Monday 23rd to Saturday 28th August 2010.
The Tour is centred on the Mingenew, Three Springs and Morawa district. This district is the centre of the Midlands Wildflower Country and offers excellent bike riding and, carpets of everlastings as well as the unique and distinctive Wreath Flower, plus many other species of wildflowers.
The Wildflower Country Web Site provides a wealth of information on the flowers and the towns in the Midlands area.
The deadline for joining this tour was 21st July.
Midlands Wildflower Tour Programme
Drive from Perth to Mingenew Springs caravan park, Lee Steere Street, Mingenew.368 km. Dinner at Hotel or provided by local voluntary group.
Set up camp at Caravan Park.
After the drive, stretch your legs with a stroll around
Mingenew and visit the Historical Museum. Mingenew
Hill offers views over the town and the surrounding area.
Happy hour at 5.00 before Dinner at Pub.
Long ride via Mullewa Road to CoalSeam, 49 km, includes 14 km gravel. Rideable with hybrid tyres but difficult with thin tyres. We plan to have drivers who will volunteer to transport riders through to lunch stop. Short easier ride 33 km via Coalseam Road. No morning tea stop on this ride.Take adequate food and water with youand when you arrive at Coalseam Conservation Park, explore the river, the gorge and yet more wildflowers, before enjoying a picnic lunch/morning tea break at CoalSeam among the wildflowers. Bring fly net. Return to Mingenew via Coal Seam Road, 33km.
Total distance for the Coalseam Road ride is 66 km ,alternatively via the Mullewa Road the ride is 82 km. which includes 14km of gravel as you ride through the park.Campers will leave cars at Mingenew Caravan Park to be picked up on Friday afternoon. Mingenew toThree Springs. Stronger riders can ride East on the Mingenew Morawa Road past Mount Budd, Yandanooka NE Road and, Midland Road to Three Springs, total 78 km.
Short ride 53 km via the Midlands Road. Morning tea at Yandanooka Hall at approx 40 km and 20 km respectively. Lunch. Buy your own in Three Springs. Overnight stay at the Football Ground for everyone. Dinner provided at sport centre by voluntary group. Ride to Three Springs via Midland Rd, 53 km.Ride Three Springs to Morawa Caravan Park. 56 km. Add 14 km if we visit the Talc Mine, which visit is still being negotiated. Lunch.Buy your own at Bakery.
Explore Morawa including the Holy Cross Catholic Church built by the priest architect Monsignor Hawes in 1933 and St David's Anglican church also built of local stone in 1933.
Coffee and cake at the Bakery for afternoon tea.
Camping at Caravan Park. Dinner at Morawa Hotel.
Ride Morawa to Mingenew. 56 km. Climb Mt Budd and spend time looking at the wildflowers on the way. Visit to Lupin flour mill on a farm halfway being negotiated. Lunch. Buy your own at the Bakery. Campers pick up their cars from Mingenew caravan park. Drive to Dongara via my nephew's farm on the way.
Pick up cars and drive 57km to camp overnight at the Dongara Tourist Park at George St, Port Denison, Dongara.
Dinner at Dongara Hotel.
For those still keen for more riding. Ride Pt Denison to Strawberry Bridge on Midland Rd 34km, and back the same way or via Milo Rd, 43km. Total 77km. Including 8 km that is not bituminised.
Or, take a leisurely ride around Port Denison and Dongara looking at the historical buildings, the obelisk at the point, the view of the mouth of the Irwin River, the old Mill, etc, finishing with coffee and cake under the Morton Bay Fig trees in the main street of Dongara.
Return home south via the Indian Ocean Road visiting Green head, Jurien Bay, Cervantes on the way. Those who want to stay a day or two there are plenty of things to do. Take a walk along the beach or along the river. Those who have brought kayaks can paddle on the Irwin River and in the harbour. There is a lovely picnic spot on the Greenough River at Ellendale, inland from Walkway, which is suitable for a short paddle.
Caravan Option.
Members may wish to bring their caravan and tour the wildflowers during the day while enjoying the social activities with the bike riders in the evening. Whether you travel by car, bike or a combination of both. Because everybody is arranging their own accommodation, the arrangements are totally flexible and the choice is yours.
The bike rides concentrate on Mingenew, Three Springs and Morawa. But should you choose to view the wildflowers by car, you would be able to enjoy far more of the Midlands including: