Well the planning for this trip really started after seeing a story on a 4WD Action DVD, I know how some of you feel about them, but hey each to their own. Craig and got together one day at work to look at somewhere within a days drive that we could go camping.
Now we have a few selection criteria when we go away and they include but are not limited to:
1. Dog friendly,
2. Bush setting,
3. Secluded (i.e. not camping on top of each other),
4. Things to see and do.
Now after watching the DVD I did a little research and then contacted the station owners by email (Calum & Belinda) to ask some questions, these answered we went ahead and booked for the Easter weekend.
We departed my house at @0620 and headed for Gingers on the Great Northern Hwy for coffee, only to get there and discover they had no power, so we all tucked into some bacon and egg sanga’s before heading off again. We all decided that we needed coffee before we went any further so we stopped at Muchea for a nice cup of Joe.
Before I go any further I should introduce the group of intrepid explorers, firstly there was Heidi, Ash (dog) and I in the Troll towing my beast, then there was Craig, his daughter Pam and their two dogs (Mac & Quest) and finally there was Stephen (aka Azza) and his two kids Grayson and Bailey. After coffee we hit the road and continued up the Hwy all the way to turn off to Murchison House station.
Upon arrival (@1530) we checked in with Belinda at the homestead, as we were camping out on the property this entailed the following:
1. Paying our 4WD access fee ($50) and Camping Fees ($11 p/adult & $5.50 p/child 6-16yo p/night),
2. Paid a $20 deposit on a large laminated map of the area,
3. Discussed some of the better places to camp and we chose (Army Camp)
4. Signed in (this is important as you have to sign out so that they know you have left the property.
After checking in we headed to our camp site which you will be able to see from the pictures is awesome.
We spent Friday and Saturday lazing around in the sun and the river awaiting the fourth member of our group being Ropes and his other half Nikki. They arrived @1600 on Saturday.
Sunday saw us all up for a bit of a drive around the property (@50k’s) before heading back for a swim and a cleansing Ale or three.
We were up early for the pack up on Monday and headed out @1000, on the way back we had planned to stop at the Hutt River Province and this was achieved before continuing our trip south. Ropes and Nikki split from the main group to stop along the way for photo opportunities while the rest of us headed for home along the Indian Ocean Drive. We arrived home @2030 and collapsed into bed, after an absolutely amazing weekend.
So Ladies and Gentlemen of the WPC if you are looking for some bush camping with your best mate, beside a river and the ability to go 4WDriving then look no further, Murchison House Station has it all, I personally recommend it to you and I am sure that Belinda and Calum would be happy to see you.
For more info on the station visit
www.murchisonhousestation.com.auEnjoy the pics, There will be a more in-depth article in the club mag so keep you eye on it
Cheers
Budds and the Gang.
