Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Cairns August
Cairns Queensland 20th August
Hello Family and friends. Well we have done an incredible amount of driving in the last week or so. Last time we blogged we were in Darwin. We had a great time there. This included watching the Olympics opening ceremony. The Olympics have been great; we have been listening to ABC radio all the time on the road. Hope you have all been enjoying it too!
Well we spent a week in Darwin. The weather was a clear and glorious 32-35 degrees which was lovely. We did the usual site seeing around town, loved the Aviation museum, NT museum, Mindal Markets, Wild Life Park to mention a few. The notable feature of Darwin would have been the constant overhead noise from the aircraft. Between the domestic planes and the RAAF jet fighters and cargo planes. All day and all night really low overhead. Harry thought he was in Top gun!@#?! Seriously a great place to visit, at this time of year.
We had a fantastic time at Litchfield National Park too. The stunning water falls and walks were lovely when they were croc free. Crocodiles everywhere. The scenery was just spectacular to say the least with plenty of amazing swims below majestic waterfalls, which has become one of our favorite pastimes while away from the coast.
Speaking of crocs we then head off to Crocsville, Kakadu. We didn’t really know what to expect but were very pleasantly surprised. We arrived and went to Fogg Dam which was a stunning floodplain full of birdlife. Next off for an Adelaide River ‘jumping croc’ tour. Sounds touristy was touristy but fun. Plenty of bang for your buck as the grey nomads would put it. You head off on a large double storey barge looking for crocs, within 500m crocs are swimming for the boat. HUGE 3-5 m salties (saltwater crocodiles). Then in great NT style they dangle a huge chunk of buffalo meat over the edge and tease the crocs until they jump out of the water for us to gork at. Corny but a great way to see these fearsome creatures especially for the kids.
Off to Jabiru in the north east edge of Kakadu we head. The mining town built for the Jabiluka Uranium mine. It was OK. We tripped up to Umbirr and the aboriginal rock galleries in the north of the park. It was stunning, a completely new experience. The rock art was clear and large with lots open for the public to appreciate. The whole area is based around a large group of huge rocks. At the top of the rocks you climb to a point where you get 360 degree views across Kakadu and Arhnem Land. Spectacular site to say the least especially at sunset.
Cooinda was the next stop, yellow water billabong, beautiful and full of huge crocs. And more stunning aboriginal art galleries. From here Piper and Melis went on a bush tucker Safari for the afternoon with an aboriginal lady Patsy. It was a fantastic experience. Off we went and spent the afternoon searching for freshwater mussels, turtles. We feast on Water Lily stem and seeds, Heart of the mini palm, Green ants (yes we ate them and they were great like sour warhead lollies!!!) Also bush honey which was some of the most decadent flavours I have ever taste. To finish off we prepared and cooked Magpie geese and Barramundi aboriginal style with damper. Piper and I were in charge of plucking the feathers off the geese, we looked like feather dusters at the end. All eaten on the edge of a huge floodplain with a million plus birds. It was awesome, especially considering National Geographic were filming and Piper, only child on the tour, was the star of the show. Kakadu was great!!
Off we head south to Katherine Gorge and Matarankas Bitter springs. These springs were the best of many we have been to. Imagine a winding river about 5 metres wide curving gently through a majestic palm forest. The water is croc free, 34 degrees and crystal clear and the sun is shining. We spent hours just floating down the current and relaxing in this serene setting. It was difficult to leave.
Off we head for Queensland via the Daly Waters. We drove for 4 days about 3000 + km on some of the worse roads we have experienced. Finally we arrived in tropical, overcast Townsville. Not content to stop we continue to drive north to the Daintree. The contrast in landscapes over this time was incredible, dry dusty central queensland to tropical rainforests.
We drove as far as Cooktown, the furthest north we will travel in Queensland. The Daintree and Cape Tribulation. The rainforest really does meet the sea, and from the beach you cannot see any signs of buildings, it was stunning.
We are now in Cairns, enjoying the perks of a large city after the rural life. I think the small time scene is much more our style though. Weather is cooler than Darwin 25-28 degrees but we are not complaining as we have heard you are having the worse winter in years, sorry we missed it, NOT!!
It is a strange feeling now, heading south as before Darwin we were always traveling away from home, but now we are on our way home in a long way round. Don’t be mislead however we won’t be back until Christmas.
Thanks again for all your lovely emails, texts and phone calls, we miss you all very much and think of you often.
Until next time. Love to you all.
Melis, Harry, Piper and Marlon XXXX
PS. Check the waves Harry surfed on a secret outer reef from Arhnem Land, see if you can spot the crocs in the line up!
Hello Family and friends. Well we have done an incredible amount of driving in the last week or so. Last time we blogged we were in Darwin. We had a great time there. This included watching the Olympics opening ceremony. The Olympics have been great; we have been listening to ABC radio all the time on the road. Hope you have all been enjoying it too!
Well we spent a week in Darwin. The weather was a clear and glorious 32-35 degrees which was lovely. We did the usual site seeing around town, loved the Aviation museum, NT museum, Mindal Markets, Wild Life Park to mention a few. The notable feature of Darwin would have been the constant overhead noise from the aircraft. Between the domestic planes and the RAAF jet fighters and cargo planes. All day and all night really low overhead. Harry thought he was in Top gun!@#?! Seriously a great place to visit, at this time of year.
We had a fantastic time at Litchfield National Park too. The stunning water falls and walks were lovely when they were croc free. Crocodiles everywhere. The scenery was just spectacular to say the least with plenty of amazing swims below majestic waterfalls, which has become one of our favorite pastimes while away from the coast.
Speaking of crocs we then head off to Crocsville, Kakadu. We didn’t really know what to expect but were very pleasantly surprised. We arrived and went to Fogg Dam which was a stunning floodplain full of birdlife. Next off for an Adelaide River ‘jumping croc’ tour. Sounds touristy was touristy but fun. Plenty of bang for your buck as the grey nomads would put it. You head off on a large double storey barge looking for crocs, within 500m crocs are swimming for the boat. HUGE 3-5 m salties (saltwater crocodiles). Then in great NT style they dangle a huge chunk of buffalo meat over the edge and tease the crocs until they jump out of the water for us to gork at. Corny but a great way to see these fearsome creatures especially for the kids.
Off to Jabiru in the north east edge of Kakadu we head. The mining town built for the Jabiluka Uranium mine. It was OK. We tripped up to Umbirr and the aboriginal rock galleries in the north of the park. It was stunning, a completely new experience. The rock art was clear and large with lots open for the public to appreciate. The whole area is based around a large group of huge rocks. At the top of the rocks you climb to a point where you get 360 degree views across Kakadu and Arhnem Land. Spectacular site to say the least especially at sunset.
Cooinda was the next stop, yellow water billabong, beautiful and full of huge crocs. And more stunning aboriginal art galleries. From here Piper and Melis went on a bush tucker Safari for the afternoon with an aboriginal lady Patsy. It was a fantastic experience. Off we went and spent the afternoon searching for freshwater mussels, turtles. We feast on Water Lily stem and seeds, Heart of the mini palm, Green ants (yes we ate them and they were great like sour warhead lollies!!!) Also bush honey which was some of the most decadent flavours I have ever taste. To finish off we prepared and cooked Magpie geese and Barramundi aboriginal style with damper. Piper and I were in charge of plucking the feathers off the geese, we looked like feather dusters at the end. All eaten on the edge of a huge floodplain with a million plus birds. It was awesome, especially considering National Geographic were filming and Piper, only child on the tour, was the star of the show. Kakadu was great!!
Off we head south to Katherine Gorge and Matarankas Bitter springs. These springs were the best of many we have been to. Imagine a winding river about 5 metres wide curving gently through a majestic palm forest. The water is croc free, 34 degrees and crystal clear and the sun is shining. We spent hours just floating down the current and relaxing in this serene setting. It was difficult to leave.
Off we head for Queensland via the Daly Waters. We drove for 4 days about 3000 + km on some of the worse roads we have experienced. Finally we arrived in tropical, overcast Townsville. Not content to stop we continue to drive north to the Daintree. The contrast in landscapes over this time was incredible, dry dusty central queensland to tropical rainforests.
We drove as far as Cooktown, the furthest north we will travel in Queensland. The Daintree and Cape Tribulation. The rainforest really does meet the sea, and from the beach you cannot see any signs of buildings, it was stunning.
We are now in Cairns, enjoying the perks of a large city after the rural life. I think the small time scene is much more our style though. Weather is cooler than Darwin 25-28 degrees but we are not complaining as we have heard you are having the worse winter in years, sorry we missed it, NOT!!
It is a strange feeling now, heading south as before Darwin we were always traveling away from home, but now we are on our way home in a long way round. Don’t be mislead however we won’t be back until Christmas.
Thanks again for all your lovely emails, texts and phone calls, we miss you all very much and think of you often.
Until next time. Love to you all.
Melis, Harry, Piper and Marlon XXXX
PS. Check the waves Harry surfed on a secret outer reef from Arhnem Land, see if you can spot the crocs in the line up!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Darwin
Monuments Cable beach Broome
Yardie Creek Exmouth
Yardie Creek Exmouth
ElQuestro Zeebeedee Springs More pics.
Riding camels in Cable beach Broome
Darwin August 2008
Darwin August 4th 2008
Well we find ourselves after an amazing couple of weeks since leaving Broome in very warm Darwin. We are pretty close to as far north in Australia as we will go. It feels a long way from home when you have driven.
We last signed off at Broome. We spent our last few days riding camels on the beach at sunset, watching the Staircase to the moon (reflection of rising moon on Roebuck mudflats) really stunning and swimming at Cable beach.
From Broome we head off to Derby and the start of the Gibb River Road and the Kimberley. We are now well and truly in Crocville. We arrived at the amazing Winjana Gorge. At first just an impressive gorge, at second glance home to 100+ large freshwater crocodiles that you can walk very close to. The kids loved it. From here we head to Tunnel Creek. This 750m long creek tunnel runs under a mountain range. Sounds nice except you have to wade through cold water in pitch black darkness that is home to Fresh water crocodiles and bats just to top off the scary experience. It got the heart racing especially with Harry the prankster. Kids loved it.
Over a week we then head through Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek, to the Purunlulu National Park or the Bungle Bungles as we all know. We left our van and took in our tent and drove some pretty crazy tracks to view this impressive site. The walks here we stunning and the Bungles breathtaking to say the least.
Off to the East Kimberley, Kununara, regroup and fuel up. Scrub ourselves of red dust. Kununara was moist and green after the red of the Kimberley. Off the El Questro next. This special station was incredible. Amazing gorge walks with refreshing pools to swim in and water falls. Also Hot Springs amongst palms and gorges. The camp ground was one of the best we stayed at complete with croc free swimming hole. Grassy sites and tall trees. Wyndam was a drive. Next off to Lake Argyle, an amazing inland sea and dam wall. We did some huge kilometers from here and finally crossed the border and entered the Northern Territory. Exciting as we have been in WA for a long time. We loved it but it is huge.
Our first stop at NT was Katherine. Again stunning warm Hot Springs, we will return here to do the National Parks. Nice to swim in the 35 degree weather. So here we are now in Darwin. The Kimberley was amazing, especially for sea lovers like ourselves who struggle inland.
Darwin is a lovely city, warm, green lots of places to swim and feels similar in size to Geelong.
Thank you for your emails they are great, we miss you all heaps. Can you believe we left home over 6 months ago now!!! Until we next write love to you all.
Well we find ourselves after an amazing couple of weeks since leaving Broome in very warm Darwin. We are pretty close to as far north in Australia as we will go. It feels a long way from home when you have driven.
We last signed off at Broome. We spent our last few days riding camels on the beach at sunset, watching the Staircase to the moon (reflection of rising moon on Roebuck mudflats) really stunning and swimming at Cable beach.
From Broome we head off to Derby and the start of the Gibb River Road and the Kimberley. We are now well and truly in Crocville. We arrived at the amazing Winjana Gorge. At first just an impressive gorge, at second glance home to 100+ large freshwater crocodiles that you can walk very close to. The kids loved it. From here we head to Tunnel Creek. This 750m long creek tunnel runs under a mountain range. Sounds nice except you have to wade through cold water in pitch black darkness that is home to Fresh water crocodiles and bats just to top off the scary experience. It got the heart racing especially with Harry the prankster. Kids loved it.
Over a week we then head through Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek, to the Purunlulu National Park or the Bungle Bungles as we all know. We left our van and took in our tent and drove some pretty crazy tracks to view this impressive site. The walks here we stunning and the Bungles breathtaking to say the least.
Off to the East Kimberley, Kununara, regroup and fuel up. Scrub ourselves of red dust. Kununara was moist and green after the red of the Kimberley. Off the El Questro next. This special station was incredible. Amazing gorge walks with refreshing pools to swim in and water falls. Also Hot Springs amongst palms and gorges. The camp ground was one of the best we stayed at complete with croc free swimming hole. Grassy sites and tall trees. Wyndam was a drive. Next off to Lake Argyle, an amazing inland sea and dam wall. We did some huge kilometers from here and finally crossed the border and entered the Northern Territory. Exciting as we have been in WA for a long time. We loved it but it is huge.
Our first stop at NT was Katherine. Again stunning warm Hot Springs, we will return here to do the National Parks. Nice to swim in the 35 degree weather. So here we are now in Darwin. The Kimberley was amazing, especially for sea lovers like ourselves who struggle inland.
Darwin is a lovely city, warm, green lots of places to swim and feels similar in size to Geelong.
Thank you for your emails they are great, we miss you all heaps. Can you believe we left home over 6 months ago now!!! Until we next write love to you all.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Broome WA 20 july 08
Broome WA 18 July 2008
Well we write again from Broome. A lovely station on beautiful beaches with a fantastic climate. Weather is nothing short of perfect. 28-30 degree breathless days, no flies or bugs. Last time we wrote we had just arrived at Exmouth. Exmouth initially appeared to be a bland and seemingly uninteresting place, but after 10 days here we all feel the complete opposite. We stayed at the lighthouse caravan park out of town on the edge of Cape Range National park. Here we met up with our friend Frank Hayter. Frank went to Peru with us. We had several good surfs at the dunes about 5 minutes away and Harry surfed Yardie Creek several times and enjoyed it. We went into Cape Range National Park every day where the kids could surf a great surf break at Wobbiri in clear warm water with turtles to keep them company. We did lots of snorkeling particularly at Turquoise bay where you do a drift dive. We saw lots of turtles, sharks, dugongs and fish. Really fantastic. Nice warm clear water too!!
Half way through our time at Exmouth we decided to snorkel with the whale sharks. Initially only Melis and Piper were going but we decided all to do it, which was fab. With another family we have been traveling with the Schindlers we embark on one of the most amazing experiences of our life. It was incredible. You are on a boat about 3 km off the coast, at the back of Ningaloo reef standing on the marlin board (step at the back of the boat) waiting for the big GOGOGO!!! Off you all jump, look down at a bottom you cannot see then focus ahead, within 30 seconds a huge 10 metre long 4 m girth whale sharks swims straight for you. You are within 3 metres of the shark with your heart in your mouth. Moments later you are right beside the shark and swimming frantically along side trying to keep up. Which you do for 10 minutes then group together like bait and wait for the boat to pick you up. Incredible. We do this 6 times which was amazing getting longer each time and on different whalesharks. Second time we could see the bottom of the sea which was a bit weird, along with turtles and reef sharks swimming by, but you are way too busy being gobsmacked by the whaleshark. You could see the outline of the whaleshark from the boat. Piper loved the experience. She is one brave kid not hesitating for a second at any point. After we finished diving the whale sharks, the boat went in search of Manta Rays. Apparently they had been scarce this season, but not that day. The boat found 4! All of us including Marlon went looking for them. After 3 false starts we were amongst these huge flying sea giants. The swam figure eights around the group coming close enough to touch. Incredible. Piper said after getting out the water that the Manta Rays were better than Disneyland!! We were all stoked!!
After a few more days hanging at the Cape Range National Park, surfing and snorkeling we said goodbyes to our mate Frankie and head 600km inland for Tom Price and Karijini National Park. Tom Price is a huge mining town, we did a tour of the Rio Tinto Open cut Iron ore mine, the tonka trucks were huge, Marlon thought it was great. Then we head further on to Karijini National Park. We camped at Dales camp and spent our days hiking and swimming the labyrinth of gorges. Wading freezing cold water with kids on the shoulders through ducts and ladders and tunnels to beautiful pools. We were going to stay a day and stayed 5 hiking different gorges everyday.
Then onto Eighty Mile beach via Port Hedland. Port Hedland is a huge mining port and not a place we choose to pause. Eighty Mile was a great place to shower and wash after lacking these amenities for a week. Huge wide beaches with 8 metre tides. Then to Barn Hill a cheap camp outside Broome. Really pretty beaches with red cliffs.
Yesterday we arrived in Broome. We were expecting the worse but pleasantly surprised. Really pretty, like Byron Bay a little. Cable beach is nice, kids have been surfing here and having a blast. Tonight watched the sunset and then watched the moonrise over the mud flats and reflect on the mudflats ‘Staircase to the moon’. Suprisingly stunning. The next few days we will finish exploring Broome then head onto Derby and Gibb River Road.
We hope everyone is well back at home and enjoyinglife. We miss you all very much and think of you often. We love getting you emails. Keep in touch. Speak to you soon, Mel, Harry, Piper and Marlon XXXXX
Well we write again from Broome. A lovely station on beautiful beaches with a fantastic climate. Weather is nothing short of perfect. 28-30 degree breathless days, no flies or bugs. Last time we wrote we had just arrived at Exmouth. Exmouth initially appeared to be a bland and seemingly uninteresting place, but after 10 days here we all feel the complete opposite. We stayed at the lighthouse caravan park out of town on the edge of Cape Range National park. Here we met up with our friend Frank Hayter. Frank went to Peru with us. We had several good surfs at the dunes about 5 minutes away and Harry surfed Yardie Creek several times and enjoyed it. We went into Cape Range National Park every day where the kids could surf a great surf break at Wobbiri in clear warm water with turtles to keep them company. We did lots of snorkeling particularly at Turquoise bay where you do a drift dive. We saw lots of turtles, sharks, dugongs and fish. Really fantastic. Nice warm clear water too!!
Half way through our time at Exmouth we decided to snorkel with the whale sharks. Initially only Melis and Piper were going but we decided all to do it, which was fab. With another family we have been traveling with the Schindlers we embark on one of the most amazing experiences of our life. It was incredible. You are on a boat about 3 km off the coast, at the back of Ningaloo reef standing on the marlin board (step at the back of the boat) waiting for the big GOGOGO!!! Off you all jump, look down at a bottom you cannot see then focus ahead, within 30 seconds a huge 10 metre long 4 m girth whale sharks swims straight for you. You are within 3 metres of the shark with your heart in your mouth. Moments later you are right beside the shark and swimming frantically along side trying to keep up. Which you do for 10 minutes then group together like bait and wait for the boat to pick you up. Incredible. We do this 6 times which was amazing getting longer each time and on different whalesharks. Second time we could see the bottom of the sea which was a bit weird, along with turtles and reef sharks swimming by, but you are way too busy being gobsmacked by the whaleshark. You could see the outline of the whaleshark from the boat. Piper loved the experience. She is one brave kid not hesitating for a second at any point. After we finished diving the whale sharks, the boat went in search of Manta Rays. Apparently they had been scarce this season, but not that day. The boat found 4! All of us including Marlon went looking for them. After 3 false starts we were amongst these huge flying sea giants. The swam figure eights around the group coming close enough to touch. Incredible. Piper said after getting out the water that the Manta Rays were better than Disneyland!! We were all stoked!!
After a few more days hanging at the Cape Range National Park, surfing and snorkeling we said goodbyes to our mate Frankie and head 600km inland for Tom Price and Karijini National Park. Tom Price is a huge mining town, we did a tour of the Rio Tinto Open cut Iron ore mine, the tonka trucks were huge, Marlon thought it was great. Then we head further on to Karijini National Park. We camped at Dales camp and spent our days hiking and swimming the labyrinth of gorges. Wading freezing cold water with kids on the shoulders through ducts and ladders and tunnels to beautiful pools. We were going to stay a day and stayed 5 hiking different gorges everyday.
Then onto Eighty Mile beach via Port Hedland. Port Hedland is a huge mining port and not a place we choose to pause. Eighty Mile was a great place to shower and wash after lacking these amenities for a week. Huge wide beaches with 8 metre tides. Then to Barn Hill a cheap camp outside Broome. Really pretty beaches with red cliffs.
Yesterday we arrived in Broome. We were expecting the worse but pleasantly surprised. Really pretty, like Byron Bay a little. Cable beach is nice, kids have been surfing here and having a blast. Tonight watched the sunset and then watched the moonrise over the mud flats and reflect on the mudflats ‘Staircase to the moon’. Suprisingly stunning. The next few days we will finish exploring Broome then head onto Derby and Gibb River Road.
We hope everyone is well back at home and enjoyinglife. We miss you all very much and think of you often. We love getting you emails. Keep in touch. Speak to you soon, Mel, Harry, Piper and Marlon XXXXX
Saturday, June 28, 2008
exmouth more pics
Above Pinnacle Dessert
Above Harry Jakes Point Kalbarri
Above Harry Jakes Point Kalbarri
Above Jakes Point Kalbarri!! Tomestones @ Gnaraloo!!
Exmouth WA
Hello there, is any body there????? I know it seems like we have just fallen off the face of the earth, but we are just traveling through the communication impaired and frequently impossible Western Australian outback. Well we are back in cyber space for a small and hopefully more regular period.
Today finds us in sunny and windy Exmouth. Last blogg we had just arrived back in oz after Peru and US. Let us fill in the blanks for the last 6 weeks.
After a fab trip overseas we arrived back to a sunny Perth. We spent a week here re grouping and exploring. We had an overnight trip to Rottnest Island which was great. Off to the Pinnacles we went. We decided to ride through this limestone finger desert on our bikes which was fantastic. See pics.
We then hit the road and head for Geralton, stayed at Greenough River mouth and surfed fun waves. Next head off to Kalbarri. Arrived at Jakes Point to 8 foot bombs, not a good way start the heaviest wave in Australia. As Harry learnt he had his best go downs on the smaller days with a good mopping over the reef. Did a bit of fishing and caught and threw back about 2 dozen tiny nemos. Great for kids big and small. Meet up with some great families whom we continued to travel on with for a while. After 5 days at Kalbarri we made our way to Shark Bay/Denham/Monkey Mia. Much to Harry and Piper surprise there was NO monkeys only man eating mosquitos and untouchable dolphins. We were going to spend a week here but the mossies were so bad we left after two nights. So bad in fact they bombed the entire town after we left. Monkey Mia was great for the kids they got to experience dolphins close up and feed them fish BUT no touchy touch unlike Seaworld USA, much to Marlon’s disappointment. Although a Pelican did try and eat Marlon for lunch!!!
From Shark bay we drove to Carnavon to refuel, water and food up before heading into Gnaraloo. Great fruit and veggies!! Then off to Gnaraloo. 2 hour sandy road into 3 mile camp was a good work out for the van. Had booked months ago so had a fantastic site right on beach front next to lagoon. Wow what an amazing place. Simple existence, luke warm, low pressure, salty bore water showers, toilets and open camp fires. BYO everything else including copius amounts of h2o. No mobile phone reception. We ended up extending and spent a total of 5 weeks in here with 3 trips to Carnavon for supplies an friends. It was fantastic, best place we have been to date. Surf was great, lots of variety depending upon the conditions. The Lagoon out front was sheltered and housed an abundance of tropical coral, fish and turtles in less than 2 metres of water. So many fish that one day melis had a swim got out and was chatting and thought that she had a bug crawl into her bather bottoms but on examination pulled out a 10cm fish. Every day we would snorkel. The water was warm and clear. Simple stunning. The kids loved snorkeling and paddle boarding around the lagoon.
After a week a good friend of ours Jeff Sweeney arrived solo to spend a week with us. We had good weather and surf and lots of fun. Surfing turtles and Tombstones. Camping next to us were the 4 Rye lads, Hank, Flash, Rob and Kelvin!! We had a great time with them too. Hey Sweens jokes over!! But we were only alone for 2 days for Paul Trigger and Simon Forward arrived. They had hired a caravan up the back but when they arrived and opened up it had not been used this season. It was full of mice, spiders and dirt. So after about 2 minutes discussion they moved into Parklane and the East wing at Camp Harrison (aka small tent). We had a really interesting 10 days with them including one day that it rained for 24 hours straight and flood out the place. See muddy pics of Piper and Marlon. We had great waves with the fellas. After 10 great days they hit the sky too! 2 days later Dawnie and Brucie (aka mum and dad) came to join us for 8 days. We had a great time lots of laughs, snorkels and camp fires. Another highlight was Harry and Piper surfing Tomestones on the tandem. Fantastic!! See the pics. We took them to Carnavon and hit the road ourselves for Warroora station.
After plenty of tears of departed grandparents from Piper we arrived at a Warrorra. We followed a seedy 4wd track into Stephens a huge test for the van. We stayed here and had a great 3 days. Surf was small but clean and fun. Harry caught a 5 foot reef shark by the tail in the shorebreak at Warrora while about to paddle out for a surf and feed the entire camp. But the challenge of getting out of the camp up a huge sandy, curvy, mountain track was huge. But we did it much to our relief without destroying the car or van.
We then head off to Coral bay for a couple of nights. We spent our time snorkeling and paddle boarding around the bay. Nice but not as pretty as Gnaraloo lagoon and lots of people. Off to Exmouth we head to meet up with our friend form Peru Frank Hayter. Arrived to stormy unsetteled weather. First day drove into the Cape Range National park exploring to mouth of Yardie creek. Nice. Then we drove back to Turquoise bay for a drift snorkel. You drop into one end of the lagoon and the currents take you to the other end over the coral. Frank and Melis went first seeing plenty including a pair of 7 foot reef sharks directly under them. Harry, Frank and Piper went second of course stretching the realm and swimming out further and closer to the exit reef drift than anyone else with a outstanding last minute exit from the lagoon just missing the huge current to the outer reef. Very memorable to say the least.
Yesterday we all had a small offshore surf at the Dunes at Lighthouse. Piper had a great surf getting heaps of waves and even surfing with turtles and dugongs. Fishing in the afternoon catching heaps of little coral things but barely a meal. The wind is up and we have a week further here. Hope the surf improves but you can’t complain its warm and sunny unlike home!! Bad luck!! Living the eternal summer. Thinking of you all keep safe. A huge congratulations to Sam and Des on the early arrival of their son. Drop us an email all.
Today finds us in sunny and windy Exmouth. Last blogg we had just arrived back in oz after Peru and US. Let us fill in the blanks for the last 6 weeks.
After a fab trip overseas we arrived back to a sunny Perth. We spent a week here re grouping and exploring. We had an overnight trip to Rottnest Island which was great. Off to the Pinnacles we went. We decided to ride through this limestone finger desert on our bikes which was fantastic. See pics.
We then hit the road and head for Geralton, stayed at Greenough River mouth and surfed fun waves. Next head off to Kalbarri. Arrived at Jakes Point to 8 foot bombs, not a good way start the heaviest wave in Australia. As Harry learnt he had his best go downs on the smaller days with a good mopping over the reef. Did a bit of fishing and caught and threw back about 2 dozen tiny nemos. Great for kids big and small. Meet up with some great families whom we continued to travel on with for a while. After 5 days at Kalbarri we made our way to Shark Bay/Denham/Monkey Mia. Much to Harry and Piper surprise there was NO monkeys only man eating mosquitos and untouchable dolphins. We were going to spend a week here but the mossies were so bad we left after two nights. So bad in fact they bombed the entire town after we left. Monkey Mia was great for the kids they got to experience dolphins close up and feed them fish BUT no touchy touch unlike Seaworld USA, much to Marlon’s disappointment. Although a Pelican did try and eat Marlon for lunch!!!
From Shark bay we drove to Carnavon to refuel, water and food up before heading into Gnaraloo. Great fruit and veggies!! Then off to Gnaraloo. 2 hour sandy road into 3 mile camp was a good work out for the van. Had booked months ago so had a fantastic site right on beach front next to lagoon. Wow what an amazing place. Simple existence, luke warm, low pressure, salty bore water showers, toilets and open camp fires. BYO everything else including copius amounts of h2o. No mobile phone reception. We ended up extending and spent a total of 5 weeks in here with 3 trips to Carnavon for supplies an friends. It was fantastic, best place we have been to date. Surf was great, lots of variety depending upon the conditions. The Lagoon out front was sheltered and housed an abundance of tropical coral, fish and turtles in less than 2 metres of water. So many fish that one day melis had a swim got out and was chatting and thought that she had a bug crawl into her bather bottoms but on examination pulled out a 10cm fish. Every day we would snorkel. The water was warm and clear. Simple stunning. The kids loved snorkeling and paddle boarding around the lagoon.
After a week a good friend of ours Jeff Sweeney arrived solo to spend a week with us. We had good weather and surf and lots of fun. Surfing turtles and Tombstones. Camping next to us were the 4 Rye lads, Hank, Flash, Rob and Kelvin!! We had a great time with them too. Hey Sweens jokes over!! But we were only alone for 2 days for Paul Trigger and Simon Forward arrived. They had hired a caravan up the back but when they arrived and opened up it had not been used this season. It was full of mice, spiders and dirt. So after about 2 minutes discussion they moved into Parklane and the East wing at Camp Harrison (aka small tent). We had a really interesting 10 days with them including one day that it rained for 24 hours straight and flood out the place. See muddy pics of Piper and Marlon. We had great waves with the fellas. After 10 great days they hit the sky too! 2 days later Dawnie and Brucie (aka mum and dad) came to join us for 8 days. We had a great time lots of laughs, snorkels and camp fires. Another highlight was Harry and Piper surfing Tomestones on the tandem. Fantastic!! See the pics. We took them to Carnavon and hit the road ourselves for Warroora station.
After plenty of tears of departed grandparents from Piper we arrived at a Warrorra. We followed a seedy 4wd track into Stephens a huge test for the van. We stayed here and had a great 3 days. Surf was small but clean and fun. Harry caught a 5 foot reef shark by the tail in the shorebreak at Warrora while about to paddle out for a surf and feed the entire camp. But the challenge of getting out of the camp up a huge sandy, curvy, mountain track was huge. But we did it much to our relief without destroying the car or van.
We then head off to Coral bay for a couple of nights. We spent our time snorkeling and paddle boarding around the bay. Nice but not as pretty as Gnaraloo lagoon and lots of people. Off to Exmouth we head to meet up with our friend form Peru Frank Hayter. Arrived to stormy unsetteled weather. First day drove into the Cape Range National park exploring to mouth of Yardie creek. Nice. Then we drove back to Turquoise bay for a drift snorkel. You drop into one end of the lagoon and the currents take you to the other end over the coral. Frank and Melis went first seeing plenty including a pair of 7 foot reef sharks directly under them. Harry, Frank and Piper went second of course stretching the realm and swimming out further and closer to the exit reef drift than anyone else with a outstanding last minute exit from the lagoon just missing the huge current to the outer reef. Very memorable to say the least.
Yesterday we all had a small offshore surf at the Dunes at Lighthouse. Piper had a great surf getting heaps of waves and even surfing with turtles and dugongs. Fishing in the afternoon catching heaps of little coral things but barely a meal. The wind is up and we have a week further here. Hope the surf improves but you can’t complain its warm and sunny unlike home!! Bad luck!! Living the eternal summer. Thinking of you all keep safe. A huge congratulations to Sam and Des on the early arrival of their son. Drop us an email all.
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