Cape Range National Park - Lakeside

Lakeside offered many coral bombeys to investigate. Here we saw a medium size white tip reef shark. Ethan was very excited to see it and tried to investigate it more. If the shark was any bigger Prue would have been swimming in the other direction.

Boys sunning themselves after a snorkel.

Cape Range National Park - Turquoise Bay

Cape Range or Ningaloo Reef is famous for Turquoise Bay. This was Prue's favourite snorkelling spot. Here we saw many different types and colours of coral. We spotted a turtle hiding in the coral, an ocotpus hiding in a rock and a reef shark hiding under some platform coral. Chris was lucky enough to spot two Moray Eels (had to do due to their shyness)

The crystal clear blue water and the white snad make the place spectacular.

Cape Range National Park - Yardie Creek

At Yardie Creek we went for a walk up the Yardie Creek Gorge. Here we had a great view out to Ningaloo Reef.

 Along the walk we spotted some mountain goats. We saw seven. Can you spot them all?

Cape Range National Park - Oyster Stacks

The Oyster Stacks consists of some rocks with oysters and has many different types and colours of coral. The coral reef here is direclty next to the shore and was Chris's favourite snorkelling location.

Spot the oyster stack behind Ethan and Chris.

Cape Range National Park - Osprey

During our stay at Cape Range National Park  we stayed at the Osprey campground. The campground has a spectacular view of Ningaloo Reef and offers many snorkelling opportunites. At Osprey we swam with two resident green sea turtles, sting rays, cuttle fish and many differnet types of reef fish.

Mitch sunning himself after a snorkel.

Mitch also bugged Dad do go fishing every day. They caught lots of small reef fish and two octopuses. Hense Osprey was Mitch's favourite spot.

Our campsite saw some the native wildlife, including kangaroos (which tries to get into our bin at night), Spinifex Hopping Mice ( which tried to eat a bread on night when we accidentally left it out) and an echnida. Prue was very excited to see the echnida as it is her second favourite animal.

Echidna burrowing to hide from the boys.

Exmouth

Our purpose for coming to Exmouth was to go swimming with the Whale Sharks; the top item on our bucket list. However, the weather turned windy and wet and our Whale Shark swim was delayed by a week. Before the weather turned we managed to visit the Big Prawn, go to Vlamingh Head Lighthouse and the SS Mildura wreck. 

While viewing the SS Mildura, the boys could see people collecting something in the rocks during low tide.  The discoved people fishing for octopus. Ethan decided to give octopus hunting a go himself. Unfortuneately the octopus escaped.

Part of an Octopus tenticle stuck to Mitch

Once the weather had turned the boys needed to be entertained. It was decided that school work was the way to go.

Emu trying to steal our lunch.

Port Hedland

Port Hedland: the unexpected stop. We did not plan on stopping at Port Hedland. We were making our way from Derby and heading towards Exmouth when a car started chasing and flashing its lights at us on the highway. Eventually, we spoke the driver of the car on the radio, who informed us that there was thick black somke coming from one of the camper tralier tyres. After stopping and looking at the tyre it was evident the wheel bearings were gone and we could travel no further. Fortuneatley we had stoppped at a section along the highway that had reception and could call the RACQ for a tow for the camper trailer. Hence we ended up at Port Hedland.

Port Hedland is a funny little town. It is difficult to tell how big the town is. When you see the lights at night it looks huge. During the day you learn most of the lights belong to the mine/port. The housing is scattered throughout. However, while your camper trailer is being fixed you must find things to do. Here are some suggestions if you are in the same predicament as us when visiting Port Hedland.

1. Get hair cuts
2. Visit the port and see the huge bulk carriers come in and out.
3. Go out for lunch (as all your food etc is in the camper tralier)
4. Look at the salt mine.
5. Drive around town.