Making our way to the Coral Coast

So after a late night out with Darren and Peta we eventually dragged ourselves out of bed to get ready and get on the road.  We had a big drive ahead of us and the option of free camping to break it up has kind of been ruined by all the flies.  Who really wants to pull over on the side of the road and just sit in the caravan all afternoon as you can’t enjoy the outside.  Well actually I could easily just chill on the bed and read a book but of course that would not entertain the kids.  In the end there really wasn’t anywhere nice to pull over anyway unless you wanted to take a long and slow detour down a dirt road.  Really it was the number of flies that turned us off.  At each stop a million would join you in the car and you would spend the next hour trying to get them all back out.

Lot less to look at on the road now.

The worst part was you had to back track down 130km out of Denham to join the main highway again and we had a head wind the whole way which did not help the fuel economy at all.  Thankfully when we joined the highway it was then pushing us up to Carnarvon so the fuel average came right back down.  We rolled into Carnarvon just after 2pm and were keen to just unhitch the van, see the sights and do some food shopping.  Ian and Gwen were already there so we opted to just go straight to their caravan park.  This was a bad mistake and Jason who might now learn to check his phone messages would have found that out if he had checked the voice message Ian had left him, telling us not to stay in this caravan park.

Check in was smooth but of course the person on the site behind us had parked in the wrong spot so was sticking out into our site where we were meant to park so of course we couldn’t reverse into it.  No worries we thought we would just park on the other side of the slab and just after we had lined up and were unhitching one of the employees came and said we had to park with our drawbar out.  We explained the situation and said it was for one night.  Still the answer was no.  So I asked for the site at the end of the row but reception said there is a comment that no one can be put there!

So he walked us to site 71 and said you could have this one.  I wasn’t keen as they put other vans across from you and I said it would be hard to get out of if people are parked there.  He offered to reverse it in for us.  I felt like screaming at this point saying we have been doing this for six months so know what we are talking about.  I knew we could get in but if they put vans across from us it would be hard to get out.  By now we just gave up and took the site, and thought stuff this we aren’t going to stay here two nights.  Once we unhitched we connected the power and went straight to the OTC Satellite Earth Station.

Pick the alien.

All too confusing for us.

Ready for outer space.

Pretty impressive who has visited the centre.

That was certainly interesting, especially for adults.  For the kids there were a few interactive things but it was mainly a lot of reading and old videos.   There was a space simulator and I was impressed at how smooth the take-off was.  I really thought that we would get jolted around.  Mind you the guy in charge of it then thought it might not have been working as well as it should have.  To finish off the museum we bought some space (dehydrated) ice cream and walked around the dish. 

Kayla try to work it all out.

Hamish is in charge of this section.

Loved the old tv.

Shot of inside the centre.

One of the dishes.

The other main one that you can go up a little bit.

Jason then dropped the kids and I back to the van where we did the washing whilst Jason went and did the food shopping.  Realistically I should have sent Kayla with Jason as it was hard trying to get the washing and school done with Hamish with a tired and cranky Kayla.  We did manage to get there but this whole experience is really not letting us paint a nice picture of Geraldton.  People had told us not to stop here, just stock up on food and keep moving.  We just had to experience it for ourselves!

At least we had a good night sleep but we still couldn’t decide where we were going to move onto the next day and decided to just call the caravan parks in Coral Bay the next day and see if they have any vacancies.  Mother’s Day morning was so nice.  I was up doing my usual blog update but then Hamish woke up and was so excited to give me his presents.  The best bit was the drawing he had done for me.  I hadn’t seen it but the night before I had been banished to our bed so they could do them for us and hearing him describe it and say what he was drawing and why made my heart melt.

Jason then got up and made me a coffee and Kayla eventually joined us too.  Then it was time for a cooked breakfast from Jason and Hamish which was absolutely beautiful but we did need to start to pack up and get ready to move on so it was a bit chaotic.  Ian and Gwen were originally going to go out to a station stay but we weren’t keen on the drive in and a sandy condition as our caravan is an on-road one.  Though Ian came and saw us in the morning and said they weren’t keen to go there as they found out it was a long drive in.

 I think by now Jason and I were looking for that peace of paradise that you hear all about for WA.  Don’t get me wrong, it is a beautiful place and so different but the beaches haven’t been what we were expecting.  This probably isn’t helped by the fact that the water has been too cold to swim and enjoy them.   We had heard Coral Bay was magnificent so we wanted to head straight there and relax for a bit.  I was a little nervous I must admit leaving Carnarvon, not because I liked our stay there but we hadn’t been able to book another in Coral Bay.  The main (and I am guessing popular) caravan park was booked out for the next week nearly.  They did have an overflow part but it was first in, best dressed and we weren’t going to get there until after lunch. 

There was another caravan park in town but their reception didn’t open until 9am according to the phone message.  Mind you when I rang back after 9am and listened to the full message it said the office wasn’t open on Sundays but provided another number.  Luckily Gwen was right on top of it all and called the other number and booked us both in for two nights.  I could now relax that we had a place to stay as it would have been a long drive to the next place to stop and that was the last thing I wanted after a big drive the day before and one today.

The drive was exactly the way I liked it, uneventful with the changing country side and the ground definitely getting more red sand like.  We pulled over by a river for a toilet break and some morning tea and I just had a quick walk around to stretch my legs.  I saw it quick as the flies were still super friendly there.  Then it was back on the road and into Coral Bay.  The countryside started to turn green and you could tell that they had obviously had some good summer and early autumn rain and even termite mounds started to pop up again. 

We even crossed the Tropic of Capricorn on our way so now we are a little north of my parent’s property and Rockhampton so hopefully that means the water might start to get a bit warmer.  As we drove over the little ridge and saw Coral Bay we got very excited, we think we have found that little piece of paradise (along with all the other travellers of course).

Check in was a breeze and the sites, whilst a slight bit harder due to the jump up to them are nice.  We did however find out that they don’t have water that you can plug into the caravan, so it is lucky that we arrived with full water tanks.  It isn’t a big drama as we can just use the water in our tanks for washing up and washing your hands and for everything else use the amenities block which is pretty much opposite to us.  As we set up, Gwen cooked us all some lunch which was delicious.  Then it was time to make our way to the beach to check it out.  Convincing the kids to hop into their togs and go to the beach took a bit of effort.  After being stuck in the car for pretty much the best part of two days you would think that they would jump at the idea of the beach!

Such a pretty blue.

Making the most of their boggy boards.

It isn't a huge beach but it is certainly pretty.

Once we were there though we agreed that this is the place we had been looking for.  It isn’t a big place really; there are two resorts (one which I would call a motel), two caravan parks, two pubs and a little shopping arcade which has a supermarket and bakery!  So all the big boxes are ticked.  The beach isn’t huge and there were a lot of people there but I didn’t feel it was crowded.  Gwen even made the comment about the number of families that were there and how it felt like school holidays a bit.  I had to agree, there are heaps of families on the road travelling.  It is so great to see and I guess we love it as it means the kids are never without a friend.

Best of all though the water, whilst a little cool when hopping in was perfect for swimming.  Jason even took the snorkelling gear and went out.  Not that you had to go out snorkelling to see anything, the massive big fish swam past us in the shallows and there were even stingrays around.  I then went out for a snorkel for the first time and well it was nice but it for some reason my feet were hurting with the flippers, so back I went to Jason.  I complained and pointed to what was hurting my foot.  Ian cracked up laughing and then proceeded to pull out these plastic inserts that help keep the foot area rounded.  Jason had never removed them all this time.  At least we all got a good laugh out of it.

Jason towing Hamish along.

Someone wanted to go too.

By now we decided we needed to head back and get the roast on for dinner.  I was obviously getting the night off and we had invited Ian and Gwen over so Gwen too could have the night off too.  Hamish and I did some school but then we moved across to the lawn over the road as there was a gentleman playing his guitar and singing some great songs.  It was nice to sit back and listen to him as the sun went down.  By the time he finished, dinner was ready so we all sat down and enjoyed that before it was time to start the process of getting the kids showered and into bed.  It was nice going to bed knowing you are in such a great place and are definitely going to extend our stay.

So our first full day in paradise, what do you do, well not much at all really, that is the beauty of it.  Whilst Jason did Hamish’s on-air lesson I took Kayla for a walk around the caravan park and down to the beach.  Then on our way back we just had to detour into the bakery and grab some treats for morning tea.  I think the lady thought I was going to buy the place out but everything looked so delicious.  Best of all they were reasonably priced which surprised me based on their isolated location.  Every single thing I bought was so nice and fresh and delicious so it is definitely worth popping into the little bakery here at Coral Bay. 

Of course we did the usual washing and school but then we also took the kids for a swim in the pool.  Yes that is right, there is an absolutely stunning beach a short walk away and our kids want to go for a swim in the pool.  As Hamish had done well with his school we all went for a dip in the pool before convincing them that the beach would be so much better.  Jason tried out his new Kayak wheels and they made light work of lugging everything down to the beach.  I have no idea if it was easy or not but Jason was certainly not going to let on if it wasn’t. 

Little cliffs at the end of the beach.

Lots of little fish swimming around.
 

By now the sun had risen higher in the sky as it was nearly the middle of the day and the water had really turned on the beautiful blue colours for us.  Jason went out for a kayak whilst I watched the kids and then we swapped over.  The coral isn’t all different colours like far out in the Great Barrier Reef but it still has little pockets with a bit of colour and some beautiful fish.  I then came back and watched the kids whilst Jason went out for a snorkel.  Hamish and Kayla were having so much fun running around with their boggy boards.

Off exploring they go.

As it was getting quite warm I decided we should head back before the kids got too hot and hungry.  It was just the right call as they were happy to walk all the way home but were starting to get a bit tired and hungry by the time we got back to the caravan.  We enjoyed a late lunch and then just chilled around the van for the afternoon, doing a bit more school and organising Jason’s swim with the whale sharks and our next stay in the Cape Range National Park.  This is a beautiful spot but we think four nights is enough as we need to keep moving to make it to Broome in time for the Stairway to the Moon. 

We were very lucky and Gwen and Ian cooked us a delicious roast lamb for dinner.  I could certainly get use to not cooking, that is the second night in a row.  The people in the site next to Ian and Gwen were on a week long boys fishing trip and had come all the way up from south of Perth.  The pile of fish they had caught over the week was extremely impressive and it was all filleted and in vacuum sealed bags so they just had to divide it up.  Some of the pictures they were showing us of the fish they had caught were so impressive; it is something we only ever dream off catching.  Mind you they had the big boat and said they had to go a long way out to get them.

The next morning we were up early.  It was Jason’s birthday and he had booked onto a tour to swim with the whale sharks.  So he needed to be over there by 7:30am which meant I had the two kids for the entire day and had to do Hamish’s on air lesson with him which started at 7:30am.  So the morning was a quick Happy Birthday to Jason and opening his present from the kids and then waving him off.  Jason is going to write a whole separate blog on his swim with the whale sharks so for now you have to put up with my boring day instead.

I think by lunch time I was ready to just force them to sleep.  Kayla had run out half way through Hamish’s lesson so I had to go grab her and ask Gwen to keep an eye on her.  Then later in the day we went for a walk, of which I bought the kids some pool noodles and new thongs for Hamish.  Of course Hamish had lost his ever so expensive 50c thongs and the only ones sold here cost $15.  He had better not lose them.  We then proceeded to walk the road of Coral Bay looking for where we could fuel up.  Now this is really not a long road at all, wouldn’t even be 1km, maybe more like 500 or 600 metres.  Hamish managed to complain the whole way there and back.  Poor Gwen, I think she had just wanted a nice quiet walk.

I had promised the kids a swim when we got back but Hamish was still playing up so he got sent to his bed until he calmed down.  Eventually he did and after putting on our sunscreen we hit the pool.  It was just what we all needed and it was such a hot day that it instantly put us all in a better mood.  When I thought they had used up most of their energy we headed back to the van for some lunch and rest.  Thankfully they agreed and Hamish seemed to be out of his bad mood.  Though it wasn’t long until Kayla started her little witching hour for the afternoon.

Honestly I was so glad when I saw the bus drop Jason and Ian back and them walking along.  I don’t think Jason knew what he was walking into otherwise he would have headed straight to the pub.  I just said the simple; it has been a long day as I handed over Kayla who was chucking a tantrum over who knows what.  Outback Paddy was playing again and no one was sitting around listening to him.  So I thought I would drag my chair over there and sit back and have a beer whilst listening to him.

Jason, Ian and Gwen all also came over and Hamish bought Jason’s cake over so Paddy sang Jason Happy Birthday.  Our kids then started to be naughty again so that kind of ruined my relaxing evening.  Kayla pushed a little boy off the playground.  Thankfully he was going to jump but she helped him with a shove, so at least he was not hurt.  Still it was so naughty of her and of course we had to take her away which she wasn’t too happy about.  Jason then went to get his phone and never came back as he cooked the kids dinner, and Ian and Gwen had to pack away things in readiness to leave the next day.  So I was left on my own with Kayla.  It was nice but eventually it was getting cold so I took Kayla back and the kids had dinner.

Eventually we got them to sleep and then Ian and Gwen came over and sat outside whilst we went across the Bill’s Bar for dinner.  I was a bit worried as we walked in as there was no one there, but we found them all sitting in the outside area.  It has a really nice vibe this place and we enjoyed our meal and drink to celebrate Jason’s birthday.  We didn’t have a late one though as Jason and Ian were both exhausted from being out all day on the boat and Ian and Gwen were leaving in the morning so we didn’t want them to have a late night.

Out celebrating Jason's birthday.

The final day we had just put aside to relax and chill before hitting the road again.  It really just comprised of a few everyday jobs, school and of course Jason took the kids for a swim in the pool whilst I caught up on the blog and a few other jobs.  We are moving onto the Cape Range National Park tomorrow and need to ensure that we have ourselves all set up and ready to free camp.  As there is no water here we will have to top up in Exmouth as we go through but as long as we have enough food as I am not keen to have to drive the 70 or so kilometres back into town.

That afternoon we made our way back down to the beach to see the fish feeding.  We can’t get over the size of the fish in there swimming around.  The kids loved the idea of feeding them and thankfully none bit any of their fingers.  We then proceeded to have one last walk around the beach and a paddle for the kids before calling it quits and heading back to the caravan.  That however took a long time as Kayla proceeded to have a massive meltdown over who knows what.  I think it just compounded, she wanted to carry her towel but then her towel got wet (as she was dragging it through the water) and so on and so on. 

Here are the big fish.

Hamish just wanted to catch them.

Kayla loved feeding them.

Eventually we managed to get her home though I am pretty sure everyone on the beach could hear her.  Once home she then screamed through a shower, but we got there and as soon as a bowl of chips was put in front of her she calmed down and was quiet.  Jason and I started to pack up all the outside stuff in preparation for us moving on and then it was just dinner and bed.  It had been a rather slow day but I think we are all just tired as the sun and water can wear us all out pretty fast.

Happy Kayla.

She wasn't so happy about leaving.