Bloody hell, living nightmare and glad you got out of it ok!It’s a long story but here goes. I’m in the middle of touring Australia. Currently up north in WA. It’s the end of the dry season, haven’t had rain since April. Heard about this remote camping spot from some other travellers. It’s on private property so you need a key to acess it. It’s 15km off the main road. Takes about an hour to drive the 15km 4wd track to the camp site. Towards the end there are a few water crossings. They aren’t very deep, maybe 50-60cm but they are very long and it’s all overgrown and there are multiple ways through.
Got in no problem. Camped right beside the water at the bottom of a waterfall. Went for a swim which was refreshing as it’s been 45°c for a few weeks. Went to sleep and woke up at 1am to heavy rain. This was odd because there was no rain forecast anywhere in the region. Didn’t have any signal to check for an updated report either. Tried to ignore it but it kept getting heavier. Me and the woman agreed if it continued for much longer then we would move out back over the water crossings so we didn’t get stranded if the water levels rose up. At this stage all the flash flood videos I’ve watched are playing through my head. Big flash of lightning happened so we decided to move.
It was now 2am. Started driving out, made it across the first water crossing ok but the visibility was shocking. Rain, foggy windows and the headlights reflecting off all the long grass made it hard to see anything. Got to the second water crossing and I took the most obvious path out, turns out I shoulda kept going straight, instead I veered right. Within a few seconds the car slipped down a rut on the passenger side, engine cut out and water started pouring in from everywhere. Driver side was up to my chest, passenger side up to my neck.
Managed to grab a few electronics, bags, and a 20l water can on the roof. Chances of someone else coming were slim to none and we didn’t wanna just sit about with no signal waiting for someone to maybe come so as soon as it was light enough made the 4.5 hour trek back to the main road. Then took an hour and a half to thumb a lift back to the roadhouse we got the key from. It was 37° when someone picked us up
Car is a total write off. We were living in it too so lost our home. Insurance are paying out. The recovery alone was $3.5k. It sat for about 36hr before being recovered. Can see the water line on the window in this pic. Thankfully there were no crocs here but they are all over the place in this region of Australia
When I was in Oz at the start of the year I watched a program about outback camping and one of them had a camping spot that you had to get a key for, drove up a river but didn’t take the obvious route at one point and had a creek with waterfall at the camping spot. Wonder if it is the same place!It’s a long story but here goes. I’m in the middle of touring Australia. Currently up north in WA. It’s the end of the dry season, haven’t had rain since April. Heard about this remote camping spot from some other travellers. It’s on private property so you need a key to acess it. It’s 15km off the main road. Takes about an hour to drive the 15km 4wd track to the camp site. Towards the end there are a few water crossings. They aren’t very deep, maybe 50-60cm but they are very long and it’s all overgrown and there are multiple ways through.
Got in no problem. Camped right beside the water at the bottom of a waterfall. Went for a swim which was refreshing as it’s been 45°c for a few weeks. Went to sleep and woke up at 1am to heavy rain. This was odd because there was no rain forecast anywhere in the region. Didn’t have any signal to check for an updated report either. Tried to ignore it but it kept getting heavier. Me and the woman agreed if it continued for much longer then we would move out back over the water crossings so we didn’t get stranded if the water levels rose up. At this stage all the flash flood videos I’ve watched are playing through my head. Big flash of lightning happened so we decided to move.
It was now 2am. Started driving out, made it across the first water crossing ok but the visibility was shocking. Rain, foggy windows and the headlights reflecting off all the long grass made it hard to see anything. Got to the second water crossing and I took the most obvious path out, turns out I shoulda kept going straight, instead I veered right. Within a few seconds the car slipped down a rut on the passenger side, engine cut out and water started pouring in from everywhere. Driver side was up to my chest, passenger side up to my neck.
Managed to grab a few electronics, bags, and a 20l water can on the roof. Chances of someone else coming were slim to none and we didn’t wanna just sit about with no signal waiting for someone to maybe come so as soon as it was light enough made the 4.5 hour trek back to the main road. Then took an hour and a half to thumb a lift back to the roadhouse we got the key from. It was 37° when someone picked us up
Car is a total write off. We were living in it too so lost our home. Insurance are paying out. The recovery alone was $3.5k. It sat for about 36hr before being recovered. Can see the water line on the window in this pic. Thankfully there were no crocs here but they are all over the place in this region of Australia
It’a called Harry’s Hole near Kununurra. There’s a few videos on YouTube about itWhen I was in Oz at the start of the year I watched a program about outback camping and one of them had a camping spot that you had to get a key for, drove up a river but didn’t take the obvious route at one point and had a creek with waterfall at the camping spot. Wonder if it is the same place!
Yeah, I’m pretty certain that was it!I
It’a called Harry’s Hole near Kununurra. There’s a few videos on YouTube about it
Got Healy Pass stage done as well, and got very lucky to get a completely clear run of it in both directions, Kerry know how to make awesome driving roads. Even the road from Kenmare to Healy pass is great.
And headed back to Killarney over Molls Gap again, fun to do it downhill.
Front wheels getting less and less white, especially after today 200miles, a lot of which was drive enthusiastically.
View attachment 376275View attachment 376277View attachment 376278View attachment 376279
Got Healy Pass stage done as well, and got very lucky to get a completely clear run of it in both directions, Kerry know how to make awesome driving roads. Even the road from Kenmare to Healy pass is great.
And headed back to Killarney over Molls Gap again, fun to do it downhill.
Front wheels getting less and less white, especially after today 200miles, a lot of which was drive enthusiastically.
View attachment 376275View attachment 376277View attachment 376278View attachment 376279
It was notched so you didn't need to remove that dowel / roll pin btw. Hope it wasn't an arse to remove
That Gap of Dunloe gets really tight in places. Wasn't fun taking an XF through. Definitely not taking the XJR through lol.
Dropped the wheels of to nuluk.
This is their original colour/diamond cut which i found myself continually questioning do i like - so just decided to get them redone, going for full painted finish instead in bright silver but toned down a notch - collection next week
View attachment 375616
Traffics not been too bad, tho I am out of season. Still a lot of tourist in wee hire cars tho.We were there last year and it's one of the nicest parts of the world imo. We started off early on the Sunday and traffic was light and my god it was great.
I would love a pad near Waterville.
Didn’t know that was a thing with Google maps. The roads are fantastic for proper driving. Is was down in 2012 with one and then down at the killarney international rally and always Wanted to come back and make a point of driving the roads.That is stunning - would love to take a long weekend at it next Spring
Was just looking on Google Maps of the rough route - hopefully this link works to a "skyshot"
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.www.google.com
it is bad, really sharp heights that you go over and lose the road too, definitely have to take it handy and zero room to pull in bar at the passing spots, go off the road and you just hit rock.That Gap of Dunloe gets really tight in places. Wasn't fun taking an XF through. Definitely not taking the XJR through lol.
Basically yeah, but is end of SeptemberLooks like you got the same weather as we did…..it pished down
At least you’ve got good visibility on Conor’s pass compared to when I done it last August. - this looks to be the same place
Last time I was at Conor pass we were on a beach to the north getting sand blasted and started posing it down and got to the top of the pass and Dingle and the south was blue skys and sun ShiningAt least you’ve got good visibility on Conor’s pass compared to when I done it last August. - this looks to be the same place
View attachment 376446
Dingle had mainly clear skies as did Blennerville etc on the other side of the pass as well