Mundatharrda 2026 Day 23

Day 23 - 30/7/26

Time to head south and eventually to Perth folks. A good 460km drive south on the Great Northern Highway to set up overnight at Bilyuin Pool for the night just north of Meekatharra. Nice little location on the upper Murchison (further inland from  Ballinyoo Bridge). 

It’s difficult to describe just how invasive the Pilbara red dust is. It permeates every surface, every gap, however minute, and turns stuff a conformist terracotta, including my aged white hair!

I have clocked over 3000km for this adventure thus far. The mighty Merc keeps on keeping on. 

Mundatharrda 2026 Day 22

 Day 22 - 29/7/26

A reluctant drive out to the highway again to head a little further south to the Mt Robinson 24hr stop which comes complete with its own hike trail.

Got there early enough to ascend today. What a pleasant surprise. I tried to ignore the mining machinations to the north and take in the natural wonder. Just beaut. Lots of off piste opportunities as well. I was able to find my way across to the escarpment cliff face. A commanding view indeed. Also spied a real #rockwallaby 

Ended up clocking up 15km all up and the body felt great. Match practice is so important. Got back down and set up camp at the mouth of the gorge to find a pair of resident Pied Butcher Birds nearby.

Certainly not as quiet as the last location but will do nicely. Nor is there any information about the wonderful hike trail. Seems weird to me.

There seems to be some conjecture that this mountain is also known as Wirlbiwirlbi 🤷🏼‍♀️ . Anyway my climb set is now complete for this trip:

Beedoboondu ✅

Jarndunmunha ✅

Punurrunha ✅

Wirlbiwirlbi ✅

Mt Robinson(?) ✅

First peak

The summit 

Old survey mark

Going up hike deets

Wandering around top deets

The lower gorge

Coming back down deets

Drone’s up

The Governor across the highway 

Mundatharrda 2026 Day 21

 Day 21 - 28/7/26

Hiked up and back all on my lonesome. The wind was howling all the way up and down. Pretty cold as well. Carried the drone for naught as it was way too windy.

Got back and decided to stay another night. The wonders of retirement with nary a timeframe and all the equipment to make things comfortable. The solitude here is too special to cut short. A splendid location indeed. Not one visible artificial light, no music, no voices, nada, perfect. No dingoes spotted or heard either. …and then the iron ore train comes along …

There was another solo female hiker going up when I was coming down. She had parked next to my camp. Her car failed to start a few times when she went to depart so I brought out the battery jump pack and got her going.

Beedoboondu ✅

Jarndunmunha ✅

Punurrunha ✅

Wirlbiwirlbi ✅

Mt Robinson ⚠️

4WD track all the way to the top

Looking back

Getting closer 

Side gorge

Nearly there 

Summit cairn 

Gorge over the back

Narrow ridge

On the ridge

Looking back to the summit

Hike deets