We have just got back from a superb week long break in the magnificent Striling Ranges, where we stayed at the Mount Trio Bush Camp a rustic and basic but brilliant get away from it spot that suited all three of us down to the ground. Every morning we woke up to the wonderful dawn chorus of a multitude of birds, the songs changed as the morning light moved into sunrise.
Something that attracted us to the place was the remote feel and the bush walking. Being spring time there were flowers abound and the area is known for its mass of orchids, which takes a sharp eye and patient person to find them. As the weather has been warming up we also got treated to an abundance of skinks and lizards and the occasional snake. While we were not out walking Moo was in heaven riding her bike, making new friends of all ages every day and building up an impressive nature collection that has of course followed us home.
Now sat here at our computer it feels like we have been away for months, we all loved the place and time away and even Moo who usually is keen to get back after a week wanted to stay on for longer. Below I have picked out some of the best photos to share some of our findings and experiences:
The camp spot was a great place for Moo to ride round, Lisa to relax in and
me to hunt flowers and birds in:
The camper trailer was a big hit again, making life that little bit more comfy
than being in a tent
Moo had a go on all the bikes, opting in the end for the big bikes:
The scarlet robin was one of the many birds that gave us wonderful dawn
chorus:
An early morning treat of a red capped parrot swooping down with Toolbrunup
Peak in the background:
One morning we were lucky to spy a family of emus passing through:
Moo isn’t one for enjoying walking preferring to ride a bike, however we gave
her the choice of which peak to climb and she chose Toolbrunup Peak as it
was rocky and in the clouds as we were driving towards it (it was also the
most challenging!):
The trek was steep and unforgiving, the last trip here four years back Lisa
climbed the only peak taller than this one (by 40m) and couldn’t walk for days
afterwards so she was a little worried. Here she is a speck in the scree slope:
There was some fairly steep scrambles in the upper section, as the cloud
rolled in:
On top we had to put our layers on as the wind rolled the clouds in:
Moo was in heaven, rocks to clamber up and walking in the clouds:
In-between the clouds Lisa spotted a wedge tailed eagle flying above us:
He gave us a bit of a show, but eventually we had to make our way down:
Five hours after we had started we were back down having a cuppa in the car
park, with both Lisa and Moo having slightly wobbly legs:
Two days later, even though Lisa’s legs were still aching (Moo had made a
rapid recovery, which she put down to all the bike riding after the first walk!)
we headed off for the second walk, this time up Mount Hassell:
The photos do not do it justice but the flowers on this walk were amazing:
We also, with the help of Moo’s keen ears and eyes found heaps of lizards
and skinks, this one being a king skink (approx 45cm from nose to tail):
We have no idea of what this one was and he wouldn’t come out from his
hiding hole but he was wonderful:
From this point there was only the last rock scrambling left, and you can see
the car park in the background of the road:
The final scramble made Lisa work her legs with some high steps, but the
view from the top was well worth it:
Moo and Lisa on top with a good view of Toolbrunup Peak behind them:
In the last 20min of the decent the rain came in, slow to start but getting
heavier so instead of a cuppa at the base we headed for a café:
The next day being Lisa’s birthday, and also as we deserved a rest we
headed to one of our favourite coastal spots – William Bay. Here we didn’t do
much but ate well and chilled out:
On the walk out we did come across a 1.7m (we guess it was as long as I am
tall) what we thought was a dugite:
Then driving back we came across this wonderful view of Toolbrunup Peak:
The second to last day we headed off for the third walk, up Mount Trio:
Another contrasting walk with a huge effort required in the first third as the
big steps just kept going up and up in a very steep fashion:
But after that the angles eased considerably and it was a lovely wander up
to the peak, where we were treated to yet another good view of Toolbrunup
Peak:
The walk down was not as bad as we thought is may have been, and Lisa’s
had no problems at all even claiming her legs didn’t ache anymore:
Couldn’t resist putting a few flowers photos in, many of them were small but
in big numbers covering the ground or hill side:
It took a bit of getting used to what to look for when searching for orchids, but
it was worth the perseverance, I think this is one of the spider orchids:
I was very lucky to find this donkey orchid on the last walk round the campsite:
Other larger flowers were also in full bloom like this grevillea:
Also some very specky dryandras:
But eventually we had to pack up and head home, on the road out of the
campground for the last time with Mount Trio, Mount Hassell and Toolbrunup
Peak in the background (from left to right):
If you managed to get to the end of all these photos and would like to see some more let me know, as we have quite a few more!
Sandbagged 