Kalgoorlie Rally

We have just spent 7 days at our motorhome rally in Kalgoorlie.  Here is an aerial photo of the site.  There were 800 motorhomes and around 1400 people here.  It wasnt the best rally we have attended, not enough on site to do or see, the trade stands few, the entertainment boring, except for the Goldrush Ball and then the entertainment was outstanding, food outlets virtually non existent, seminars not well attended etc.   It was prob. an achievement to have that many attend from all corners of the land.  Just wish it had been more exciting and interesting.   Perhaps we expected too much, Im not sure. The Open Day is usually huge at our rallies, a fantastic money spinner for the local charities.  We didnt see many locals at all that day.  There was a huge custom car show on (Rick missed out) and the local elections, both of which prob. kept people away.   In saying all of the above we were extremely busy anyway.  There was lots of catching up with friends we had met along the way to the rally and those we have met at previous rallies over the years.   In fact, we barely saw anything of Kalgoorlie until after the rally.   We did a 2.5 hr. Superpit tour of the large gold mine on the perimeter of the township, a 25 min. joy flight (I was packing myself until we were back on the ground) over the Pit, the rally site, and the whole of Kalgoorlie and a tour of the oldest working brothel in WA.  All of the above were equally fantastic.

Coral & Yve waiting for the tour. It was 2hrs. long.  Mother & daughter own & run it.  It was such a good tour, I couldnt stop recommending it.  Our hubbies werent interested in going.

The Superpit.   It was enormous from the ground but when we went over it in the plane it was unbeleivable.

These trucks can hold up to 300 tonnes of rock per load.   They look like matchbox cars from above but are awesome up close.    

The Kalgoorlie Golf Course, all red earth and greens.

 Our "neighbours" at the Rally were Coral & Terry from the Gold Coast.  We had met and camped up with them previously.  Great couple, but Rick and Terry hit it off cos he is a hot rodder.   Former panel beater who does up cars for himself and others.  He showed Rick photos of his cars and Rick was in awe.  They were glued to the hip for most of the rally and almost every happy hour.  Oh how Rick wished he lived near Terry.

We left the rally Monday morning, camped up at a free camp in the heart of the township and decided to start looking around.  Unfortunately it was very hot, arnd 36 and we gave up by lunchtime and headed back to the bus.   We are museumed out,  and there are two biggies here, so I think we will give most of Kalgoorlie a miss.   The town itself is full of beautiful old buildings which we love.  In 2010 there was an earthquake here that has damaged a number of buildings quite significantly.  Lots of scaffolding around them, either undergoing repairs or complete restorations.  Coles, Woollies, K Mart, Target all here so its quite a big city compared to all those we have passed thru on the way here.   In 1970 when we were here last it was a mess of a place to visit.

We are currently about 260kms from Kalgoorlie camped on the banks of the Menzies Dam at Leonora.  Doing a bit of a Goldfields Loop thru some old, abandoned, ghost like towns that will lead us back down to Kalgoorlie in the next few days.   We will sightsee a little more there and then head back towards Perth, detouring here and there to see  some things we missed.  No plans past this point.