Gin Gin & New Norcia

As we were passing through Gin Gin on our way to New Norcia, we noticed a lovely park with a creek, ducks and even a paddlewheel in it, so we stopped and had a delightful walk through the park, discovered a lily pond as well as a historic cemetery and church. One family lost 3 little kids within 6 days back in 1865 – I am guessing from some disease –shows how tough it was back in the pioneer days! We also went on a board walk through a forested swamp is just across the road. All in all it is a very pretty little town.


Moving on, we stopped for lunch at Wannamal (400 in the Camps 5 book). This is a good place to free camp. It is on a quiet road – not many trucks at all. It has flushing toilets that are cleaned daily, a good gas BBQ with a delightful tiled mosaic concrete table under cover. We will come back this way and stay.

 We finally arrived in New Norcia where the camp fees are just $7 per night for self sufficient vans. We stayed for 2 nights. We took in the 2 hour walking tour as well as the museum. Our guide was very informative with a slight off beat sense of humour. We enjoyed the tour. There are 7 chapels and we went into 5 of them plus other buildings etc. There are a lots of statues, altars, artwork etc depicting Mary, Joseph or one of the many saints as can be expected in a Catholic Church. Neither of us is big into art but the museum was still very interesting and also has a lot of historical artefact too. The next morning, I went along to a prayer session with the monks which I found very good. The songs and prayers are sing song chanted and easy to follow (with a paper printed of such) and I was grateful that there is no reference to Mary, Joseph or any of the saints in the prayer meeting. It is all directed to God and our Lord Jesus. (The monks pray 6 times a day, and the public is invited to join if desired.) We also stopped by the hotel which has a big grand staircase.