Sterling Ranges and Wave Rock

I am currently sitting in a very warm 36 degree day in Kalgoorlie, in the goldfields of WA. I arrived here by a rather meandering route from the coast that took me through the Stirling Ranges and then to the tourist hotspot of Wave Rock.

After Wave Rock I took myself off on a little adventure through the middle of nowhere, but more about that in the next post.

Visiting the Stirling Ranges is remarkable, as it is the only significant mountain range in the southern half of WA. These peaks rise to around 1000 metres and are rugged and spectacular.

I camped for a couple of days and then drove along the main road that takes you through the middle of the park. This offers some spectacular scenery, as you wind through the mountain peaks.

The Stirling Ranges are also the home of noisy black cockatoos that enjoy showing off in the trees around the campground in the evenings.

But it was a little disconcerting to see and smell smoke, which became thicker the further into the park I ventured. I couldn’t actually see where the smoke was originating from, so I kept going, keeping a wary eye out. Fortunately, it seems this smoke was being blown in from a fire many miles away.

Lake Grace

Next I drove on up to the little country town of Lake Grace, in the wheat belt. Lake Grace takes its name from the nearby salt lake, which is also the largest salt lake in WA.

The wheat is currently being harvested, although some fields were still awaiting the harvester. This made travelling through the country very pleasant, like driving through flowing fields of gold!

Wave Rock

I figured I should drop in and have a look. It actually costs $12 to visit, which seems a lot of money to look at a rock… which is supposedly 15 metres high and 100 metres long. This sounds big, but it actually appears much smaller than I anticipated.

Anyway, I must say I felt a little underwhelmed by it, but at least I can tick it off that bucket-list now!