Mozzies Around Australia: April 2022

Day 19 Carnarvon to The Ridge Warroora Station

Left Carnarvon and took North Coast Highway turning off at Minilya. About 20 k out of Coral Bay , you turn off onto about 10k of gravel to our site at “The Ridge” We would have liked to get into 14 mile beach which is the other campground but no sites were available . The Ningaloo Marine Park runs right along this coastline so as you look over the ocean you can see the waves breaking over the reef. We have a couple of neighbours – both from Perth . Bev and Harald are veteran visitors here and have been retired for many years . They usually stay here for 2 months but WA Parks has limited it to 28 days. First day we set up and did the swim and fish thing had tea and off to bed. That night, we found out why they call it Windy Warra , The wind came blasting so up at midnight in the rain hanging on for dear life while we got the awning in. Thought we were going to loose it !! Wet and bedraggled back into bed as the van shook around us. Bev and Harald told us “ that wasn’t that bad – you know its bad when you have to use star pickets and rope across the top of the van !!!

Next morning, we headed up the up the track that goes to Coral Bay . Its about 20 k and there are numerous places where you can head off towards the beach/rocky outcrops. Stopped at Turtle Rock which would have been a great fishing spot on a good day. Any stop along there is beautiful on the right day. Arrived in Coral Bay Township – great sheltered bay very close to the reef but it was like Torquay at Xmas time. Caravan parks were packed in like sardines – looked it up $80 for a site in high season which is most of the year. We escaped pretty quickly after visiting yet another award-winning bakery and headed back for a swim/snorkel for a few hours. All the real excitement happened later that day when Russ caught a good-sized snapper. Fresh fish for tea! Sorry we didn’t get a photo.

Our final day was again at the beach where Russ had more success- about 4kg bone fish and yes you don’t eat this one but lots of fun to catch and I have the evidence to prove how big it was.

The other entertainment was watching some “w…………” bring their boat down and launch it off the beach and then get the whole lot bogged. Maybe options such as unhooking the boat trailer and letting some air out of the tyres might have been helpful. They broke their snatchem strap . Luckily there was a guy there with an electric winch.to help them out. Land cruisers don’t always go everywhere. We left before they returned. I would have liked to take some video but thought it might be a bit obvious.

It’s been a great place to stay but you just have to be prepared for the changeable weather. Onto to Exmouth tomorrow. PS ankle is looking very black!

View from the hill behind

Helen in for a swim

14 Mile Beach Day Area

Hard day at the office

Success

Site 3 The Ridge

Another magnificent subset

Turtle Rock

Colourful isn't it !

Day 18 Kalbarri to Carnavon

Originally, we had planned to do a free camp but plans change and ended up in Carnarvon. We have booked a campsite on Warroora (pronounced Warra) station. Parks WA actually run the campsites, so you booked through them. Doing that for 3 nights so taking the opportunity to water, food and fuel up. I did manage to twist my ankle pretty badly as I stepped out of the van . Lots of ice and elevation and my foot is turning a lovely shade of blue/black in places. I think I was lucky not to have done something worse.

Gladstone Lookout on the way to Carnarvon

Carnarvon Harbour

Day 17 Day in Kalbarri

Today we had the day in Kalbarri enjoying the warm weather and swimming and snorkeling. Blue Poles beach is a protected environmental area and the reef is quite close to the shore so you can easily swim out and watch all the fish swim around underneath you. Very popular with young families. Russ did a bit of fishing (again no luck ) . Finished the day off with some very nice fish and chips.

Day 16 Northampton to Kalbarri

Leisurely drive to Kalbarri this morning ( 102k) as we can't get into the park till 2pm. Lots of caravans still heading south as the school holidays come to an end. On the way into Kalbarri , we stopped in at the Pink Lake near Port Gregory named for the colour due tot he high levels of salt then onto the coastal cliffs outside of Kalbarri- very reminiscent of the Great Australian Bight. There are quite a few spots but it was Island Rock and Natural Bridge for us. Again the flies are unbelievable but the views make up for it. Stopped in town for lunch and then onto the Red Bluff Tourist Resort another G'day park so my membership fee has definitely paid for itself. Having an ensuite for every site is a bit of a novelty and its great to be back on a bit of grass again.

Onto Kalbarri National park this afternoon for some sightseeing. The main attraction is the Kalbarri Skywalk - photos really don't do it justice. Check out Russ's movies on the blog. There are a number of other trails you can take but being 35 degrees and enough flies to carry a horse away , The Skywalk and Nature's Window was enough.

Finished the day with a bit of fishing, a cold drink and another look at the stars.

View from Skywalk

Natures Window

April 2022 Mozzies Video Clips

Day 15 Geraldton to Northampton

Very short travel day today as the long weekend has had its challenges . We have moved 35 k up the highway to Northampton for an overnighter . Shepparton has its painted cows well this place has its painted sheep as a lot of the wealth has come from farming over the last century. You can tell by the grandeur of the old buildings especially the churches.

For the footy fans, there is a display that features all the local lads who have moved into the AFL but started in the local league. Check out the photo.

Very busy here with the caravan park full by the end of the day either going away or heading back from the school holidays. Off to Kalbarri tomorrow for a couple of nights.

Day 14 Tenindewa Well ( Mullewa) to Geraldton

Short Drive into Geraldton today . How the place has changed- grown a lot but it has been 30 years since we were here. We have had to be a bit flexible with accommodation due long weekend so one night in Geraldton. Today was about restocking and a bit of washing - just the general stuff. Went and found our old house . It's was one block back from the beach - sure looks different .

Stayed the night at Drummond Cove Caravan Park - took a walk to the beach with pizza and a glass of red for dinner.

Our old house

Drummond Cove Beach

Day 13 Peter Denny Lookout to Tenindewa Well ( Mullewa)

So now we head west towards the coast . We will make our way through Sandstone ,Mt Magnet and onto Mullewa for out last free camp before Geraldton. Its still mostly mining country but it will change to crops once we get in closer. You may have noticed that we haven't mentioned any detecting stories . Couple of reasons - we didn't really have the time and it was quite difficult to work out where you could stop and not encroach on a lease . More complicated than Victoria.

Did you know there was a London Bridge in Australia ? Well its outside Sandstone and the horse and cats used to go over the top of it. Nowadays, it has warning not to walk over it as it has become very unstable.

The rest of the day was a shared drive and we ended our day at a free camp - Tenindewa Pioneer Well just outside Mullewa . Frequently visited during the wildflower season but just a couple of us there that night .

Again great views but the FLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. So glad we had our fly veils with us . Never seen them so bad so make sure you pack one . On a more positive note . we had our first fire . Luckily the flies disappeared at sunset so we could sit out and enjoy a bit of satellite spotting.

Tomorrow onto civilisation and Geraldton - see how much it has changed since we lived here in the 90's.

Day 12 Gwalia to Peter Denny Lookout ( Sandstone)

Before leaving this morning , we had a wander through the Gwalia Museum. Like so much of this area, the history goes back to the late 1800's. Tough country to be working in. The museum is well worth a look with lots of machinery and restored buildings. Also gives you an overview of the present workings so still plenty of gold to be had . 2031 is the current end date.

Drove into Leonora where we stopped to sample Fiona's award wining bakery treats - nice sausage roll and pie. From here we're heading off on our first serious gravel road . Called the Leonora Loop trails . you have 2 choices - Agnew or Darlot . We chose Agnew as that took us towards Sandstone . its about 120 k of gravel which follows the old coach roads and there are number of stops where they provide a metal figure and there is as story attached . So much history that we knew nothing about. The loop finishes at Agnew where there is another huge mine . We didn't see another vehicle all day till we got back on the highway heading towards Sandstone.

Found a great spot just outside called the Peter Denny Lookout - awesome place . If we had been a bit more organised , would have been a great spot for a fire . Sat outside and looked at the stars till it got too cold - it was a great day!