Western Australia is stunning... If anyone is travelling around Australia I'd strongly encourage you to come see WA rather than just sticking to the touristy East Coast only!
I was up at 6am to go into Perth city centre to meet up with the tour group going to Broome.
Our first stop was the pinnacles, where I'd been before with everyone. This time we did the walking loop rather than the driving route which was good.
A pinnacle
Our next stop was sand boarding, but, unlike in Rainbow beach where we laid on the board and I ended up eating sand, we sat on the board. The hill was very steep so we went pretty scarily fast down the hill!
Most of today, between those two activities was spent driving. We left perth at 7am and we got to the beach house in Horracks where we were staying at 5pm! A lot of time in the bus, but over the course of this trip it got to the point where we'd pull into a rest area after sitting for 3hours and it'd feel like no time at all.
We had a quick swim in the sea before we ate our dinner on the upstairs balcony over looking the sea as the sun set. Pretty magical.
Going to sleep in the dorm was pretty funny. 6 people who are all trying to be nice so it took us forever to make a decision on fan on/off and window open/closed!
Day 86: Kalbarri National Park and Denham
We were out of our accommodation and on the road by 5am to drive to the national park so we could do the two walks before the midday sun hit us.
We walked down into one gorge where those brave enough did two absails. I was absolutely terrified going over the edge the first time but the instructor was so good and he spent the whole time chatting to me, asking me questions and making me laugh so that before I knew it I was over the worst of it.
I was pretty slow going down as I didn't want to let go of the rope to much and I did the smallest little bounces but I made it down and went again! And the second time it was much easier!
Absailing in Kalbarri National Park
The second walk we did was to a rock formation called Nature's window.
Natures window
As we continued driving up the coast we stopped at a lookout over shark bay where from the top of the cliff we were able to see manta rays, eagle rays, a dugong and a 2m shark from above. I don't think however without Kimbo (over guides) keen eye I would have ever spotted them by myself. I would have just thought they were clumps of seaweed. But once you look through a powerful camera lense you could see them clearly.
We also stopped at Shellbeach which is the longest shell beach in the world.
We stayed overnight in Denham which is the most westerly town in mainland Australia. So now I've been to the most easterly and the most westerly points on mainland Australia!
Day 87: Monkey Mia
We had a lie in today (we didn't leave until 7am!) to drive the short distance to Monkey Mia.
There were 7 dolphins in the water and we were allowed to stand in a straight line whilst they came past. People from the crowd were then chosen to hand feed a fish to one of the dolphins that they feed. I much preferred it in Bunbury where the dolphins seemed to come in because they wanted to rather than because they were guaranteed a free meal. It is always amazing though being that close to dolphins.
We then drove up to Hamelin Bay to see the Stomatolites. WA is one of the few places in the world where you can see these formations that are millions of years old and the bacteria that form them are the reason that there is oxygen in the atmosphere now. Whoever had done the signs there clearly had an amazing sense of humour. It was done from the point of view of one stomatolite talking about his friends!
Stomatolites
In the evening we reached coral bay after passing over the line into the Tropic of Capricorn. We had a nice evening together as a group. Everyone was much more chatty and a lot less tired so we played jenga, table tennis and pool at the hostel.
Tropic of Capricorn
Day 88: Ningaloo Reef, Coral Bay
Spent the day on a boat at Ningaloo Reef. It is a beautiful reef, far less spoilt that the Great Barrier Reef on the east coast and literally just off the coast. We're on the reef in the picture below and you can see the coastline behind us rather that at the GBR where you sail for 2 hours to reach the edge of it.
We saw so much wildlife. From the boat we saw a leopard shark, lots of turtle and a pod of inquisitive dolphins came to check us out. Dolphins can't see straight up so they have to turn their heads if they want to have a proper look at the boat and that's what they were doing. They must have called their friends over as the pod kept growing in numbers.
Our first snorkel was amazing. The visibility was amazing and we were able to see so many fishes of all different colour, patterns and sizes.
The main aim of the trip was to try and swim with manta rays. We found a spot were told they were near the boat and so slide quickly into the water to try and see them but the visibility in that area was so bad and it was very choppy so we all got out again. The captain decided we were unlikely to see any so we should just head to the second snorkling spot but as we left we spotted two manta rays doing a mating ritual where they barrel roll and so we got to see flashes of their white belly! It was so incredible to watch but we didn't get into the water as we didn't want to disturb them.
We left them to it and went for our second snorkel before headed back to Coral bay.
We drove up to our accommodation in Exmouth and after dinner we sat around playing cards.
Day 89: Turquoise Bay and the Shack
We borrowed snorkling gear and visited Turquoise Bay to snorkel. Luckily there was a breeze and we were only there for the morning otherwise we would have boiled as the temperature reached 49C!
There was a current in the bay so we walked down the beach, walked into the sea (and we were already on the reef) and then let the current float us back to where we started it was crazy how much marine life were so close to the shore.
We drove back to the campsite for lunch and stepping off the aircon bus into the outdoors was like stepping into a sauna! After lunch I had a quick dip in the pool then the Australian girls and I retreated into pub across the road back into some air con.
We made wraps for dinner at the campsite but drove to the coast to eat it at a beautiful spot called te shack. There was a lovely sea breeze and we were able to watch the turtles popping there little heads out of the water waiting for night to fall so that they can come in to the beach to lay their eggs.
Day 90: Drive to Karijini
Not much to say about today... We started driving at 7.45am and reached Karijini at 4.30pm. I read A LOT and did lots of crosswords. We only stopped for a mid morning break, 15 minutes for lunch as it was too hot to be outside any longer and out food was attracting the flies and a quick supermarket sweep!!
We sat around camp chatting waiting for dusk so that it was cool enough to start cooking dinner. It also meant that there were so many Mosquitos around. By the end of Karijini I looked like a walking dot to dot puzzle!
Day 91: Karijini National Park
Day 92: Karijini National Park (day 2)
Day 93: Driving to Pardoo via Port Headland
We left really early as none of us could sleep with the flies! I hate flies. We drove and drive and drove. I sat in the front to keep Kimbo company and today was the first time I've really wanted to sleep on the bus!
The highlight of the journey was seeing a 2km long train carrying iron ore from the mines to the port at Port Headland. Otherwise it was road, road and more road.
We got to our farm stay where we had a late lunch, I had a quick shower and then I attempted to read on a bench in the shade but instead woke up an hour later face down hugging the seat!
I moved to the room and slept for 2 more hours on and off. I think all the interupted sleep and early starts in Karijini really knocked me for six!
I had another proper shower and brushed my hair for the first time in 3 days and felt so amazingly clean. Ahhh the simple pleasures in life!
After dinner we all headed to bed early as we had to leave by 7am to go to Broome and we were all still wrecked!
Day 94: To Broome
We were up and out early as we wanted to get to the crocodile farm in time for feeding. Everything seemed to be against us getting there....
We stopped because we wanted to have a look at 80mile beach and then we stopped twice because we had to because the air con on the bus broke and the onboard computer wouldn't let us drive any further until it had cooled down! I guess it wouldn't be a true outback trip without spending an hour sitting at the side of an empty road in the heat and humidity. The humidity hit us today hard. Before it had been hot but dry where as now it was hot and unbearably humid too. Imagine a sauna where breathing in burns the hair in your nostrils.... You know understand the weather we had. Maybe next time I shoul visit in a cool month, not one of the hottest months. At least we missed the cyclone.
We made it into Broome with 10 minutes to wolf down a quick sandwich before driving to the crocodile farm with a few minutes to spare! Phew!!
The crocodile farm was cool. We were able to hold the little ones that are bred for leather and watch the big ones being fed. They also had American alligators there and when you compare them to their aussie cousins they seem so cute and cuddly!
In the evening we all went out for a final meal all together.
Day 95 (am): Broome
I woke up after a massive lie in just before 8(!). Some of us from the tour walked down into Broome town centre. Even before we left we were sweating so you can imagine the state we were in when we got there.
We had a quick drink in a cafe then went looking in the pearl shops - what Broome is famous for before one of the girls and I headed back to the hostel to grab our backpacks and go to the airport.
The airport was only 700m from the hostel but we ended up getting a taxi as we couldn't face the walk.
Broome airport is a cute little airport consisting of a courtuard and not much else! I said goodbye to my friend as I boarded the flight as I was in Business (thank you airmiles only having business seats avaliable for the flight) for the 3 hour flight. I think the air hostess could tell I wasn't a seasoned business class traveller as I was so excited by everything; the juice I was offered before take off, the real cutlery, cups of tea and free wine! If anyone wants to pay/donate any airmiles to upgrade all the rest of my flights (especially the 11 hour ones) I wouldn't complain!
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