North West Coast 22nd - 23rd January

Savage River

Lindsay River

Left Corinna making use of the long twilight to check out Savage River with its huge log construction bridgeand then onto Lindsay River.  A surprised Tiger snake slid away from our path - a timely reminder to be on the lookout!

Couta Rocks

Next stop Couta Rocks - Plains of buttongrass rolling down to the sea, cray boats bobbing on the harbour - visions of Couta Rocks. Like the nearby Temma Harbour, Couta Rocks is noted for the place where the sea can rage. A not uncommon sight is that of the local fishermen winching their boats out of the water on slips rather than risk them on moorings. This stretch of coast is dubbed the roaring 40s, where prevailing gale-force winds blow persistently from the west.

Camp site near Temma

We decided to pull up at a great campsite near a clear flowing stream complete with trout near Temma for the night.   Next morning we called into Temma and walked around the harbour and village.  A pretty spot and the day has started well (no wind or rain). 

Temma Harbour

A road made over a huge midden

Beautiful rock pools

 Temma was once the port for the tin mining outpost of Balfour with a horse-drawn wooden tramway connecting the town and port. Today, it is an isolated harbour offering shelter from the wild seas. There are a few holiday homes and shacks as well as a few slipways that fishermen use to pull their boats up in bad weather. The locals tell me the harbour has a good quantity of Crayfish and Abalone as well as an abundance of Bull and She Kelp.
One of the biggest aboriginal Middens I've ever seen.

Temma Rock pools

Fishing Trawler- Temma

Cray pot

Beach at Temma Harbour

Arthur River

Called in and had a look at Arthur River another wild sea coastal town. The Arthur River runs through tall eucalypt forests and rainforests out to the sea.  The region has been exploited commercially for timber and fisheries, but today is mostly a centre for tourism.

Green Point

Marrawah's - Green point beach voted for one of the three best surfing beaches in Australia, is 2km from Marrawah there's a camping area right near the beach, but the weather had turned fairly nasty so we had a late lunch and moved towards Stanley. 

Dismal Swamp

Last stop before Stanley Dismal Swamp - the only known Blackwood forest in the world. Early last century its timber was used for making kegs and more recently was on a logging, clearing and draining list. Locals realised its importance and fought to preserve its destruction. In 1976 they had success.