MULLIAH - YARRA YARRA LAKES SCENIC DRIVE
Via Winchester South Road, Carnamah, Western Australia 6517
Take Off the Breaks... at the Lakes!
Sometimes Blue needs more than an extended stroll around town or run along the airstrip. Being part Blue Heeler, he loves a good, long, run. We’ve found that the dirt road that runs parallel with the Mulliah - Yarra Yarra Lakes off South Winchester Road is perfect for this. I set the cruise control to 25km per hour and off we go!
We would have travelled this road over 100 times by now and have only once come across another vehicle (shout out to Paul and Sue), so we feel that its a safe place for you to let your four-legged-friend out for an extended run. You may even see kangaroos, lizards, and hawks, in the scrub near by.
As it is a salt lake, it is an interesting experience to tread along the salt seam lines and see how it separates from the clay beneath. During some times of the year the lake has a pink tinge. It looks quite magical!
Blue and I often walk out onto the lake itself. Its is broad and expansive and feels like you’re on another planet but it is also tranquil and rejuvenating.
Something I love to do that really packs a relaxation punch is to stroll around slowly on the lake with headphones on listening to the beautiful work of multimedia artist Marianthe Loucataris:
If Water Could Speak - A meditative audio visual improvised conversation with WATER
Marianthe created this nourishing digital work of art during her artist-in-residency experience for the Ebb and Flow exhibition that was facilitated here in Carnamah.
Filmographer Chris Lewis captured this stunning birds eye view of the Mulliah - Yarra Yarra Lakes system. Just like Marianthe’s nourishing meditative clip, Chris’ footage offers an awe-inspiring visual meditation to relax to also.
Our beloved friend Mike has joined us numerous times out on the lake. We always laugh at the ‘salt men’ he makes (as opposed to a ‘snowman’) when he visits.
Salt Man, by Mike 2022
Blue trying to coax some breakfast out of Mike. Mulliah is a beautiful place to have brekkie.
Mulliah provides an incredible setting to get creative with the camera.
Check out how awesome it is to use the Google Augmented Reality App to create surreal photos on the Lake!
If the surface of the lake is a little moist, take off your shoes & socks and let your feet have a natural clay mask. It will hydrate and soften your skin.
Herby and Blue strolling in the lake after some decent rainfall.
Let us know about other great dog walks you’ve gone in the Mid West at blueswalkies@gmail.com
MULLIAH - YARRA YARRA LAKES LOOK OUT
Via Carnamah-Eneabba Road, Carnamah, Western Australia 6517
WHERE THE WIND BLOWS
Carnamah can get ridiculously HOT.
The average temperature in the summer months is 35 degrees Celsius.
Being a big, dark, thick-haired-dog, who had lived close to the beach in Kalbarri before his rehoming in Carnamah, Blue needed a place that would provide some reprieve from the heat while he stretched his legs. The Yarra Yarra Lakes Look Out has been the ideal place to do this as its high position provides a pleasant wind to cool you and your furbaby down, all while enjoying a spectacular view.
The dirt road that heads westward from the Look Out passes quaint old vehicles rusting away with quiet dignity. Blue and I often stroll down past these too as Blue enjoys exploring the vegetation on both sides of the road and jumping up on the small rock outcrops that appear.
The view of Mulliah from the vantage point of the Look Out is cooling and rejuvenating at any time of the day but its charm is at its greatest at night: it is the most spectacular place to look at stars. In fact, this site is listed as an astrophotography hot spot on the WA Tourism site!
Blue keeping an eye on Herby’s coffee.
Let us know about other great dog walks you’ve gone in the Mid West at blueswalkies@gmail.com
CA TOWN TO HOMESTEAD WALK
East end of Macpherson Street, Carnamah, WA 6517
tHE ART OF RUSTIC MEANDERING
A really pleasant little jaunt on a sunny day is to grab a coffee from one of the local coffee providers (very close to the Carnamah Museum) and walk up to the east end of Macpherson street till you see a Botanical Walk sign; just past the school grounds.
This path meanders through the bush and along side the Carnamah-Bunjil Road all the way up to the entrance of the 1869 Macpherson Homestead.
Along the way you’ll see coloured moss on the trees, small lizards zipping by, broad views of crop paddocks, and a few seats positioned along the path to rest on if you get a bit tuckered out.
Its a really charming way to walk your blues away.
Op Shopping
While heading up Macpherson Street to commence the walk trail, pop into the Carnamah Op Shop and grab some toys for your pooch to play with. The Carnamah Lions Club run this shop from a house at 42 Macpherson Street. It is open from 9am to midday from Monday to Friday.
The Op Shop has a range of of household items, toys, clothes and much more for sale at bargain prices, with proceeds going into a range of local community organisations. They have been recognised for their dedication to funding local initiatives with the money they raise from Op Shop sales.
Here’s one of Blue’s snuggle bugs that we bought for the bargain price of $2.00 from the Lions Op Shop.
Let us know about other great dog walks you’ve gone in the Mid West at blueswalkies@gmail.com