(Holland track trip) plan B Helena and Aurora Ranges.

Attendeesin no particular order

Shane - Triton (Mightly leader)

Matt - Paj

Alex - Collie and camper

Wilco, Sylvia and Nayeli- Lexus 100 series and camper

Simon and Jacob - Triton and camper

Gary, Claire, Gabe, Az - 80 series and camper

Lin - FJ

Rob - Suzi

Dave - Prado (TEC)

Kieth and Kirk - Rangerous Ranger

Many people can look at the same object but see something different, so for this trip report, we got all the travellers to give their own version of each destination for a variety of perspectives.

Original plans for this trip was the Holland track from Hyden to Coolgardie however with days of rain the Holland was out of action and with a good size group still keen to get away it was swing into plan B, Helena and Aurora Ranges via Southern Cross and Koolyanobbing. Meeting point was Lakes Roadhouse 8am.

After a quick brief on convoy procedures (being Easter weekend busy roads) we made our way out along Great Eastern Highway and before long it was fuel up time at Southern Cross for both vehicles and some hungry tummies. We then made our way towards Koolyanobbing to where we parked at the entrance to the mine site, where we had to give details of vehicles and numbers of people; which must be for safety reasons I guess. Then we aired down as we were now on the lovely redstuff and we couldn't have asked for better weather. Moving on, we then crossed a couple of haul roads and at the end of the track we turned right, followed that track for another half an hour to our campsite for the night as by now it was 3:30 p.m. and we were all keen to get setup and get a fire ready.

Helena and Aurora RangesCamp

After an early morning start, it was great to arrive at our first camp site for the night in the Helena & Aurora Conservation Park. We set up camp amongst the trees with Dave and Shane taking only minutes to get the evenings campfire underway, ready for the usual evening group sit around.  The next morning after breakfast several of us climbed a local peak ( not sure of its name sorry) just next to our site, nothing too vigorous at only 504m ( according to Keith’s watch!) AND…………what a view. The countless miles of the park, the vastness of this country really was spectacularly put on display against a cloudless blue sky. Shane was also able to point out our next destination for the day / night in the distance, Mount Elvire.  I think the photographs say it all, we were really in a very beautiful place and we couldn’t wait to start the journey of exploring over the next days.

Helena And Aurora Ranges Ridge Top

All the cars made it to the top of the Ranges. Absolutely stunning 360 degrees views. We stopped to take in the scenery and wonder at the vastness of the outback.

Old Water Well

Cattle Station

Back in the cars and on to our next stop at Mount Jackson, a deserted mine site. We made this our very welcome lunch stop too.

Mt Jackson Homestead

It is a ruin in bad shape, luckily there was a geocache which I had saved on my GPS before we left. While Nayeli went to the friendly dog in the back of the ute, I went straight to its location and had it within a few minutes. Another to my tally.