Froggles Travels: Carnarvon 05.08.2016

We left Bullara Station Stay feeling very excited that we were crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, which meant we were leaving the “Outback” and all its red dirt for good, so we hit the road ready for our 284 km drive. We were also aware that the further south we went we would see all the wild flowers that would all be flowering at this time of the year.

I must say I was rather disappointed because the sign saying we were crossing over the Tropic of Capricorn happened so fast I could not get a photo, however as we crossed the line the scenery definitely changed became more tropical and as we drove closer to Carnarvon we suddenly started seeing these beautiful farm lands of corn and bananas.

The next day after arriving into Carnarvon we went to see the Carnarvon Blowholes and Point Quobba and have to say that we were in absolute awe as we watched the blowholes. We have downloaded information on this.

Located just 75 kilometres north of Carnarvon along a bitumen road, this natural phenomenon is an awe inspiring sight to see. Powerful ocean swells force water through sea caves and up out of narrow holes in the rocks, jets of water erupt into the air, sometimes to a height of 20 metres, creating a spectacular sight.

Just one kilometre south of the Blowholes is Point Quobba, a calm coral filled lagoon with fish and shells in abundance. With a white sandy beach this area is ideal for snorkeling, safe swimming, sun bathing and a great family picnic spot much favoured by locals.

Although the coast is serene it can be deadly, with a dangerous swell that can turn into king waves, capable of crashing over the top of the rock ledge. This coastline needs to be treated with caution and care - lives have been lost by unsuspecting souls here.

Here are some photos of the amazing place.

The photo below shows the coast line near the blowholes.

However the weather was fairly calm on this occasion.

Photos below are looking at the blow holes from the opposite side of the blow holes.

One thing that is apparent is how treacherous this coast line is, however the Indian Ocean is just beautiful with the rolling white waves and the turquoise blue coming through the waves, absolutely stunning.

After spending quite a long time here admiring this natural phenomenon, we drove further up the coast line to Point Quobba to see the camping site on this beautiful coast line, taking note that you definitely need 4WD to access some of these sites.

We then drove up the coast line and once again the rock formations are right on the coast line hence lending itself to being extremely treacherous. See the photos below

The next day was a slow day with grocery shopping and washing having to be done, once those chores were completed, we continued to do our site seeing so we drove around Carnarvon to see what it had to offer.

Information on Carnarvons One Mile Jetty

As the pastoral industry developed in Carnarvon in the late 1800s the local population pressured the government of the day to develop a port for the town. By 1897 the jetty had been built and wool and livestock produced in the region began to be exported to Fremantle and essential goods for the town imported using state shipping.

In 1904 the head of the jetty was added and in 1912 the jetty head was widened because of increasing traffic including passengers. Carnarvon was the first port in the world which loaded live stock on board ships for transport to markets. The One Mile Jetty once boasted an animal race the length of the jetty along which the sheep were driven from holding yards not far from where the jetty kiosk is located today.

The jetty transport system and diesel locos on the tramway ceased in 1966 when state ships stopped calling. Surprisingly the jetty is still in good condition, though the 'sea sections' and 'head' are starting to deteriorate. Since 1998 the jetty has been under restoration and you can sometimes see the maintenance train chugging along the line.

The One Mile Jetty is now a popular fishing spot for the locals who catch Mulloway, Tailor and Bream all year round. You can walk the full length of the jetty or you can take a ride on the "Coffee Pot" train all the way to the end. One of the best times to take a stroll along this icon is when the sun is about to set. If you get down low you can see the train lines slightly warped.

Starting point of One Mile Jetty

The top of the jetty

The Coffee Pot miniature train.

The photo below of Brandy exhausted after the days outing.

The following day we went into town and then off to the Carnarvon space and technology museum, the photos below are of the little town of Carnarvon.

The Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum highlights the role Carnarvon played in the manned space program and in the Australian communications industry. The museum focuses on two parts. The Carnarvon Tracking Station and the OTC Satellite Earth Station, for which each station played separate roles in the early space industry.

The Carnarvon Tracking Station was located 10 kilometres south from Carnarvon. It was built to support NASA’s Gemini, Apollo and Skylab programs. It was commissioned in 1964 and operated for 11 year. It was the last station to communicate with the space capsules leaving the earth’s orbit, and the last to make contact before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

Equipment used when Carnarvon assisted NASA in tracking their space crafts.

See information below on this picture.

The following day we drove out to Rocky Pool on the Gascoyne River.

After our drive out to Rocky Pool we decided to go back to the blow holes, this time the sea was very windy and rough and this time the blow holes were even more spectacular.