Week 38: York WA - Fremantle WA

 Stats Overview

Kms Travelled: 1163

Kms Hiked: 8

No. of Camps: 5

The Adventures

We have had a fun week exploring WA's Wheatbelt, although the weather is driving us a bit crazy! We have had days with temps in the mid 30's and then days where the maximums didn't even hit 20. And, for the first time since Alice Springs, we have also had to crack out the diesel heater which we weren't entirely sure was still in working order. Fortunately, it still works fine so we haven't succumbed to frostbite...yet anyway! (Mum says we have gotten soften but I'm not quite sure what she is talking about!)

Our main drawcard to visit the Wheatbelt was to head out and visit the small town of Kulin. The community of Kulin have developed a pretty novel way of attracting tourists to their town through the development of the "Tin Horse Highway". It started as a fun way to attract people to their annual races with local farmers making horses out of junk they had lying around on their properties. The horses quickly attracted a lot of attention with 15kms of road out of town being renamed the "Tin Horse Highway" for tourists to visit. It was definitely one of the most entertaining, and slowest, drives we have done to date as we had to stop every 200m to get photos. Since the inception of the tin horses,  tickets to the Kulin Races are hot property, with the town being able to inject over $1 million back into the community. It was actually really nice to see a vibrant and thriving small town in the regions, as a lot of small towns we have seen on our travels have almost become ghost towns.

While we were in the area we also went out and visited "Wave Rock", which is a large granite rock which has been eroded to make it appear like a wave. Being the tourists we are, we had to have a go at surfing the rock as well, which was not easy as it is very steep and slippery! There are a number of large granite formations in the area with the biggest one called "The Humps" (they were very creative in naming the rocks). We had a fun climb to the top of it and were rewarded with beautiful views over the wheat fields. Although the wind was crazy when we got to the top so we didn't stay for long!

We then turned around and headed towards Perth and the big smoke. We spent a day exploring the Swan Velley region, sampling some of their local produce, which made for a pretty tough day of adventuring. We are starting to realise that the money we are saving in fuel is going to be quickly spent while we are in the "foodie capital" of WA! But when in Rome right? Our plan is to spend the next few days exploring in and around Perth before we continue our journey south.

Kodak Moments

This image perfectly captures our differing attitudes to suspension bridges...which Will continually insisted we had to cross even though there was a perfectly functional concrete bridge 200m away! - York

There are a number of artworks like this one in the area, all made from farm junk. When you look closely you can see plough discs, pliers, sheers, chains etc - Quairading

A cemetery for man's best friend. - Corrigin

We found some remnants of the Rabbit Proof Fence. This is actually a trap that was built to help catch and control the rabbits. - Wamenusking

A nice water hole in the granite with the "Wheatbelt" wheat in the background. - Kulin

The "Whoppa". The neck is made out of two 44 gallon drums to give you an idea of just how big this horse is! - Kulin

They made a replica of the giant waterslide they built in town...complete with horses having some fun! - Tin Horse Highway

The horses are even musical! - Tin Horse Highway

Nothing says Australia like artwork featuring a dunny! (He is reading "Playhorse Magazine" if you can't read the title). - Tin Horse Highway

The horses have even taken to the skies! - Tin Horse Highway

Don't know if this fella will be getting back on the horse any time soon... - Tin Horse Highway

Broke up our exploration of granite by visiting some interesting formations caused by erosion - Buckley's Breakaway

Will trying to surf the wave! - Wave Rock (Hyden)

It was a pretty steep climb to the top, but the view over the paddocks was worth it! - The Humps

Even though the conditions aren't always favourable, we have had some amazing kitchen views during our travels! - Baandee Lake

We braced the cold and explored the Swan Valley region - Bells Rapids