Day 88 Cape Range National Park - Beasley River Rest Area - 29th June

Today was a day for driving over the barren plains of WA. We got up ridiculously early and started packing the annex and tent by 6:30am. The benefit was an early start and we drove the 500k west towards Tom Price and Karijini National Park.

At the Big Prawn site, we were able to buy 3Kg of prawns for $36 – a bargain for these parts. These were going to a big part of tonights dinner. We stopped off at the Nautarra Roadhouse, where a highlight was ice-blocks for the kids. 

Watch out Biggle!

The Big Prawn

 

No more broken backs! We finally bought a fridge stand!

The drive from Exmouth was largely flat and uninteresting. As we got further into the Hamersley Range the view changed and we saw striking red iron filled mountains and hills surrounding by seas of red bushland.

We set up camp at the Beasley River Rest Area which is approx 113Km from Tom Price just before dusk. The main area was full so we crossed the dry creek bed and found a nice secluded spot. Both families set up camp, Nick set up a fire and then it was time to peel a mountain of prawns for dinner. Jordan, Ben Connor and I played Settlers of Catan, a strategy board-game while Robyn sat by the fire chatting to Brigid and Nick. It was surprising seeing how well they all played the game, or should I say how deviously they played – it shows that they are all growing up.

Sunset at Beasley Rest Area

Day 85-87 Yardie Creek Homestead – Cape Range National Park 25th June

Cape Range National Park, on the western side of the North-West Cape is surrounded by the Ningaloo Reef on one side and rocky limestone gorges, with abundant wildlife and unfortunately abundant roadkill.

Access to camping sites in Cape Range National Park is via the Internet to a few sites, and on a first come basis for the rest. So to ensure we got spots as we entered into school holiday season in WA, Nick and I got up really early while the wives and kids were still tucked up in bed, and by 5:30am were waiting in line, with two cars ahead at the park entry. To while away the hours to opening, we watched decidedly dodgy fishing instruction videos – though I'm not sure they really helped!

We went to Exmouth to fill up with provisions and then to our Mesa Camp. Exmouth turned out to be a nice town that seems to have been growing quickly. Some rip off prices in town – the organic store offered muffins for $7! The only two IGA's in town are owned by the same person.

Mesa Camp turned out to be a really good spot near a safe beach with supposedly good fishing. We ended up staying for three nights, setting up the annex and feeling at home at this friendly camp-ground, with some of the best pit-dunnies in Australia!

Our spot in the Mesa campground

 

Snorkelling was great at Turquoise Bay, offering a safe bay on one side and an alternative drifting current on the other. Lots of reef-fish and large corals. Jordan had by now become quite the expert snorkeller, Adam once he got in the water, thought it was awesome. Robyn took Jasmine and Ben out using the Boogey-board and all the kids enjoyed themselves.

Turquoise Bay

Kids just loved playing in the dunes

There were some nice walks, with Yarie Creek Gorge walk being my favourite as the water-filled gorge offered a terrific views. Mandu Mandu Gorge was more rugged but the kids too the clambering in their stride and gave them a bit of a thrill. 

Yardi Creek Gorge with Nick, Conor and Daniel

 

Yardi Creek Gorge

Robyn scaling heights at Mandu-Mandu Gorge

Mandu-Mandu Gorge

Great pebbles on Mandu-Mandu Gorge walk

We had some great dinners over these star-filled nights, cooking with the fresh herbs and fish and prawns from town. 

Mussels and prawns for dinner!

 

Oats, custard and fruit for dessert

As for the fishing, not even a nibble.

Yet another beautiful sunset

Day 84 Warroora Station - Coral Bay – Yardie Creek Homestead 25th June

On the way to Exmouth we stopped at Coral Bay to see what all the fuss was about. The area consisted of a couple of large caravan parks, jammed packed with tourists like sardines in a tin and a small shopping precinct. This was all rather horrible after the larger, more peaceful sites we had stayed at.

What was amazing was the beach itself. Basked in the warm sun, it had crystal clear waters, huge schools fish swimming lazily on the water and coral not too far from the beach. Simply a beautiful spot to visit. I'd certainly recommend staying at Warrorra Station and simply taking day trips to Coral Bay as its only ½ hour away.

Next was the long drive to Exmouth. All the camp spots in the Cape Range National Park were taken so it was off to the nearby Yardie Creek Homestead for a night. The kids played tennis while Jassie was brave enough to go for a plunge in the cold swimming pool with me.

Day 81 Carnarvon – Warroora Station 22^nd June - 25^th June

We continued our journey north and camped at 14 Mile Beach at Warroora Station. On the way we passed a sign stating that we were passing the Tropic of Capricorn! 

We were lucky to find a nice spot in the white sandy dunes behind the main beach. The only issue was that we lost our fiends, who had parked in a different park of the large station. We ended up finding them the next morning and having lunch together.

As well as being a working sheep station, Warroora Station extends over a part of Ningaloo Reef so many of the beaches offered good snorkelling opportunities. The sandy drives between beach sites offered great 4WD'ing opportunities and with the tyres down, was a lot of fun. It does require you to bring your own portable toilet so Robyn figured out how that worked!

The best place we found for snorkelling was Maggies Beach which allowed you to walk off the beach and swim amongst the cora and the schools of reef fish. 

Huge termite mounds!

 

Visiting the School of the Air in Carnarvon

School of the Air

The School of the Air allows children who are in the middle of nowhere, have a bit of education.

We watched a lesson and how the teachers interacted with the students. There are usually 4 children per class. Students can talk to the teachers via satellite. Kids get to learn something 1 hour each day, every weekday. They also have school camps. I think this program is good for a bit of education, but children should still get much, much more.

Jordan Ralh

The school of the air at carnavon

I found the school of the air interesting, because of kids who live too far away from school can talk to their teachers using their satellites!! They can also teach ordinary subjects online!! Its amazing what the satellite can do!!!

Posted by Adam

 

School of the Air

The School of the Air was interesting because you got to listen to a real class speak to each other on the computer. The children’s names are Jarrod, Lucy, Caitlin and Belinda. They do this because the school-children live far away from school e.g. 350km. I would prefer to go to school because I could play with friends.

Ben

School of the Air

I went to the School Of The Air and I really liked how the kids from far away could talk to other kids from another farm. The kids really liked it when their teachers came over for a home visit – which they did three times a year. On the video we watched afterwards, the little girl said she really liked school.

Jasmine 

Day 79 – 81 Hamelin Station – Carnarvon 20th June – 22nd June

Our first stop was to revisit Hamelin Pool which was a completely different experience from our first windy experience. The weather was mild, the tide was out and we could see the stromatolites clearly from the boardwalk.

Then, we zipped off to Carnarvon for lunch at the one mile jetty. The after buying some provisions and getting some free water from the Aborigine Centre, it was off to the Quobbah Blow Holes for cheap camping next to a beach with a small reef nearby. We got there at dusk and were luck to find a spot for both our camper-trailers. The annex roof and walls made a rare appearance, but provided a nice cosy shelter for the evenings.

One mile jetty

 A highlight was visiting some of the local farms with cheap and good quality fruit, veg and herbs. We loaded up with plenty, including some exotic ones like star-fruit. Mango and strawberry ice-creams were enjoyed by all

The kids played in the sand-dunes for hours

Hello annex

Bushman Nick with trusty sidekick - Pyro Jassie

Our pit-dunny

We had a couple of snorkles at the reef (so close you can just wade in from the beach) which got us all excited of the upcoming larger reefs further up the coast. Most of the coral here seems to be bleached, but there is still some startling phosphorescence in some of the coral, with plenty of beautiful fish swimming by.

Quobbah blow-hole

We played some great board games in the evenings which was fun. Brigit seems to be a grand-master of Scrabble. Jordan has been joining in assisting Robyn, which has been impressive.

Thanks to Lynn for the recipes she sent us. We're looking forward to trying them out soon!

Day 78 Peron National Park – Hamelin Station 19th June

Nick and I did a bit of fishing in the early hours and were quite proud that we caught eight fish.... that was until another camper walked by and told us of the fish he was catching....mackerel, shark... and he made the suggestion that we should use our largest fish as bait! Jassie came down and tried her hand at fishing as well as watching as we descaled the fish and got rid of their guts. Much better when you share the experience!

On the way out of Peron National Park we passed by Peron Homestead and tried out their hot tub, heated by hot artesian waters provided by a deep bore hole. A very satisfying soak for all at 40 degrees centigrade. Jordan enjoyed being warm again and had a serene expression on his face as he sat motionless in the tub. 

Hot tub!

 

Then it was off to Hamelin Station to camp for the night. It has a pretty good camp-kitchen and fantastic showers. Nick and I cooked the fish whole in a curry, we had indian veggies and coconut rice followed by a homemade cake. Another nice end to another nice day. And even better, the girls washed up :)

Production line for 10

Fish curry!

Hamelin Station