Coral Bay

It was about 230k's to Coral Bay. We've come from a place where we were the only people on the beach, to Coral Bay and into a van park with 300 sites, one of two parks in town. Each park is full, so that's roughly 1000 adults and 2300 children.... Perth must be deserted.

The marine and other life here is pretty exotic The fish are friendly and Rose is becoming very proficient with mask and fins.  We spent an hour in the water swimming with the fishes, rays and other creatures today. We could have spent a lot longer.

We can't get over the different shades of green's and blue's in the water here. It's also very clear. Rose went for a walk along the beach to Mauds Point this morning and took this snap.







The word is that places further south are pretty full of holiday makers. We'll We'll likely move on tomorrow to Carnarvon and catch up with our nephew, then on to Shark Bay for a couple of days after which we'll likely head a little more inland. We enjoy the free camps over these huge parks.

I'm sure Coral Bay would be better with a little less traffic, still it was worth coming if only for the dose of reality, and it is really a very nice place.

Cape Range National Park

On the western side of the Exmouth Peninsula is the Cape Range National Park. Camps are $10/p/n. We stayed for 3.


The park is alongside the Ningaloo Marine Reserve and provides some great beaches, coral, marine life, walking, cycling and snorkelling. The sites are generally within 150m of the beaches and fairly well protected although we did pull our awning down one evening when the wind turned southerly at about 20kt's. We saw some good sized fish, turtles, a large Banded Krait (sea snake), and at sunset each evening we sat and watched the whales playing as they were heading south about 300m off the beach. It truly is a pretty spectacular place with names like Oyster Stacks, Turquoise Bay etc.

This little guy called on us each morning and afternoon. He had one leg and walked using his beak and his good leg. He used to land and "beak trot" over, then squawk to let us know he was there. We'd give him some bread and he'd fly off to the next site. He was there spot on 4pm each of the 3 days we were there.

















Rose and I rode from one end of the park to the other whilst we were there, a distance of some 46km's each way. Our camp (Kurrajong) was about 2/3's of the way in.

I'm starting to put some k's in with the Cape to Cape MTB ride happening later this month.

We're off to Coral Bay now, packed up already for an early start before the wind gets up and via Exmouth to buy diesel and to stock up. There's not much to be had in Coral Bay we've been told...

Exmouth

We put in a long day on the way to Exmouth and pulled over at a free camp just north of the Exmouth turnoff from the Northwest Coastal Hwy. A dusty place by a dry river. We's just pulled up and some dutch people we'd met pulled up alongside.... they just wouldn't stop talking. It wasn't a late night but we covered a lot of ground...!!!

Exmouth was quiet. They were expecting the school holiday rush but it just never happened. It's a nice sleepy little place with plenty of new infrastructure but I don't think I'd assume Exmouth to be a destination. It's more a place you might stop, stock up and move on. Nearly everything happens on the Western side of the peninsula where we were headed.

We did find this marvellous little beach about 14km's north. We were the only people on it and saw lots of fish, a couple of turtles, a whale breeching and a shark or two. The coral beach was hard to walk on, but the water was clear as crystal...... and Rose fiiiiiinnnnaly got her Emu picture.

Cleaverville

We had a big driving day today. Arrived in Roebourne about 3:30pm expecting to stay at the Information centre. We payed the gold coin donation and went through the old goal. We were then informed that we couldn't camp and there was no free camping allowed in the shire. We were deciding whether we were going to drive on when we were told of a place called Cleaverville (the last time I'd heard that name was on the TV series "Green Acres"). "It's just 12km out of town, turn right for 13km's of dirt, oh except for the bitumen section across the salt flats, when you get to the boat ramp, turn right and camp in any free spot. The Ranger will be along in the morning. We arrived, found a site on top of a sand dune with a nice breeze.

The site was awesome with views right around the bay. The Sunset was superb.

Sunrise was likewise. 

DeGrey River

Our last stop before Hedland was the DeGrey River. This is a free camp that could hide about 50 vans when full. Everyone stays there because it's close to the highway has a dump point, toilets, etc.

A different sort of person stays at free camps. They are generally more outgoing, more frequently travelled, ave generally been on the road for longer... and are always up for a chin wag.

Eighty Mile Beach

We're now about 170km south of Barn Hill. The road between was excellent and with an easterly blowing the rig just floated along. The road in to Eighty Mile Beach is 6km of dirt, very wide and without gates. The park maintain the road themselves. Each day or so they tow several truck tyres up and down the road behind a light vehicle. The tyres knock the tops of the corrugations. The road is as smooth as ....

We caught a fish, not sure what it was, but it looked small, relatively speaking, so it went back. While I was pulling in this monster, not 3m in front of me, a shark (2m) swam by chasing bluey's. He was in about 20cm of water with his dorsal and tail well out of the water. I had a thought about dragging him out by his tail... but the thought passed pretty quickly!  

 Rose enjoyed her time on the beach adding to her great collection of shells.

Some people have these enormous motorhomes. The guy in the photo actually also towed a trailer. On it was his car and above the car also on a trailer was his boat. 

Barn Hill

A few stations are opening up to travellers these days. Barn Hill Station have done that. It's very laid back. Everyone helps each other. Strictly cash only.

We're now 128km's south of Broome on our way south.

The road in is dirt and sand with a couple of gates. The 10k took us 30 mins.
I pressed the 4WD button in the car. I'm told it does something. I suppose one day I'll discover what... it just seemed the right thing to do is all!

Our site was on an escarpment overlooking the beach about 100m away. Our van is the one you can see on the right.

The fishing was mediocre but the sunsets were absolutely stunning.

Imagine waking up to this each morning, we are!

The facilities are elemental.... someone said that you don't need a permit if it's not under a roof...!

Rose discovered a couple of frogs

The lines are still there from the last game.... maybe they need a sponsor!

We were fogged in early one morning..... yet....

.... only one hour later... simply stunning!