Holland Track, The Woodlines & Peak Charles

Day 5 Coolgardie to Cave Hill

Wednesday, 17th September 2014

We top up the tank at Caltex, and our fuel figures were 7.56 kpl for the Hyden to Coolgardie via Holland Track stretch. We’re pretty pleased with that. We grabbed some ice creams and a drink and the 4WD Action magazine. The young lad at the counter mentioned that it wasn’t the latest mag, and offered to get the current one from the back. He was very polite and helpful, we’ll fill up there next time were out this way. Today we’re heading to Cave Hill via Burra Rock.

: Blaze Tree to Coolgardie

: Sometimes you need luxury

: Bayley Street, main street in Coolgardie

When we got to Burra Rocks we realised we forgot to get ice in Coolgardie – Doh!. Oh well, we worry about it after our walk. The walk up Burra Rock was pleasant and at the top was a huge body of water and remnants of a dam wall. The water was used to fuel the steam trains transporting timber to Kalgoorlie back in the ’20s & 30’s. It’d make a good swimming hole today.

: The road to Burra Rock

: The dam at the top of Burra Rock

Rather than head back to Coolgardie we decide to head in to Widgiemooltha to grab some ice and top up the tank while we’re at it. You wouldn’t expect to see STOP signs out here but there is one at the intersection of the Woodlines and the Widgiemooltha Rd.

: You wouldn’t expect to see a STOP sign out here?

We pull in at the Widgie Roadhouse, gee, who would have thought a small roadhouse at Widgiemooltha would have souveniers. We couldn’t find any at Hyden or Coolgardie and thought the days of the humble car sticker, postcard, teaspoon and fridge magnets were long gone, but not here, so we bought a selection. Well done and thanks guys for stocking souveniers 😎

The Woodlines Track out to Cave Hill was worse in parts than the Holland Track. Part of the track is elevated which is where the original tracks were. Some of the elevated sections ( the original train line ) were badly washed out but there were go arounds.

: The Woodlines Track North of Cave Hill

: The Woodlines Track – elevated section

Along the way to Cave Hill we see our first quandong tree and pick some fruit, not much flesh on them but they’re nice. We reach Cave Hill around 1.00pm, there’s another couple camping there. We pick a spot in the campground at the back of Cave Hill, have lunch and then go for a walk. We see heaps of water in 2 of the 3 dams and the “cave” is interesting. The walk we did was 3.6 kms