Outback Info (Private Seiten) © seit 1999

Millstream-Chichester National Park

Most of the 200,000 hectare Millstream-Chichester National Park is a landscape of rolling hills, spectacular escarpments and winding tree-lined watercourses.

The Chichester Range rises sharply from the coastal plain and includes rocky peaks, tranquil gorges, and hidden rock pools such as Python Pool. Scattered white-barked gums and spiky spinifex clumps cover the stony plateau, which gradually slopes down to the bed of the Fortescue River.

In the midst of this landscape is the remarkable oasis of Millstream, where fresh water springs from an aquifer to create the lushly tropical Chinderwarriner Pool. Paperbark and palm trees surround this deep pool on the Fortescue River.

The park's shady camping areas near deep pools at Crossing Pool and Deep Reach attract tourists and locals all year round, but winter is the best time to visit. The cool season between May and August, experiences little rain, with day time temperatures around 26º Celcius.

The area has an interesting cultural history. It has long been a focal point for the Yinjibarndi people and was an active pastoral station for more than 100 years. Previously two separate parks, the area was expanded into one park in 1982, and it has significant natural, recreational and cultural values.

The broad area of land straddling the Fortescue River, from the Hamersley Range through to the Chichester escarpment is the homeland of the Yinjibarndi people. Ngarrari (Millstream) was an important camp site for inter-tribal meetings. Visitors camped beside Chinderwarriner Pool, where they feasted on fresh fish and edible plant roots, harvested wood for spears and collected rocks for ritual purposes. Today the Yinjibarndi people maintain close ties with their land and have been trained and employed as rangers and contract workers.

Millstream was named in 1861 by the explorer F T Gregory, who reported its favourable grazing prospects. The pastoral lease, first taken up in 1865 changed hands several times before Les Gordon assumed management of the property in 1923. In its heyday the station covered more than 400,000 hectares and ran 55,000 sheep. The homestead which now houses the visitor centre, was built in 1919 and was home to the Gordon family until 1964.

Plants and Animals

Plants flower after rain, when blankets of mulla-mulla and Sturt pea cover the landscape. The soft yellow flowers of the wattles and the orange cockroach bush provide a dramatic contrast to the hard red earth. Generally, the winter months, from June to August, are the best time to see the Pilbara wildflowers.

Plants more typical of the tropical north grow near permanent water pools. Of special interest is the Millstream palm, with its fanned, greyish-green leaves and smooth bark. Exotic date palms and cotton palms introduced by pioneers have now spread throughout the Millstream Delta.

The common kangaroo of the rocky country is the euro and on the plains you can see red kangaroos. Black flying foxes are easily seen at Millstream and a variety of birds can be seen during the cooler hours of the day, especially near water. Fourteen species of dragonfly and damselfly have been recorded in the Millstream wetlands.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Where is it?
The park is 150 kilometres from Roebourne in the remote Pilbara region. Travelling time 3 hours from Karratha and 4 hours from Port Hedland.

Facilities
The Millstream Homestead Visitor Centre has rooms dedicated to the Yinjibarndi people, the early settlers and the natural environment. Other displays inform you of the park's attractions and management issues.

Fresh water is available at the Visitor Centre car park. It is not treated and boiling is recommended. Aways carry plenty of your own. Shady bush-style camping areas with pit toilets are provided at Crossing Pool and Snake Creek. The former has gas barbecues and fireplaces. Entrance fees and camping fees are charged.

Deep Reach Camping Area is temporarily closed due to ground conditions. A temporary camping area has been established away from the river. Deep Reach Picnic Area is still open.

What to see and do:
Camping, picnicking and fishing are popular. There are swimming areas at both Deep Reach and Crossing Pool, and row boats, canoes, rafts and windsurfers are also welcome.

Walking - When walking in the park wear a hat, broad-spectrum suncreen with an SPF of 15+ and sturdy shoes, and take at least 4 litres of drinking water per person per day.

• Homestead Walk
  A 750-metre, 30-minute return walk that starts and finishes at the visitor centre. Accessible to people in wheelchairs.
• Murlunmunyjurna Track
  This easy 5-kilometre, 1.5-hour return trail meanders through a range of vegetation types. It terminates at the Cliff Lookout Road. Please return to the Homestead along the trail. Plaques tell how the Yinjibarndi people use the area's plants.
• Python Pool Track
  From the car park, follow the 100-metre, 20-minute return trail up a (usually) dry creek bed to Python Pool, a permanent freshwater plunge pool at the base of a cliff in the Chichester Range escarpment.
• Mount Herbert Track
  From the Mt Herbert car park follow the Camel Trail to the base of Mt Herbert, then follow the 600-metre, 45-minute return track to the top of the mountain, where there are spectacular views.
• Chichester Range Camel Trail
  An 8-kilometre, 3-hour one-way Heritage Trail. It crosses the rugged sandstone Chichester Range, following part of the old camel road linking Mt Herbert and Python Pool.