who were behind me) made the 3 point turn. Lowered tyre pressure down to 14 psi and didn't have any problems making my way out. Could have used the Max Trax but nah.......

We then took the Fisherman Track to the Gardner River which was flooded and wanted to see how far we could go before we had to turn around. Since the river was flooded and we didn't know how far or how deep the water was, we decided not to proceed. None of the vehicles had snorkels. A couple vehicles did cross while we are assessing but again the distance was the issue. The hut on the way was flooded too and we were recommended by the visitors centre not to cross.

Gardner River
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There were steep dunes if we kept going on Fisherman's Track but the Paj did a quick reccy and said sand was very soft and were telltale signs of people getting bogged in the same spot. With that we turned around, did a couple of dirt tracks and took the back track back to camp instead of using the highway and it was an interesting drive with debris and shadows over the tracks.

Since my tablet is with my sister in Perth, I'm trying to remember where we went.

Day 2 was raining so we just took the Karri scenic drive and just did the tourist thing around Pemberton stopping at Cascade Falls, Big Brook Dam and the Karri tree among other stops.

Karri tree, Big Brook Dam, Cascade Falls and Big Tree Grove
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Camp fire time! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR



On Wednesday, one of the kids was sick so it was off to the hospital in Manjimup for the parents but for the rest of us, it was a supply run and to get something for the cold nights! After the hospital trip, we proceed to Broke Inlet and Gladstone Falls. Gladstone Falls is only accessible by 4wd. It was a magnificent view! We were trying to get to Gladstone Falls by cross Deep River. Forget it with the fast currents and deep water. Took the other way around instead. Since I haven't replaced my bash plate from the Holland Track, the plastic plate was fitted as a temporary measure but I knew it wasn't going to last long and it came off somewhere on the way out of Gladstone Falls.

Next stop was Fernhook Falls then to some old logging tracks which were overgrown with fallen trees and branches. It took us a while to get out as we had to make a few u-turns. We thought we were just about to make it, there was a big tree across the track. At one point, we were about 50m from the track to get out but nooooooo.....

Access to Broke Inlet. Meant to be a 2wd track but not with the fallen trees that we had to go around. Not sure if this track is going to be cleared any time soon.


Broke Inlet
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Deep River crossing
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Gladstone Falls and Fernhook Falls
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Logging track


My first camp fire. It wasn't a bad effect since the wood was still damp.
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Thursday was on to Lake Jasper and Black Point. This was the furthest drive from camp so we took our time and enjoyed the ride starting with a herd of cows taking over the road.

A herd of cows taking over the road. Moooooooooooooooooo

We took one of the many sandy tracks to Lake Jasper. It was a bit soft and the ruts were deep in some places but it was problem for us even though we didn't reduce our tyre pressure and the Jackaroo didn't lock hubs. Bossy was in 4x4 lock most times to compensate for not reducing tyre pressure. Trying something different.



Lake Jasper
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Before we departed Lake Jasper for Black Point/Stepping Stones, we reduced our tyre pressures. Good thing too since there were some very soft sand to get around the bends.

To Black Point


The view
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I was stuffing around with the new camera settings and this seagull presented the perfect opportunity
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Since it would take us a while to travel back to camp, we called it a day using another track to get back on the bitumen and for me to start the fire using the gas stove and a branch. Was too lazy to get the lighter from the others. Best fire of the trip emoticon

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Friday was pack up day (in the rain!) and then to Perth for the rest of the hols. When I got back to Kal my 4wd Action mag was sitting in my mailbox with Graham doing a trip to the
D'Entrecasteaux National Park starting from the Augusta end but took different tracks. This is a very big national park and there is no way you can explore the whole national park in a week. Have to go back another day to explore the rest of the tracks and try the dunes.

Found out on this trip, the bullbar have 1 other use other than protecting the front end from animal strikes. Use #2: push branches out of the way. Use #3: flatten the top of a soft mound to get over it. This was discovered on Sunday's trip out bush near town. emoticon

Dodging potholes and debris


Some easy challenges around the NP 


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