Hello Cape Range National Park

It was hard to leave Coral Bay but we were off to Cape Range National Park which is just the opposite side of the cape to Exmouth.  We were entertained on our drive to Exmouth by two fellow travellers chatting between themselves and commenting on the surrounding countryside.  It did give us a few good laughs indeed.  Once we were in Exmouth we pulled up at the Visitor Information Centre to fill up our water tanks.  It is such a great thing they have there allowing everyone to fill up their water tanks before heading into the national park.  Pulling in was so easy and they had two taps with plenty of room between each so two people could be topping up at once.

From there it was to the service station to top up in fuel and then we were off into the Cape Range National Park.  Of course we had pre-booked a campground which just happen to nearly be the furtherest one away so it was another 70km until we got to our destination.  The coastline looked spectacular and we easily got into our site.  We had trouble opening one of our side boot doors and we realised it was just a loose screw so Jason tightened it up so it should all be good now. 

So there aren't too many trees out here.

We all enjoyed lunch and then just chilled for a while.  I even managed to get to sit outside and read my magazine as the flies weren’t bad and the kids were happy inside.  Then it was onto school so we could finish off the week.  Our reward at the end was a swim in the ocean.  Most of the edge of this campground is rocks with a little over a 1m drop to the ocean but down a little bit is a small beach and along further there are some really nice beaches.  We opted to go to the small one as I deemed it easy with the kids, especially after the walk back the day before. 

The little beach nearby.

The kids seemed to enjoy the rocks more.

All set up in a prime location.

There we caught up with a fellow Brisbane travelling family who we had met when we were staying in Fremantle, before making our way back for happy hour with Ian and Gwen overlooking the water.   Another couple joined us and we also said a quick hello to another family who had arrived.  We didn’t get to say hello to the Birds (a family we met in Geraldton) but did wave when they arrived.  It was so nice to get the kids to bed at a reasonable time and just to relax knowing that we don’t have to overly exert ourselves the next few days.

Going for a bit of a walk.

Jason sitting down and relaxing.

Family footprint photo.

Well unfortunately the wind picked up again during the night and of course we hadn’t pulled in the awning as it wasn’t blowing when we went to bed.  So the flapping woke us up during the night and even Hamish complained about it in the morning.  Normally that kid can sleep through anything.  Still it is nothing that a coffee and a walk along the path can’t fix.  Mind you when we got back the wind was picking up even more so we did pull in the awning to avoid it getting ripped off and blowing away. 

The sun has set on our first night.

We then decided to head out exploring and went back up to the interpretive centre to read all the information that they had there.  At first Hamish was saying how boring the place was but when he spotted all the bone and birds hanging from the roof he really got into it.  Afterwards we treated ourselves to an ice-cream each.  It must have looked quite silly as even though it wasn’t cold it wasn’t exactly hot enough for ice-cream due to the strong winds.  Even the birds looked like they were holding on for dear life in the nearby tree.  It could have a lot to do with the fact that it is pretty much the only tree around this area.

Hamish enjoying the interpretive centre.

Someone is taking my photo.

Discovering Turquoise Bay.

On our way back down to our campsite at Osprey we called into Turquoise Bay which is known for its snorkelling.  We just walked along the beach looking at all the pieces of coral that had been washed up and watching everyone out in the water.  By now Hamish was asking to go back to the caravan as he knew his friend James was arriving that day and was so excited to see him again.  Of course we knew he wouldn’t get there until late but Hamish just wouldn’t believe us.  On the way back we called into Oysters Stack which is meant to have great coral but you can only snorkel their on certain high tides. 

Yep it is pretty nice.

Kayla having a ball.

All different shade of blue.

Back at the campground Hamish was disappointed that his friend had not arrived.  Still it allowed us to all enjoy lunch and do a bit of school before heading down to the small beach nearby for a swim.  Afterwards it was time for happy hour and everyone started to congregate at the communal table and chairs near the beach.  It took me a while to realise but all six couples that came were all from Queensland.  Now I don’t know if this says a good thing or bad thing about our Queenslanders.  Yes we love our happy hour and socialising so I am going to go with it being a dam awesome thing. 

A quick photo with Dad.

Some of the coral washed up.

Oyster stacks.

Just as the sun was setting Peta and Darren pulled up and Hamish was ever so excited to see them.  So the kids just hung out in our van whilst us parents and fellow travellers all sat around chatting.   I did check on them every now and then and left them some snacks of marshmallows and chips to eat to keep them happy.  Once it was dark we all retreated to our vans for dinner and an early night. 

We woke up so refreshed the next day and managed to get some school done before arranging with Peta and Darren to go snorkelling at Turquoise Bay.  This way we could go out as couples and the couple not out snorkelling could watch the kids.  Even though it was really windy the water wasn’t as cold as I was expecting and if anything felt warmer than not being in the water.  Peter and Darren went first and then we swapped over.  Jason was still having trouble getting his snorkel mask to seal and not let water in so we stayed in for a bit before swapping them over. 

It didn’t seem to make a difference to Jason and they both worked fine for me.  So as Jason headed in I went back out and admired all the fish and saw a massive fish.  I have no idea what it was but it was huge as at first I panicked and thought it was a shark but no it was just one huge, fat fish that was happy staying where it was.  I even kindly pointed it out to some tourist guy, but soon regretted it when he stopped swimming and just stood on the coral!  Seriously what part of preserving this wonderful thing for future generations doesn’t he get!

After a while we headed back in and just chilled on the beach for a bit.  Darren took James in and I tried to convince Hamish to go in but he wasn’t keen.  He gave it a go but just wasn’t confident so I didn’t push it.  What I might need to do is get him use to the snorkel in a pool and then slowly add the flippers so he is use to it.  After a while we all packed up and headed back to camp for lunch.  On the way home Darren called Jason up on the UHF and pointed at a 4WD track out to the left and asked if he wanted to do it after lunch.  Jason was keen but thought he meant now so pulled over.  I set him straight and back on the road again we went.  Phew I got out of that one.

The other beach near the campground.

After lunch another family rolled in and the kids all headed down to the little rocky beach so I followed them to make sure they were all okay.  Jason came down and said they were all going off to the 4WD track and I said I was more than happy to stay home and keep Kayla with me.  Both Jason and Peta tried to convince me to come but I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it, not to mention Jason would enjoy it more without me in the passenger seat. 

He made it to the top.

Heading back down.

Off they go down.

I did however make myself a cup of tea and watched them off in the distance making their way up the hill.  I could see at one stage they stopped and went up one by one, so knew that part must have been a bit more difficult.  I even got chatting to our neighbour who was watching them through the binoculars.  When I could see they had made it safely to the top I stopped watching and started making the pizzas for dinner.  By the time I finished making them they were all back.

Looking back out over the mountains.

Can you spot three cars on top of the hill?

Of course I asked Jason how it was and if they view was worth it.  His look said it all.  He said it was quite full on and no the view wasn’t worth it.  So at least we both knew that I had made the right decision but still he had enjoyed it and felt a sense of accomplishment and he was proud of how our Pajero had handled it.  I am just glad that all three (Jason, Hamish and the Pajero) all came back in one piece.  Now it was time for happy hour over at the tables again.  As some people had left and others had arrived it was a constantly changing group but still it was great to meet the new people and hear about other good spots to go.

Some random little bug we caught out there.

Peta and Darren had invited us over for a game of cards after dinner, so we made our way over there once we were all ready.  It took us all a while to work out the rules and cards needed for five hundred but eventually we got going.  I think Darren was ready to ditch me as a team mate as I was hopeless but then we worked out the problem (I wasn’t drinking) so after a glass of wine I found my form and we ended up coming out on front, mainly because we called it quits before anyone won due to it getting late.

I have to admit it is nice sitting around and playing cards at the end of the day and it was a great way to end out stay out in the national park.  I was just happy that the rain had held off and we really had three good days of weather.  Yes the wind was bad the whole time but at least the sun was out for the majority of it.

Well our time had come to leave and I don’t think we could have timed it any better.  It started to rain just after we had left Osprey and the wind was blowing really strong.  Thankfully we were only moving to Exmouth so nearly 80km away.  We just took our time and as the speed limit was 80km/hr hour it wasn’t like we were holding anyone up unless they wanted to speed.  We made it to town and the rain held off to allow us to set up at our site, put on a load of washing and head straight out for a decent coffee.

This was my pile after I had already done three loads of washing.

Local resident???

Sun setting in Exmouth.

We found the main area of Exmouth which really isn’t much but it had everything we needed and the main thing it had was a decent coffee place.  I tried a Chai Latte and it was just delicious but by the end a little sweet for my liking so I should have probably gone for the cup and not the mug size.  From there it was straight back to the caravan to continue the massive amount of washing and knock over a few jobs.  We booked the caravan park for Broome and did some research on our drive there and Barn Hill Station.  Jason had the gas bottle refilled and we did a little bit of school.

The afternoon just went by in a blur of trying to catch up on jobs that needed doing whilst trying to get some rest.  Kayla was obviously very tired and just fell asleep on our bed, but of course it was nearly 4pm and she slept right up to dinner time so was up until late with so much energy.  At least I managed to get seven loads of washing done in our little machine which only equalled three lots in the dryer and we had finally caught up.

True to form Kayla was up late but then suddenly crashed to sleep so we felt like we had won lotto as we expected her to stay up much later.  Well that came back to bite us when she was wide awake at 5:30am the next day.  At least we weren’t going to miss Hamish’s on-air lesson!  In the end we found out that was cancelled as his teacher was sick so we really felt we were on a good role.

We really didn’t get up to much.  We finished off most of our jobs, did some school and attempted to get the boys a haircut.  Of the three hairdressers in town, two were closed and one was booked up until next week!  Well I guess they will have to wait until Tom Price or somewhere else.  We all seem really tired at the moment and were quite snappy with one another.  Kayla was really out of sorts with her tantrums and just after lunch Jason took her for a drive and she instantly fell asleep.  Obviously the early start was really getting to all of us.

The big prawn.

Cool garden bed.

Kayla in front of the big whale shark.

Still we are all now stocked up and ready to hit the road tomorrow.  It is a bit of a drive but we will just free camp it along with way.  As long as we can get the majority of the trip done tomorrow we will be very happy.