Hey guys,
after giving up on our plan to tackle the Kimberley, we've found a less expensive plan, which is to do 16 days one way between Perth and Karratha. We're both quite fit walkers, but not enthusiast swimmers (water is almost a phobia for me). We'll have a regular 2WD car, so no 4WD remote tracks for us, but driving an average of 250 km a day doesn't scare us.
The classic itinerary would be this one :
http://goo.gl/maps/DTVFv A quick stop at Namburg, some hikes in Kalbarri, exploring Shark Bay/François Péron, then Cape Range/Ningaloo, Karijini and Millstream-Chichester.
Now the unclassic one would be something like this :
http://goo.gl/maps/KZliySkip Shark Bay and Kalbarri and add a huge chunk of outback. I'm a big sucker for obscure spots, and my travel mate loves the outback. My big question is : would it be worth it ? Is the Kalgoorie area interesting for a bushwalker (with only a 2WD at his disposal) ? What about Collier Range NP, Mount Augustus and Kennedy Range NP ? Bear in mind that I'm not very interested in mining or colonial history, that sort of thing. The second big question is, if this huge detour is worth it, which roads would be the most suitable (meaning : the less corrugated) for our vehicle (especially going to Mount Augustus) ?
So to sum it up : are the bushwalking opportunities (scenery, wildlife, crowds...) in François Péron and Kalbarri better than the ones between Kalgoorlie and Newman ? It's a tough one, because everybody's following the coast, and almost nobody knows anything about the small NPs and reserves along the Kalgoorlie/Newman axis.
Thanks in advance for your help.
PS : I don't even bother asking about a book regarding walks in the area, I've found none, only the DEC brochures and the great Atlas & Guide Perth to Pilbara by Hema.