The Roly Dimer Easter Trip Report

[Mrs Fishnut Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mrs Fishnut]

For many years now Fishnut has been talking about a place called Bungalbin where he did a few years of fieldwork in the early 90’s and finally convinced me to visit there as our Easter getaway this year. Turns out that this has now become a fairly popular 4WD and camping spot and can be found in the 4WD Days in the Eastern Goldfields of WA book as Trip # 2, The Roly Dimer Tour. Below is a brief trip report with pictures for your viewing pleasure

Day One

The getaway begins at 8.30am on Friday 21st March at Greenmount Library where we meet up with friends, Michelle and Kevin driving a Toyota troopy, and then head off on Great Eastern Hwy.

The official trip commences at the Palace Hotel in Southern Cross


We then head out along the Koolyanobbing Southern Cross Road with a quick lunch break along the way


After approximately 50kms on bitumen we reach Koolyanobbing where the road turns to a dirt track for the remaining 70kms out to our campsite. The road surface and vegetation change often along the way



First sight of Bungalbin Hill


We finally reach our destination which will be home for the next 3 nights


Views of the Helena and Aurora Ranges from camp


Out to open the traps (we meet up with Fishnut’s colleagues doing research out there)



Stumbled across this along the way….Desert Death Adder! :shock:


End of day one and a change of colour for the Prado


Day 2,3 and 4 to follow...

[Mrs Fishnut Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mrs Fishnut]

Day Two

Get up early to check and clear the traps.


Finds for the day include some cute critters








And some not so cute critters


The we head off to explore the Helena and Aurora Ranges



View from the top of the ranges



Descending




Packing the tracks


Some gnarly bits



Camouflage



Day 3 and 4 to follow...

[Mrs Fishnut Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mrs Fishnut]

Day Three

Up early to check the traps. Again some very nice finds






Some bite


And some are just not very pleasant to look at :cry:



Then we head off to visit Pittosporum Rock


and continue on our way out to Kurrajong Rockhole



Finishing the night with a bit of spot-lighting


and a nice find to end day three:P


Day Four to follow...

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Looks like an awesome trip Deb ... thanks for the pics.

That Prado certainly looks the part now .... with the lift and the BFGs ..... honestly, who would travel any other way ??

Cheers
Chippy

[joey Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close joey]

looked like fun..good story and pics thanks...


cheers joey

[Mrs Fishnut Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mrs Fishnut]

Day Four

Last day for clearing and then closing down the traps. The finds today include:







Pack up campsite and then head off back through Pittosporum Rock and Kurrajong Rockhole out along Ryans Find Road.

Brief stop at Ives Rock for the group shot



A stop for lunch along the way and some rock fossicking





The ever changing track on the way out (a 5 hour journey) :shock:











A free spray on tan for those that didn't drive in a Prado :lol:



We finally reach Great Eastern Hwy and take a quick detour out to Mt Palmer....



with sunset...to end our trip


Had a great time and would highly recommend the trip (but not as a 1 day-er!!). Feel free to PM Fishnut or me if you want any details!!

[pradonet Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradonet]

Looks like some fantastic country-side, who was the group you were helping out?

A couple of your finds make me shiver when i think of all the nights spent under the stars on just a camp mat :shock: You must be game to get that close to the snake :!:

Great pics

[Mrs Fishnut Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mrs Fishnut]

Glenn (Fishnut) is a biologist and these are friends/colleagues from the university that he used to work out there with.

We came across the snake on the very first afternoon and it was a very timely reminder that we were in the bush and just need to be aware, especially with the furkids in tow!

The huge Trapdoor Spider was picked up in one of the traps...again made me check my boots each morning!

Luckily we got to see and handle lots of very nice critters too....

[pradonet Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradonet]

Very Professional write up Deb,

.....and pics, the macro of the thorny devil (?) on day three is a prize winner :!:

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Hey Deb,

great pics and write up.

Leachy

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Great Write up Mrs Fishnut, brings a whole new level of intelligence to the forum.

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

.... brings a whole new level of intelligence to the forum.

What do you mean ... a whole new level ... ???

It brings A LEVEL of intelligence to the forum :lol: :lol: :lol:


Top stuff Deb

Cheers
Chippy

[MattWhite Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MattWhite]

Great report Deb. Love the look of the countryside. Must admit, never gave it much thought but I'm surprised at the amount of vegetation. Looks awesome.

Matt

[Mrs Fishnut Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mrs Fishnut]

Thanks for the feedback everyone - glad you enjoyed it! I don't actually log in most of the time but have been spending an increasing amount of time surfing this site (esp trip reports section) and particularly enjoy reading others adventures!!

Special note to WA PradoPointers: I was thinking how much the kids would have loved this trip with all the critters to see and touch. We are talking about returning out there in spring just so that I can see/touch a Pygmy Possum.......will need to check with the researchers if anyone is interested.......

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

.... brings a whole new level of intelligence to the forum.

What do you mean ... a whole new level ... ???

It brings A LEVEL of intelligence to the forum :lol: :lol: :lol:


Top stuff Deb

Cheers
Chippy

Chippy i didn't want to offend you as you always bring plenty of intelligence but Mrs Fishnuts leaves you for dead.