October 2016
The last attraction for our 3rd day road trip takes us to Hippo’s Yawn, near Hyden. The drive from Emu Point to the Hippo’s Yawn is a 353km drive and takes close to 4 hours. On our way, we passed many pink coloured lakes which could be salt lakes. Our normal 2WD car prohibits us from driving up close to the lakes although it is near to the main road. So suffice by just taking photos from the roadside.
Passed by many pink lakes on the way to Hyden. These lakes are not large and looks shallow.
This lake not so obviously pink as the lake above. Could these be salt lakes?.
Driving route from Emu Point to Hippo’s Yawn. Click to enlarge.
Driving through Hyden,town, we drove a further 4km passing Wave Rock Caravan Park, (the entrance to Wave Rock) straight to Hippo’s Yawn. Direct vehicle access to the Hippo’s Yawn is off Wave Rock road, via a 200m gravel road. This would be a much better option to visit Hippo’s Yawn rather than walking 1km from Wave Rock.
Gravel entrance and car park in-front of the Hippo’s Yawn.
Being the second most visited site in Hyden after Wave Rock, the Hippo’s Yawn is a 12.6m giant granite boulder with a cave weathered out at its middle to form what appears to be, a hippo opening its mouth. It is located 5km outside Hyden but close to the Wave Rock. Finished taking photos and selfies, we back-tracked to Wave Rock Caravan Park to check-in to our cabin where we spent a night.
Ah .. ha, caught the hippo yawning.
The Hippos Yawn is about a 1km walk from Wave Rock. You can walk or drive to Hippo’s Yawn.
Some facts about the Hippos Yawn.
After a late lunch, we visited Wave Rock, that irresistible force that brought us to Australia for the first time. Although Ayers Rock is our prime destination, driving 3,670km (one-way) from Perth to Uluru is out of our league. Domestic flight and accommodation at Ayers Rock are rather high thus making Wave Rock, our more realistic alternative for the moment. Entrance to the Wave Rock is situated close to the vehicle parking area, a mere 30 seconds drive from our cabin or a few minutes walk away.
Hyden rock, where Wave Rock and the Hippo’s Yawn are located, emerges from a flat surrounding land 4km outside of Hyden township. Entrance to the Wave Rock is through Wave Rock Caravan Park. Drive about 150m in and there is a vehicle parking area towards your left that can accommodate cars, buses, caravan, etc. There is an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle payable at the ticket machine in the parking area or in the kiosk at the entrance.
A $10 entrance fee per motor vehicle payable. You’re exempted if you stay at the Wave Rock Caravan Park.
At the entrance to Wave Rock, there are information boards detailing history of the rock and its geology. Initially you’ll be walking on tiled passageway, than gravel path through trees and undergrowth that will eventually leads you to the rock face of Wave Rock. In spring, you will find orchids and flowers growing on the grounds. Walking around Wave Rock, you will find interpretive signage enlightening you on the history of the rock and its surroundings. It’s a short walk from the parking area to the face of Wave Rock.
Board welcoming us to the Wave Rock.
Tiled passageway to the Wave Rock.
From here on,it’s a gravel track.
That way to Hippos Yawn, the opposite to Wave Rock. It’s a shorter walk to Hippo’s Yawn if you start from the parking area instead of the base of Wave Rock.
The iconic Wave Rock is a granite cliff hanging like an incredible 15 meter high 110m long giant wave, poised to crash. The concave granite face of Wave Rock with its vertical coloured stripes is caused by weathering and water erosion that created its present form. Water from springs running down the rock dissolve minerals adding to the colouring of the stripes. Crystals from Hyden Rock has been dated to being 2.7 billion years old, being amongst the oldest in Australia.
During our visit to Wave Rock at 5:20 pm, we were about the only people there. We guess most of the visitors are day trippers and would have left by late afternoon. It’s a 4 hours drive to Perth.
o—– Wave Rock —–o
Towards your right, at the end of Wave Rock, there is a dam with a steel stairway by its side leading up onto the rock. It is an easy climb up the stairway and worth it for the spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. A 3.6km walking track leads up, over and across the rock than to a walking trail that links up with nearby Hippos Yawn and across to Lake Magic, Wave Rock airport and back (refer guide map below).
Towards the end of the base of Wave Rock, take this track to climb up the to the top.
Walk till you reach the dam where there is a metal staircase (blocked by the signboard) to climb up.
Staircase by the dam’s side. The dam isn’t big actually. Wonder whether it’s sufficient for Hyden’s community.
Some facts about the catchment area.
The dam on the catchment area is for drinking water for the town of Hyden.
Guide to your 3.6km walk of the surroundings. Credit:kondinin.wa.gov.au
The rock is a catchment area for the town’s water supply A a two feet high concrete retaining slabs are erected along its top directing water to the dam nearby, apart from small stream running to the dam.
On top of Wave Rock, concrete slabs erected to catch rain water that is funneled to the dam.
Nice evening view before twilight above Wave Rock.
View overseeing the Wave Rock Caravan Park where we stayed overnight.
