Mt Augustus info

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Hi all
(oh look, my 100th post....)

Im looking at a trip around next July School Holidays, and in early stages of planning. Havent worked out which way we will go into Mt Augustus, or which way we will leave, but we will either come in from Coral Bay, or will head to Coral Bay from Mt Augustus.
I know I can find info about Mt Augustus from glossy brochures and websites, however Im seeking any other Mt Augustus tips & tricks Pradopointers may be able to provide

By this I mean Do's & donts, Must see things, Camper Trailer suitability, Points of Interest to look out for (with kids), good or bad experiences you may have had, how long you allowed for the trip you were on, and was it enough? Where did you get your info for your trip planning?
I look at Oz Explorer and other similar websites. so I will be looking at these forums as well

Anything that may help us out.
The Prado is reasonably well equipped, as I have been adding some of Chippys mods to it as I go. We have an on-road camper which I dont know if I will take, have been North West plenty of times, planned trips, and have camped out bush etc, but havent been to Mt Augustus so any info appreciated.

[Rainman Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rainman]

Re: Seeking Mt Augustus info

We were up at Mount Augustus last in the 2007 July school holidays, second time we had been there. The first time we went up through Mullewa and the Murchison settlement, the second time we approached from the north through Pingandy and Dooley Downs.

The road north of Mt Augustus (through Pingandy/Dooley Downs) is pretty isolated and rough with lots of dips (and cattle), our off road camper handled it with ease, but with an onroader it might be questionable. The road through from Murchison is quite corrugated but I think if you took it easy you should be OK. Not sure about any other tracks in though. A good campsite if you headed through Murchison is Bilung Pool.



The treck up to the top of the mount is a bit deceptive, it keeps going and going. I made it up OK but the wife and kids struggled. Take plenty of food and water and allow plenty of time and it can be windy at the top as well. You should sign in at the caravan park to let them know you're up there and sign back out when you get down, so they dont send a search party out for you. From memory they have DEC camp guides there during school holidays.

The caravan park is OK, its a bit on the basic side but it has a patch of green lawn that is a welcome releif if you've been camping rough. We paid for a powered site, but its every man for themselves on the lawn so we werent able to get close enough to use power.

Heres a photo of the caravan park, not so squeezy during the holidays.


Heres a view of the Mount Augustus Outback Tourist Resort :roll: from the top of the mountain.

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Re: Seeking Mt Augustus info

Thanks for the info Rainman, looks like you had a good trip. Some very nice pics
Yeah, i have looked at the Murchison route, and I would be probably going in this way or in via Gascoyne Junction, but thats still to be decided.

How old are the kids that struggled?

[Rainman Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rainman]

Re: Seeking Mt Augustus info

How old are the kids that struggled?

The kids were 12 and 14 at the time, they only struggled because it took so long and they left their nintendos and mobiles back in the vehicle. :roll: My son got to the top then stormed down so he could get something to eat (after he had eaten everyone elses food on the way up). He forgot I had the keys to the truck in my pocket. :wink:

My wife got a migraine on the way down, so it took ages to get her down and from memory it took something like 4 or 5 hours all up. Number 1 son wasnt happy when we finally staggered back to the car park and he was able to get to the food box.

The first time we went to Mount Augustus we were walking in Kotka Gorge and an FA18 flew over us just above tree level. We never heard it until it was right above us and then it was gone.

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Re: Seeking Mt Augustus info

Rainman

Thanks again for this info. Its sort of what I was expecting, allow most of the day up & down so no rush.

Your not alone mate. The teenagers in our group could not believe they had no Mobile Ph signal for four days when we were at Karijini this year. :shock:
They were in denial, clinbing trees to get signal etc. Kepts us adults amused :lol:

The 6 year old daughter soldiered on through the gorges, but she slept well each night. By the sound of it, Superdad would have to be on standby for her if the going is a bit tough in places at Mt Augustus

My 14 & 12 yr old sons and food......... :!:
I havent forgotten what I was like, but I dont remember my folks having to take volumes of food we do.

Thanks again

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Re: Seeking Mt Augustus info

Well, this trip idea is hopefully about to become reality next month. The plans for last year just didnt work out due to other circumstances.

Anyway, as we are coming in from Coral Bay, we will be going in from Minilya, via Lyndon Station, Lyons River, Cobra to Mt Augustus. We will be staying at "The Resort".
While I will be ringing thru for up to date road condition reports etc, I will always welcome any reports or advice from anyone who has been thru here recently. We wont be towing anything, just some camping gear and food on board for the 5 of us.

We arent sure if we are going to actually climb the hill, or just spend a couple of days fossicking around. Have done a few climbs this year, including Bluff Knoll, so will wait and see what the weather is like, or once again, any feed back appreciated.

So, I have a few weekends of preparation ahead, including my OME upgrade, 100k service and plus get out camper ready for Coral Bay.

Any info regarding roads, POI, or anything appreciated.

[Daz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daz]

Mt Augustus update

Its been a couple of months since we did the trip, and yes I will post some pics later.

We took the road from just South of Minilya via Lyndon Station, Wanna Station, Edmund Station, Cobra Station to Mt Augustus. It is about 350km through this way, and the road varys from well maintain (90kmh easy) to what would call 2nd grade (50kmh) which was mostly small sharp rocks. At the time this area was looking very dry, although the past few weeks would have changed things with most of this area being subjected to flooding etc

We saw 2 cars on way there, and three on way back. Im glad I fitted the OME suspension before I went, and that I was running BFGs at 25 PSI. One of the cars we saw had a flat tyre, and was being changed by an old couple so I stopped and helped them. They were Bible Bashers doing the Communities and Stations.

As mentioned by others, the word Resort can be be used loosely, and while most of the usual Resort facilities were not available, the place was neat & tidy. The managers Lou & Beryl were very friendly, as were the volunteer DEC Rangers.

It was a bit hot during 1st week of October, but luckily the day we decided to venture out around the rock it was 32 Deg, and while it was hot and you had to manage fluids etc, it wasnt impossible. The day before was 41 Deg.

Anyway, the road was quite reasonable, and just like all roads you arent sure of, you just need to drive to the conditions.

NOTE: Mt Augustus doesnt have potable water, and while many drink the bore water, they advise to bring a supply of potable water if sensitive to this type of thing.

[AlenP Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close AlenP]

Re: Mt Augustus info

I'm going to do a run into Mt Augustus early May and was looking at going off road (read that as off bitumen) at Wooramel Roadhouse on the Gascoyne Junction road has any one used this road and are there any camp sites near the turn off? I'm going to do it easy this time so I reckon Perth to Wooramel will probably do it for day one.

Thanks
Alen