Karijini, Exmouth, Coral bay, Denham (Shark Bay) - Easter 2017

Hi all,

So its been a while since my last post (I have been busy with studies!). So while I have 5 minutes I will update you on our recent trip to Karijini, Exmouth, Coral Bay and Denham. A two week trip in total. We spent five nights in Karijini after a one and a half day drive stopping at Kumarina Roadhouse overnight (which was perfectly fine for an overnighter). The kids enjoyed catching frogs in the dark while quickly put up the tent and cooked some snags.

We spent the five nights in Karijini with my parents and my cousins family. We explored many of the gorges within the area. Some swimming holes within the gorges were difficult to get to only because we had small children, but it was not impossible (in a couple of places we left the smaller children with an adult and took turns exploring). You do need to use common sense here but all walks are graded so you are given an indication of the difficulty level before you embark on your adventure. The nights here were lovely and the days were not too bad this time of year (speaking of temperature). It was much cooler in the gorges and the water is icy which provided a nice way to cool off along the walk.

After our five nights in Karijini we stopped in Tom Price for supplies (there is a Coles here), then we carried on through to Exmouth. In all honesty, Exmouth really did disappoint me. This is a place I have always longed to visit (I am a keen diver and love spearfishing). Unfortunately, all the places you are allowed to spearfish have no fish (from the shore, but maybe better luck with a boat?). There are Irukandji jellyfish and numerous other species littering the seas here which (unless you have a stinger suit) is very off-putting. And, to top it off, it cost us $27 for a jug of beer (as opposed to only $16 in Coral Bay). The best part about Exmouth (for us) were the views, the pool at the caravan park and the water playground in town (for the kids, see picture below)! The walk along Yardie Creek (picture below)was nice too and worth a visit, with two options being 500m or 2km (a 1.5km extension of the 500m track).

We visited Coral Bay on a day trip from Exmouth. This took an hour (if I recall correctly). Well worth it. The water is beautiful and great for snorkeling from the shore. I wouldn't even bother with the cruises because you see plenty from the shore. I popped my youngest on a boogie board with a mask and snorkel and took him out and he saw a sting ray and loads of awesome fish so he was very excited! Also, as I mentioned earlier, we paid just $16 for a jug of beer here (win!).

After three nights in Exmouth we moved on to Shark Bay, staying at our favorite station stay - Hamelin Station. We went on two cruises in Monkey Mia onboard the Aristocrat 2 and had a blast! We saw Dugongs, stingrays and turtles. The kids had a great time in the boom net and also in the net at the front of the boat. The cruises are well worth a go and I cannot recommend Hamelin Station enough... although it is a bit of a distance to Monkey Mia from here.

The aquarium in Shark Bay is also worth a visit (especially to see the shark feeding!). The playground in town is also a place to stop for a picnic if you have children.

This trip was definitely one of our best trips. I haven't gone into a lot of detail due to a lack of time. However, I definitely recommend Karijini, Coral Bay, and Shark Bay. If you have any questions about where we stayed or attractions to see, please leave me a question in the comments :) Cheers guys!

Wedge Trip

Recently, myself and the kids decided to take a day trip to Wedge (approx. 180km north of Perth). Sadly, the weather wasn't the best. However, we didn't let it ruin the fun. On the contrary, we took spare clothes and made a real mess of ourselves!! Our first stop - Guilderton, located at the mouth of the Moore river.

It was windy and cold but the kids were all smiles :) We stopped at the roadhouse for some hot chips and my son bought himself a drink and they gave him one for free (they were out of date... but he was happy and I really don't think a slightly out of date soft drink is going to kill anyone). The view from the roadhouse over the Moore river is lovely, but if you have the time I recommend driving to the mouth itself and parking up for a swim (on a nicer day!). On weekends there is a canoe hire point on the river which is fun. We finished our chips and were on our way again.

Next stop was at Nilgen Nature Reserve. This is a lovely spot for a picnic or morning tea, with two sheltered picnic benches and a delightful wildflower trail. There are many signs along the trail stating the names of the flora. It is wheelchair accessible which is a bonus for those who require it. The view of the beach from the lookout is nice but the walk itself is the main attraction here. The kids enjoyed learning the different names and running amok along the way! After a quick snack and stretch of the legs we headed to the small town of Wedge.

I was nervous about getting into Wedge itself as I've been told it's 4-wheel drive accessible only. However, we managed (even in the the rain) to get half way into the town itself and park up (in my trusty Hyundai Elantra ;) ). The kids were loving the seemingly 4-wheel driving in a 2-wheel drive car!! We dipped down the turns and curves, bumps and climbs... it was great! The road is certainly no smooth run but manageable - have a little faith, but be smart! After parking up we walked to the beach and along to get as close to the Island as we could.

The tide was coming in.... the creatures found along the shoreline were fun. The kids were amazed and the was the water formed channels in the sand, and at the strength of the current within these channels. We found many different seas sponges, sea urchins, crabs and small fish. The kids (and myself) got extremely wet so a change of clothes was definitely in order once we got back to the car! However, before heading back, the kids went nuts on the HUGE sand dunes :) They didn't want to leave! But, we decided that just driving to Wedge was not the end of our adventure. We got back to the car, changed, and kept on going...

Next stop was Cervantes. We saw a map back at Nilgen Nature Reserve with a description of Lake Thetis which sounded ineresting and so decided to visit. The lake itself is the home of Stromatolites. We walked along the platform (which is purpose built to reduce the impact on the natural environment) whilst listening to the wails of my middle child (who was clearly tired by now). I warned him about not wearing shoes as the walking platform did not look suitable for bare feet but apparently he knew better! Mum's are never right are they? ;)  If you do decide to stop here, there are picnic table within the bush land and information signs explaining a bit about the Stromatolites here - but no toilets!

We finished up here and then headed back home after a long but fun day. The kids were pooped, but as we were about to pass Guilderton again they regained some energy and decided a swim was a great idea. So I stopped to let them have a dip, only to here objection once they stepped into the cold wind (don't blame them!). So we bought some crisps and lollies from the store and then I let them play on the playground at the mouth of the Moore river. It's a small playground but they didn't mind. We stayed here for about half an hour until I had had enough of sitting in the wind and then we drove home to tell Dad all about the adventure (and clean the car!). ;)

Cape Riche 2012

We went back to Cape Riche for another stay. At $5.50 p/n for adults, kids free its a lovely place to camp if you don't mind being with other campers. Right on the coast surrounded by bushland and wildlife, its just beautiful. The kangaroos hang around the campsite and are very friendly and we saw a bung arrow lizard and a dugite ( wasn't alive for long ). We went spearfishing although we didn't get much as most of the fish were under size or bad eating ( weed eaters ). We went for a walk along the coastline to what my 5 year old calls "The dangerous cliffs". Lovely coastline and views. My dad discovered that some of the waves would be great for a beginner surfer ( he's trying to get me into surfing, I'm not doing to well lol ). The fishing is pretty good, we managed to get a few herring and a decent sized Skippy. 

The water in the area is great, there are no dumping waves which makes the beach great for kids. Our son learnt to swim here on our last trip and enjoyed snorkeling around the reef which is right on the shore. We plan on buying some sea kayaks for our next trip here. The water is just so calm and there is an abundance if sea life so we will try our luck at kayak fishing. A stingray came right into the shore whilst we were on the beach so the kids got to have a look and threw some bait in for it.

Any way I've spoken about Cape Rich in an earlier post, I really just wanted to share some photos with you. Perhaps, if you get around to having a trip there yourself you can let me know what you thought of the place?

Leeman

We are heading off to Leeman which is situated about 260km north of Perth for another family camping trip. Leeman is our regular destination. I have been camping here with my family since I was about 8 years old when the beach shacks were still homes to many people along the coast. What a shame to have had to of move for all those people and families. Leeman is an amazing little gem with offshore islands to explore. Great fish, diving, and 4-wheel driving through the sand dunes along the coast.
There are sea lion and whale watching tours ( in season ), dive charters and courses. If you are into wild flowers, head up during spring for a lovely walk or perhaps you prefer surfing or wind surfing? All great things to do in Leeman. Beagle Island, north of Leeman, is home to the largest breeding colony of Australian sea lions.
There is plenty of marine life! Over the years I have spotted dolphins, sharks, seals, stingrays. I had a seal come right up to my face and show off doing a loop in the water and swim away. My dad had the experience of one blowing bubbles in his face! The selection of fish is mouth watering! I love spearfishing, diving under the water to chose which fish you would like to eat for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. So we are off again, leaving boxing day and I am thoroughly looking forward to a seafood feast among the dunes!

http://www.leemancaravanpark.com.au/
http://www.weatherzone.com.au/wa/central-west/leeman

Perth - Kalbarri - Denham: October '12

On our most recent journey, we travelled in the company of a friend and my mother in law. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip, spending 1 week in Kalbarri and 1 week at Hamelin Station just out of Denham. The kids came down with some sort of virus, the doctor called it "slapped cheek" syndrome. The poor things screamed every time we put sunscreen on them due to a rash. We were using Banana Boat but once we swapped to the Cancer Council sunscreen their skin stopped stinging. The salt water also caused them pain which was unfortunate seeing as there is not much to do in kalbarri if you cannot go in the sun or water!! Anyway, they slowly over come it and we managed to enjoy the rest of our trip. We did the 9km walk around the Kalbarri NP and went on a boat trip at Monkey Mia aboard the Aristocat 2 which were both well worth the time,money and effort. At a beach just out of Denham, we found the remains of a Loggerhead Turtle - AMAZING!! Of course I kept it!!

Kalbarri *** Over-rated tourist mecca. The river seemed to fished out.. or perhaps it was our rusty fishing techniques? Lovely views of the oceans form the cliffs along the coastline so don't forget the camera! The natural bridge is nice.

Kalbarri NP **** More toilet facilities would be good. Great sights, lovely walks. Great for viewing the flora and fauna. Thoroughly recommend the walk trails, just ensure you have PLENTY of water and sunscreen. A fly net maybe good too! Oh, and be sure to take a dip, it's very refreshing. You can also go fishing in the gorge rivers although I'm not sure how you would go about carting all your fishing gear down there.

Tudor Holiday Park **** Great caravan park. Ablution blocks close to sites, pool, playground with jumping pillow and a talking parrot :)

Hamelin Station ***** OMG amazing. 5 star ablutions blocks, laundry, kitchen ( with fridge for patron use), BBQ area, happy hour 5pm ( everyone gathers for a beer ). There is no dump point for caravans but you are still welcome to stay. Nice country feel. A little difficult to get tent pegs in the ground so make sure you have a mallet! No pool and it does get awfully hot during summer and its about a half an hour to the nearest swimming beach so if you want somewhere closer to the town centre or a close available beach, look elsewhere but if you dont mind a bit of a drive this place is awesome. The kids enjoyed checking out the shearing sheds and found a few animal remains such as skulls. They also saw the station hands mustering the sheep. All great fun and lovely caretakers make you feel very welcome.

Denham **** Lots to explore. Plenty of beaches, good fishing, snorkeling, etc. You can spear fish in some parts as long as you aren't using SCUBA but be sure to check with DEC. http://publocation.com.au/pubs/wa/denham/heritage-resort-shark-bay This is a link to view the nicest pub I've been to :) good company, brilliant views, delicious cocktails, great food, a pool table and so good we went back again! Be sure to visit when your in Denham.
http://www.bluelagoon.com.au/  
A good place to take the missus is blue lagoon pearls for that little something special :) Here they sell Gemini Pearls which are only farmed at the pearl farm in Monkey Mia, also a nice place to check out. You can get to the pearl farm via the Aristocat 2. They also educate you on how a pearl is made and you get to taste some of the clam meat. I will pass next time although they say people pay hundreds of dollars just for a small piece of it. Not me, I'll stick to good ol' fish and steak!
Shell beach is worth a visit as is the stromatolites at Hamelin Pool, only 5 mins from Hamelin Station Stay. The snorkeling is great although as the name suggests there are alot of sharks. We saw mostly shovel nosed sharks and tonnes of sting rays.
http://oceanpark.com.au/ Ocean Park is definitely worth a visit whether or not you have children. Amazing species of fish including stone fish, lion fish, eels and sea snakes. But the best bit for the kids is the shark pool at feeding time. We actually witnessed a shark eat another shark by mistake! oops. The little fella went for the fish and the big fella took out both of them! As you are driving along Shark Bay Rd you'll come across the cattle grids. I'm pretty sure it the second grid along the road? It's easily recognised by the fence to keeping out the feral animals. If you drive SLOWLY over the cattle grid with your window down you will hear a dog barking!! This is an automated dog that barks every time something crosses the grid. It is designed to frighten feral cats, etc back the way they came.

Monkey Mia - Nice cafes on the beach, The dolphin feeding thing is a tad over-rated although if your a die hard dolphin lover by all means, check it out. Too unnatural for me. We enjoyed watching them from the Aristocat 2 along with dungong and sea turtles. The kids also enjoyed the boom net on the back of the boat. Nice fishing further down the beach, plenty of whiting. If you look closely you can see hundreds of tiny crabs the size of a finger tip along the shoreline, amazing!

METTAMS POOL, TRIGG WA

Well I went back to Mettams Pool today, 8:30ish I got there. I wanted to check to see if it was suitable for my 9yr old to snorkell. I can say that I will definitely take him but will get there at about 7ish next time. The water was a tad murky from the waves but you could still see tonnes of fish which was lovely. The reef was teaming with life. The kids would love it! However to make the most of it, I really recommend getting there early to beat the waves, currents, rips and murky water. Well worth a look at though! Just remember not to take souvernires from the reef and keep it clean and beautiful :) Also keep in mind this is a marine reserve and spear fishing is not allowed. Happy snorkelling!!

Day Trip - Guilderton, Moore River.

Guilderton ***** Well worth the trip!

We arrived at Guilderton, where the Moore river meets the sea, at 9:30am. First stop was the lighthouse. You can't go in but great for a pic :) There are a few sandy tracks that set off from the lighthouse which made for brilliant sandy 4x4 fun! Be sure to let your tyre pressure down, it gets very boggy.

The beaches were lovely and scattered along the shore were some gorgeous rocky outcrops and little carverns. The kids had a blast climbing in and around the rocks. It was quite windy and getting close to lunch so we decided to look for a park to eat at, away from the wind.

The GABBADAH PARK was lovely. The kids played with daddy while I got lunch ready. We had tomato and cheese sandwiches and the bubs had kiwi fruit and yoghurt mmmmm. The kids had fun rolling down the grassy hills at the park and played on the playground. There were some lovely statues throughout the park also.

After lunch we headed to the look out over the Moore River estuary. The view was lovely and we took some amazing pics for the album. There is a plaque at the look out which speaks of the ships that became shipwrecked here, one of which has since disappeared. The river looked very inviting so we headed down for a dip.

The kids enjoyed playing in the water and building sand castles. It was a little too cold for me!! There are also canoes for hire, so if you like you can make your way up the river via canoe which would be lovely. We will definitely come back and go canoeing. Unfortunately it was time for us to leave as we wanted to stop at two rocks on the way through.

TWO ROCKS was quite nice. There is a huge statue of posiedon and a smaller statue of dolphins, both made great pics. We visited "The Spot" halfway between Two Rocks and Yanchep. A nice little beach situated next to a UXO site, unexplored for ammunition. There are toilets at this beach which aren't to shabby. Jayden and daddy did some fishing and caught a huge bundle of seaweed lol. Meanwhile, Carter enjoyed looking for crabs in the holes scattered along the beach. This beach is also good for a surf if your keen :)

We left "The Spot" and headed home. We saw a construction site, great for some 4x4 action. Others had the same idea out there on motorbikes. Was great fun... but shhhhh, dont tell the council haha :)