Trip to Madura Pass: Wave Rock, Hyden

Thanks to thejobshop.com.au, we found ourselves a job in a roadhouse 1250kms east of Perth. The place is called Madura Pass, which is a stopover for travelers along the Eyre Highway for petrol, food and accommodation. It was a good option for us, cause we get to work together. And the pay is award wage, Saturday & Sunday pay is higher than weekdays. It seemed like a good place to save some travel money, as we only need to pay $70 for board (accom & food) per week. Basically, we will have nothing to spend on except internet, liquor and snacks.

After two weeks in Perth and a week in strawberry farm, we happily accepted the job offer! Finally found the better job now! Hopefully =)

To get there, we planned for a 4 days driving trip. There are normally two routes to go east from Perth. One is through Kalgoorlie (mining town) then Norseman, then Eyre Highway. We decided to take the other route, stopping at the Wave Rock (Hyden), Esperance, Norseman and finally Madura Pass. Kalgoorlie sounds interesting as well, where you can take a tour and join in the underground mining world. Well, we only have 5 days to get to Madura. Can’t go everywhere in Australia.

Along the highway, we saw this wheat belt field. All golden across the never ending fields.

A dog cemetery in Corrigin.  How thoughtful… =)

Wave Rock***** This beautiful rock formation might look long, but it is only 110metres long. In fact it is the highest and longest flared slope in Australia, winning the Ayers Rock and others. The colorful lines of black algal emphasizes the waves (granite slope). It is formed by water weathering the rocks.

Peter on the Wave Rock!

The park area is quite big, there are few trails to walk on. We spent about 2 hours walking around the park, enjoying the sunset colouring the rocks slowly. A trail leads to the ‘Hippo Yawn’, which is a big stone resembling a Hippo yawning.

                                                            Beautiful flowers, fairyland??

Our first time camping in Australia, beside the tent side is our newly bought car, we named it ‘KoALa’. The sky turned pink during sunset, incredibly beautiful!

Camping experience is really good. We camped at the Wave Rock Caravan Park, which has good facilities and even electric BBQ. Cost $28 for two people inclusive of the entrance fee to the park which is $7.

The next morning, we went to Mulka’s Cave****, about 18km from the Wave Rock. Though just a small cave, it has an interesting legend within. The legend holds that Mulka (the aboriginal illegitimate son) who was born with crossed eyes, couldn’t aim properly and failed as a hunter. Then he turns into a children eating terror who lived in the cave, and killed his own mother. OMG. He was then killed by his tribe and his body was left to the ants as a warning to anyone who breaks the law.

Mulka’s fingerprint can be seen in the caves. This cave contains the largest collection of Aboriginal paintings in south west WA. 

The creative constructions of exhibits, showing Hyden’s historic transportation and its transformation to a town.