{"id":31315,"date":"2023-03-23T11:03:28","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T00:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=31315"},"modified":"2023-03-23T20:50:02","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T09:50:02","slug":"stirling-ranges-national-park-western-australia-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=31315","title":{"rendered":"Stirling Ranges National Park, Western Australia 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date: 20th March 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelled: 140 kms from Borden to Albany in Western Australia   <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visited:  Bluff Knoll, Stirling Ranges National Park  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stayed: Emu Point CP, $40 pn, S34.99738, E117.94204  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budget: days @ $ per day<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Another quiet evening passes, this time in Borden. We hear a strange whine about 7 am which we eventually ascertain to be the machinery at the giant silos commencing doing what they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As usual Pam is keen for a walk and we do an extensive lap of anything that appears interesting in Borden. With respect to the people of Borden who we thank for a free night, there\u2019s not too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The synthetic bowling green<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tennis courts and hockey field<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The community centre and play group meeting rooms <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The community facilities at Borden are a little overwhelming, when you consider the population is only about 300. But people out here think nothing of travelling 50 kms to use a great facility. Time wise it\u2019s like crossing from one suburb to another in Sydney or Melbourne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also found a Kangaroo refuge area, where injured and orphaned kangaroos are cared for. Urban Australians like us don\u2019t get up close to many red kangaroos and we found it a very interesting experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We say goodbye to our caravan towing neighbours, turning south for the Stirling Ranges National Park. 40 kms later the ranges rise out of the flat landscape that surrounds them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again we cough up $8 for a day pass and drive into the park turning for Bluff Knoll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We\u2019ve done our usual minimal research. The Bluff Knoll track is 3.1 kms in length rising about 700 metres, it\u2019s graded as a 4. The guide states to allow 3-4 hours, so it sounds achievable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We found it to be a real slog. 2.5 of the 3.1 kms where uneven steps many formed only by rock stabs or timber and gravel rises. It was hard work and I\u2019ll admit a bit of a struggle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However the views from the summit were spectacular. We soon forgot our sore legs and wandered around the top of Bluff Knoll absorbing the panorama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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