Our small convoy packs and hits the road not too early this morning….it’s bloody cold! Once snuggly in the Landcruiser we continue a short distance east towards Burnie, taking a south turn before Burnie at Camdale, a secondary road which meanders southward. Heading south now through Ridgley and past the Pet Reservoir. We follow Gary on a leisurely, winding and hilly drive of about 60klm to Waratah.
Waratah began life as a mining town, tin being the commodity. Infact this was the richest tin mine in the Southern Hemisphere, but today life is somewhat genteel compared to those rough and tough days. The town hardly seems to have a centre, it seems spread irregularly along the main road that skirts a deep valley, headed by the Waratah Falls (above). We’re in town on a Sunday morning, about 10am and really there is hardly a person in sight. Sadly the museum is closed as are all the shops, both of them. Don’t get us wrong it is a truly interesting town and we should have stayed here for a night at least so we could explore the Philosophers Falls and Hellyer Gorge.
We’re now 50klm from Tullah, the road is excellent as it winds, climbs and falls through some picturesque country, it feels like a roller-coaster. Tullah caught our imagination as it sits on a narrow stretch of land surrounded by multiple lakes and reservoirs. Didn’t quite turn out that way. First we made our way to the Tullah Lakeside Lodge, apparently the only resort and camping place in town. Upon enquiring about camping we were told that the caravan park is under major renovation, but there is a camp area about a kilometre away, this turns out to be a gravel quarry with not grass or shade. We return to the Lodge for lunch to consider our bleak options.
Post lunch we explore the area south of town near a bridge over the Murchinson Dam, here there are some recommended campsites on a peninsula overlooking the dam and bridge. We drive a few hundred metres along a gravel track and park in a muddy opening where we think we can turn our 4WD’s and caravans around, and set out on foot to explore the camps. There is no way we can camp here, and it becomes a task to get our rigs back onto the main road.
Back near town we find boat ramp and picnic area with some grass and decide to camp here, not pretty but the best we can find. After setting camp the four of us go wood collecting for a nice big fire to sit around this evening. Gary drags a metal fire pit out of his ute and we are soon, wine in hand, around the fire….it’s damn cold!
Australia. Dust, Fire, Flood & Pandemic 