Kookynie WA

Travelled: 75km via Leonora and Kookynie to Niagara Dam free bush camp

So we woke up this morning having gone back to deciding to travel along The Great Central Road to Alice Springs. We got the NT border permit online with no problems. But unfortunately the permits to travel through https://www.ngaanyatjarraku.wa.gov.au  can only be done Mon-Fri. We called the Warburton Road House to get some advice on how difficult it is only to be told that it would be best to wait to see how the Covid-19 situation was developing in NT. So upon much deliberating we went back returning home via the Nullarbor. It was not worth the risk of being stuck in quarantine somewhere. We did a load of washing at the Leonora campground. Went for a walk up and down the Main Street.

Then we drove 56km on the scenic route to Kookynie: A Living Ghost Town.

From having 3,500 residents in 1907, only less than 20 now live here. There are 22 interpretive signs illustrating what life was like back then.

The Grand Hotel is one 100year old building that still offers unique outback hospitality, especially the horse that acts as a guard dog at the door.

We had a drink and a chat with the proprietor, who seems a bit down on their luck. We did spot of For Sale sing around the corner if anyone is interested.

Not far out of town is Niagara Dam that offers some lovely bush camping. We stationed ourselves at the base of the dam wall built in 1897. Amazingly Camels were used to bring the concrete needed for its construction. We went for a walk around the dam.

Then we enjoyed a roast for dinner.