Thursday 16th May 2013 – Sandstone to Mt Augustus

On the way into Meekatharra we called into Barlangi Rock.  An interesting bubble on the flat landscape apparently caused by a meteorite.

Barlangi Rock

We didn’t find the Coles we were expecting in Meekatharra – only a Coles express at the service station where we filled up with fuel.  Got a few things there and then went back into town to the Foodworks which had a good range of fruit and veg.

Found out at the shire office that the road to Mt Augustus was closed because of roadworks.  This required a bit of a change of plans but fortunately there was another road not too far out of our way.  Initially this road (gravel) was in very good condition as it led to a talc mine.  Our lunch beside the road was shared with a perentie who thought the countryside belonged to him.

I'm sure he would have been happy to share our lunch!

Came to a grader driver working on the road who had no idea why we were told the road was closed and couldn’t see any reason why we should not cross back onto the original road to complete our journey.  Passed the Burringurrah Aboriginal community which looked fairly large with some new buildings.  Burringurrah is the aboriginal name for Mt Augustus so not too far to go now.

Mt Augustus

Camped the night in the Mt Augustus Outback Resort (Resort with a bit of tongue in cheek).  It was very basic but there were great hot showers and grass to camp on.  Met a couple of National Parks Volunteers, Neil and Julie (called Hosts) who take care of the various trails, clean the toilets etc.  At happy hour (5pm – we took our nibbles and drinks to the camp kitchen) they gave us quite a bit of information – Mt Augustus being the largest rock in the world.  The rock turned a lovely orange colour on sunset not unlike Uluru.  The main difference between the  two rocks is that Mt Augustus is vegetated (particularly on the southern side so is not quite as imposing as Uluru.  But it is big!!!

Sunset from the camping area