Hiking Chadoora Hut to Dwellingup Bibbulmun Track -

Day 10 of our Bibbulmun track adventure took us 21kms from Chadoora Hut to Dwellingup, a much anticipated stop. Mainly, due to the promise of a shower, cold beer and a more comfortable bed.

Well, two out of three wasn’t too bad, more on that later!

Todays hike also took us along a railway line, which was really special and added that little touch of magic to the hike.

People you meet on the track

There have not been a large amount of people on the track as we were hiking earlier than the official hiking season starts. This morning however, we had a chat with a lady who was running the Bibbulmun track end to end. And trying to do so in 17 days! Crikey!

She had been asked to take holidays from work due to covid and had 21 days off. What do you do on holidays? Run the Bibbulmun Track, why not. WOW hey!

She had done 62kms yesterday and was off very early to get another full day in. Incredible the people you meet and the journey they are on. Really hope she finished her goal and made it all the way to Albany.

Packs getting lighter

As we are on Day 10, our food rations have been perfect and we are feeling a LOT lighter than when we begun!

There is nothing at this stage we would offload.

Brett says he is doing fine even though he has a pack weight of 23 odd kilograms with luxuries like our goal zero solar panel and the tent. We are truly lucky to have him.

On the topic of packs, I am very thankful I wore a bum bag with all quick access items like glasses cleaner, paw paw cream for lips & chaffing, kool mints, bandaids, homeopathic remedies and other things.

Etmilyn Station

On our way to Dwellingup we stumbled on the Etmilyn Station, deep in the forest, a reminder of the areas logging history.

We were approximately 8 kilometres from Dwelly and very keen to be on the move.

But, what an opportunity to put the packs down and explore the old locomotive there.

Hotham Valley Railway provides: Etmilyn was first established in the early 1920’s as a steam locomotive watering point with water coming from a small dam and gravity fed to an overhead tank at the railway siding.

After the introduction of diesel locomotives the tank was removed. In Welsh, Etmilyn means “small animal”.

We loved exploring, but time to get back on the track!

Hiking in the forest

There is something magical about walking in the forest and the peace it brings you. We are all affected differently, but there is no doubt we are happiest adventuring and this adventure is definitely living up, to our expectations.

The towering trees, ever changing landscape, birdlife, lizards as you wander amongst so many years of growing, witness to so many stories and natural beauty all around, if only the trees could talk!

It truly is energising, just by being there.

Accomodation in Dwellingup

Keep in mind that Dwellingup is booked out most of the year especially on long weekends and holidays.

The Dwellingup Caravan Park has donga/cabins for hikers available, well most of the time.

I had rang ahead to book us in and got a support worker who said there is no need to book, just come in.

Upon our arrival there was not a donga/cabin available after all, that had three single beds. So after a disagreement we took one with two single beds.

Luckily Brett and I still love each other after 20+ years LOL. Either way the bunks beds should of been replaced long ago, they were in poor condition and we left with a bad taste in our mouth.

We are planners, we had tried to do the right thing and at $65 a night would of appreciated a bed each.

NOTE: This was in March 2020, the caravan park is now under new management and has a good reputation so hopefully you will not have the same experience we did.

Dinner at the Dwelly Pub

So after sorting out the accommodation, showering and washing our clothes, buying our food from the IGA for the next few days on the track (enough to get to Collie), we set off for the pub.

Beer (and cider and orange juice) never tasted so good. It went down way too quick and was replaced with another. A big dinner of surf and turf has never been enjoyed so much either. Yum, Yum, Yum!!

Closing comments: We were not to know it at this time, but Dwellingup was to become our home for a while, not too long after this!