Coral Bay

We have moved on to Coral Bay a big road trip of 155k down from Exmouth, very exhausting drive.
This is a truly holiday destination with 2 caravan parks and small shopping centre, the parks are both full with 99% sandgropers and a lot of families with kids still dont know how or why these kids are not at school.
It is still with in the Ningaloo reef marine park but here the reef is much further out so the beaches have a lot more sand and the main bay is very shallow and a popular spot for snorkelling.

this is Bills Bay directly opposite park

 the Bayview Caravan park






We went out to Mauds point which is just north of the town to fish and enjoyed a cple hours where Wendy caught 2 nice fish, a dart and a good sized longtom tho we did shock a few fishos when we throw them back.

2nd day at Mauds landing which still has some of the old wooden piers in the water, we fished it on the high tide this morning and caught a fish for every coral prawn bait we used. A lot of fun even tho we did not keep any.
Our last day here we had decided to try fishing south of the town the road wound its way thru the sandhills back of the beach, needed to let tyres down to 20psi and use low range 4wd. After an hours driving we finally emerged near the waters edge but it was very steep and a lot of rocks so gave it a miss and went back to Mauds with its clear water and lots of sandy beaches. To our dismay when we arrived there was a 3m Tiger shark cruising just a few metres off the shore, there were people at the beach and one group had 2 dogs that kept running in out of the water and I am sure it was the dogs that kept attracting the shark.

Oh well we still spent a cple hours there no fish but who cares, tomorrow is fathers day and we are off to Carnarvon.

Exmouth

We are so glad now that we have come here, a truly holiday town with the ocean on both sides and the start of the ningaloo reef. We have seen a lot of sea life from turtles and dugongs cruising not mote than a metre from the shore to seeing majestic whales breaching further out.
Exmouth is a town that like so many in the far north of WA is undergoing some major boom in building and infrastructure, could not believe the amount of housing that is going on up here. Exmouth even has a new marina with canal housing much like the Gold Coast and prices to match. Also situated up here is Australias major naval communications centre as well as several others belonging to America.

I have had some luck fishing from the beach tho the loss of tackle has been expensive because the reef is close to shore, a mixed bag of fish all kissed and thrown back

Ningaloo Station

We were really looking forward to this but alas the 52k trip in was some of the worst road we have encountered and the camp sites were not the individual spots we had hoped for. The scenery and ocean outlook was shear magic but we could only stay 2 nights as there just was not enough here to warrant the hardship of staying so we have packed up and headed for Exmouth for 4 nights.

Fortsecue River

A one night stop here on our way to Ningaloo Station, the roadhouse has over 700 dongas out the back.

80 mile Beach

Wow have been without internet for over 2wks so much to tell, we had 1 last night out with Wayne and Barb at Divers Hotel to help celebrate her B'day we all had steak what a fabulous meal with great company.
We headed off after spending 7 days in Broome and next stop is 80 mile beach for 6 days, Wayne and Barb will catch up with us here for a cple days and then we will finally part company a little sad for both of us but am sure we have made some good friends who will always be there.

80 mile beach is a perfect spot only 1 sandhill from the beach, it is fairly crowded but who cares when you have a spot like this.

This park is like a small town they held a memorial service for the Vietnam vets to honour the 50th anniv of one of the major battles, they have a small memorial built at the park as a lot of vets started coming here some 15yrs ago. Also they have markets every Sunday and Wednesday I actually went to the Sunday ones and tried selling some of our Pizz off Flies.
Also Sunday they have a roast beef diner for $12 served at the shop or take away.
This beach has some very large tides going out some 1.5k on low tide which allows us to drive on the beach.
I have spent 4 days fishing along with everyone else from the park and as far as the eye can see there are people fishing. I managed to catch 1 a threadfin salmon. I did see some of the the locals who use quad bikes to drive on beach with several at least 20lbs and they caught them every day, maybe I should have followed them.

another sunset spent on the beach with good friends

Broome

arrived in Broome on Thursday and had planned to stay 5 nights but have extended that to 7is so much to do here, it reminds me alot of Byron Bay with its layback people and even the town itself centred around the ocean.
 We could not help ourselves but to go straight to the ocean as soon as we had finished setting up and what a truly beautiful sight it is.

We had met a very nice couple at Fitzroy Crossing and have again found them here at same park in Broome we visited them just to say a quick hello on our 2nd night but 2 bottles of red later found us skipping back to our camper wondering what the hell happened. They have invited us back for a barra meal with them on Monday night, might need to leave a bread trail to find our way back.
On Saturday we went to the markets held at the old court house and bought some nice trinkets for ourselves, later we drove down to Cable beach and found we could drive the car right onto the beach which we did joining lots of others. I put the awning up and Wendy sat there reading while I went for a fish off the rocks caught a couple nothing to rave about but still a enjoyable.

We have planned to go again but later in the day and take and cook our tea, spend the evening watching the sunset but to date that has not happened as the wind has come up these past 2 days and tho not strong it is uncomfortable being sandblasted.






We went out for a meal on Saturday to Matso's a very iconic pub in Broome they brew their own and was quiet nice, the meals were great and the atmosphere.

 Spent the day touring the sites around Broome went to the Port and walked out on the jetty then into town to drool over all the pearl shops

Had our night with new friends  and enjoyed a super Barra meal and several wines, a great night was had will be sad to part company as they are here for another 3wks.

Today we have planned to go to the beach to have tea and watch the sunset

Derby

Arrived in Derby after a short 3hr drive from Fitzroy Crossing, our original plan had been to go to Tunnel Ck and Windjana Gorge but the state of the roads and the low clearance of the Prado with the gas tank has forced us to reconsider some of our off road trips especially when towing camper.
 We will stay here for 3 days and travel back out to see those 2 places without the camper.
2nd day we are off at 6am as we have been told it is best to get there early so on the return trip we do not have the setting sun in our eyes.
We travel back up the Gibb which is 80% bitumen to the turnoff then another 25k to Windjana, we are glad we did not camp here now as it is very barren not much shade.

 A most interesting access to the gorge

 we saw a lot of freshies in the gorge just sunning
on the sand banks you could get as close as you dared or as close as they would let you.

a limestone reef that extended from Geicke gorge to here










After morning tea we set off for Tunnel ck another 32k of corrugated road with a lot of hidden dips.

 it is a 1.7k trek thru the cave a torch and shoes suitable for wading thru the pools are a must.

 it is very dark and hard to see where to go it is only from seeing others ahead of us that we know where to go.

 there are some spectacular sights and to really see it all a strong light is needed.

the end of the tunnel leads to this beautiful view.











We are back at camp by 3pm enough time for us to get ready to go down to the jetty to see high tide and the sunset.

 high tide at the jetty

 everyone comes for the fishing and crabbing

 we opt for tea at a restaurant and a front row spot for sunset