Day 114 - 150km north of Carnarvon

On a beautiful sunny day we headed north from Carnarvon to see what the coast was like. Before we reached the coast we passed by the southern end of Lake McLeod, a dry salt lake which must be at least 100km long and 30km wide.  Dampier Salt mines salt from the lake and takes it a few kilometres to a purpose built jetty, from which the salt is exported.

290714 A wreck on the edge of Lake McLeod - wouldn't normally park there

Our first stopping point was the Quobba Blowholes at Point Quobba.  There was an offshore wind blowing and the tide was full.  This did not stop the water blowing through the holes up to 20m into the air.  On our return the wind had turned to on shore and if anything, the blows were better.  The waves crashing into the low cliffs were a sight in their own right.  

290714 The Blowholes from the Point Quobba

290714 The Blowholes up close

290714 The rock shelf - source of the holes

290714 Looking south from the Blowholes

290714 The Blowholes later in the day

290714 Later in the day, the blowholes with an offshore wind

Next port of call was a memorial to the HMAS Sydney, which was sunk in 1941 80km offshore by the German cruiser HSK Kormoran, with all 645 lives lost. 

290714 The HMAS Sydney Memorial

290714 Station identification

We saw many views of waves crashing into cliffs as we progressed further northwards.  We stopped at the site of the wreck of the Korean Star, a ship which foundered on the cliffs 30 years ago.  The cliffs were about 60m high and nearby we could see Dampier Salt's loading jetty.  We did see a couple of whales off the point at this spot.  The water was crystal clear when viewed from the cliff-top.

290714 Looking north from Point Quobba

290714 Cliffs and waves further north

290714 Site of the Korean Star wreck with Dampier Salt's jetty in the distance

Another 60 km north and we were at Red Bluff.  This is a popular camping and surfing spot.  There was a great point surf, which was working well with what had become a SW offshore wind.  Camping is spartan and the facilities are minimal.  There was a lovely white sandy beach and because there was no offshore reef, the waves were sizeable and "dumping".  Rock fishing would be the order of the day for enthusiasts at many places along this rough and dangerous coast. 

290714 Red Bluff

290714 The point surf at Red Bluff

290714 Looking north from the beach at Red Bluff

We did see a number of wild goats which seemed to live in harmony with the sheep that were there too.

290714 Wild goats - very healthy

Unfortunately the gravel road deteriorated as we went further north, which took a bit of the gloss off what was otherwise a very interesting day.

We passed over the Gascoyne River on the way home.  It is a large river with little permanent water in it.