Out & About – Avon Valley National Park and Surrounds (December 2023)

Members and visitors met between 8:30-9:00am at a truck bay 1km east of the Ampol
Garage on Toodyay Road, Stratton. One exception was Rex who had problems with the
battery in his vehicle while at home but joined the convoy later in the trip.

After all signing in, Frank gave an overview of the pending trip advising that it would be a
leisurely run without any difficult 4×4 driving. Troy was given the task of being Tail End
Charlie.

The convoy set off at 9:08am driving east on the Toodyay Road. The weather for the day
was clear with a maximum of 30C. The convoy travelled 36kms and turned left into
Morangup Road and after 6kms arrived at the entrance to the Avon Valley National Park.
Rex joined the convoy at this point.

To everyone’s surprise, the honesty box at the Park’s entrance for payment of fees had been
vandalised and a notice explained that fees payable were suspended as a result.

To everyone’s surprise, the honesty box at the Park’s entrance for payment of fees had been
vandalised and a notice explained that fees payable were suspended as a result.

The convoy travelled 9kms in a north/east direction along gravel tracks to reach a camping
spot called Bald Hill where morning tea was had at 10:15am. A fifty metre walk from the
camp led to a rock outcrop where there is a 270 degree view of the Avon Valley showing the
river and the standard gauge railway line. The view was one of the highlights of the trip.
The camping site had an open shelter with picnic benches and a clean and well maintained
a long-drop toilet.

At 11:00am, the convoy set off to drive to the next destination – Cobbler Pool. This
meant leaving the Avon Valley National Park and driving along generally well
maintained gravel tracks for 16kms. Dried-out ruts in some sections of the track
indicated that mud could be an issue during the wetter parts of the year.

The countryside was picturesque with hills and valleys even though the vegetation had dried
off approaching summer.

The convoy reached Cobbler Pool at midday and stopped for lunch. While there was water
in the Avon River pool a sign warned that swimmers would be in danger of contracting
Amoebic Meningitis. According to an information board, the last fresh water cobbler was
caught in the area over 50 years ago and work upstream to clear the river resulted in
destruction of the fish’s natural habitat.

At 12:50pm, the convoy left Cobbler Pool where Mike and Clare chose to depart to drive
home. They were followed by Alex (Snr) and Alexander who had to leave owing to another
commitment. The remaining convoy drove 16kms to Julimar Road which led onto Plunket
Road, Beach and Wilson Roads. Eventually the convoy reach Chittering Road and drove
south to the Bullsbrook township where the trip ended at 2:20pm.

The total distance travelled during the trip from Stratton to Bullsbrook was 157kms and took
a little over five hours which included morning tea and the lunch break.

Participants thanked Frank for organising and running the trip as all considered it a pleasant
outing which should be repeated during a cooler time of the year.

Finally, special mention needs to be made of Rex and Carol who thoughtfully wore name
tags on the trip. (When this was pointed-out, several members were quick to call attention to
their club shirts on which they had their names embroidered.) Point taken!