Mimbi Caves

The Mimibi Caves are Australia's largest cave system. They are part of the Devonian Reef and are significant to the local Aboriginal people.

Upon arrival we took part in a Smoking Ceremony to welcome to the land and walk freely amongst the ancestors.

Upon entering the caves we rubbed stones under our armpits and threw them into the water so the Rainbow Serpent would let us swim safely.

Going into the caves.

A stalacmite formation that looks like a
pregnant women. The local Aboriginal people
believe if a women touches it they will became pregnant.

Ethan

A picture of a rainman within the caves.
The art has been created through scratchings.

At the end of the tour Prue had the opportunity to go and see a birthing cave. Very lucky. The boys were very jealous.

A strange little story for you. In the 1980's two German women arrived at Mimibi Caves in a Combi. They lived here for 6 months where they built a hut out of stone and cement (they bought the cement with them) and created  chess set. Eventually the local people founs them and asked them to move on.

Gieke Gorge

Gieke Gorge is located along the Fitzroy River. The cliffs are 350-400 million years old and are part of a fossilised reef from the Devonian Period.

In the boat ready to go.

Going under the cliff. No need to worry about it collapsing
as the is the the most stable part of Australia.

A cave.  There are nany caves within the Devonian Reef.

The white line shows the flood line levels during the wet.

Stalactites forming on the outside.
Very unusual, normally they are inside caves.

Along the way we spotted some animals.

Fresh Water Crocodile

Can you spot the croc here?

What about here?

Can you see the Little Red Flying Foxes in the trees.

Happy Birthday Mitch

The event that Mitch has been waiting for our entire trip has finally arrived. Happy 8th Birthday Mitch. He had a great day. Up at six to open his presents, went to the beach and played mini golf.  Mum and Ethan made him a fish cake and it was yummy. Mitch chose fish and chips for dinner.  We ate the mackerel he caught in Pender Bay. Happy Birthday

A Fish Cake for a boy obsessed with fish.

Mitch filleting his fish. His joke not mine.

Pender Bay

Pender Bay is located in the Dampier Peninsula, south of Cape Leveque. This is a great spot. Our campsite is on top of the cliff. Our view is of the red cliffs meeting the clear bule sea. One of our favourite scenes on the WA coastline.

The view from our campsite

Our camp

Whilst setting up our camp a Manta Ray was swimming in the bay and a group of breeding dolphins were swimming around the point.

Manta Ray. Even though he looks small in the
picture it was a big Manta.

Whales

That afternoon two Mantas were swimming in the bay. Prue, Chris and Mitch were able to snorkel with them. At the some time a buck humpback whale was showing off to his lady friend and was breaching in the distance. He breached about 10 times. Truly magnificent.

If you zoom in on this picture
you can see us on the left hand
side of the beach.

That night was a 'Stairway to Heaven', where the moon rises over the water on a low tide. The moon was blood red as it rose and we watched it from our fire on the cliff.

The boys had the opportunity to go fishing with one of the campers. They did very well. Ethan caught the best fish, a 110cm Spanish Mackeral. He is very proud just ask him the story.

Ethan's Spanish Mackeral.

Ethan's School Mackeral

Mitch's School Mackeral.

The fishing trip began at sunrise, so the boys got to see our first sunrise over the water. The moon was also setting at this time.

Sunrise

The setting moon

 We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Pender Bay and would recommend to anyone.

Cape Leveque - Brian Lee Tag Along Tour

We decided to do a cultural tour with Bardi man Brian Lee. We had an awesome day, even though it was windy and we all look 10 years younger from the microdermabrasion. Our day consisted of hearing Brain's story, fishing and crabbing.

Fishing for Travelly

Hunter Creek. Named after Brian's Great Grandfather.

The Boys were very excited to be able to use their spears they got from Honeymoon Bay to go hunting for Mud Crab. Unfortuneately we did not catch anything.

Mud crabbing using a hook. 

Brian told us how you can use Paper Bark to start fires. You grab a piece of bark and rub it together until it all broken down and form a ball. You then use this as kindling. Due to the oil contant in the paperbark it loves fire. We are going to use this tip on our next Gregory adventure.

Brain rubbing the bark.

Our catch of the day cooking on the fire.

Serving up the fish.

Cape Leveque - Fishing

Sometimes I wonder if our holiday is about satisfying Mitch's fishing addiction. He loves it. At Cape Leveque we went on a charter to try and catcha big one. Sadly this did not happen, though we got to get to know our neighbours Jo and Brian a little better. Of the 80 fish that was pulled into the boat by the six of us 2 were keepers. However, the boys made sure we took a photo of the different sorts of fish we caught.

Heading out to catch the big one.

Spanish Flag

Blue-lined Emporer

Estuary Cod

Bluebone

Blue-lined Emporer

Travelly. Finally a keeper!!!

Mitch also took to fishing off the rocks. He isisted we take photos of his catch even though they were all undersized and had to be thrown back.

Bluebone

Crimson Perch