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Published: October 24th 2009
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On friday, I flew back to Broome. If you're finding it hard keeping up with this to and frowing, you're not the only one and it all got a bit complicated! I wanted to make my way from Darwin to Broome independently catching lifts but this proved difficult as everyone heading that way was going through the Kimberely and I didnt want to do that again, and flying to Broome wasnt all that expensive. I'd advertised that I wanted a lift from Broome to Perth and got a call the day I was getting to Broome from a french man called Gille who had a space in his camper. After all the confusion, things finally came together. Gille picked me up from the airport and we stayed the night in Broome with his friends before heading off. Got the traditional first night parking fine just like in NZ!! Now I know what you're thinking... Yes, it was a bit risky getting in a car with a strange frenchie but lift sharing is a very common way to travel round Oz. First day was spent driving as far as we could in daylight. Now driving in Oz is a bit different. The
long distances on major cargo roads means there is plenty of legal roadside rest areas to sleep in. Mostly just a dirt track with a bin, but hey. Sometimes there were toilets, bbqs and benches too! First thing in the morning we went to Karajini National Park. Gille hoped to meet some of his mates there who'd left Broome the day before us and luckily we bumped into them in the carpark and arranged to meet them the next day. So the 2 of us did some lovely walks to amazing waterfalls and gorges and I made a tit of myself. First by slipping fully clothed into the water, and secondly by watching my feet instead of looking straight up and banging my head on a rock hard enough to make it bleed. Ouch!! Think Gille was wondering what he'd got himself into! We camped the night in the national park and met our travel companions at 6.30 am at the bottom of Mount Bruce, the second highest peak in WA. The 9km track started pretty gently but steadily grew steeper and harder towards the top and by the end we were scaling rocks that my little legs struggled reaching.
It was hard work but the view was well worth it. The day was getting pretty hot by the time we'd got to the bottom again as it was close to midday. Stopped at Tom Price for supplies and continued driving to another overnight roadside stop. In the other van was Gaelle and Melanie - both french and friends of Gille, and they had also given a lift to Mauru and Brittanya who were canadian. Drove the next morning to Exmouth where we got supplies and showered. Similar to when touring, there's nothing between the small towns so we have to stock up on food, water and fuel where possible. We then drove into Cape Range National Park, the park is the on the coast and gives access to most of Ningaloo Reef Marine Reserve. Found a spot to camp and ran straight to the beach! Its hard to describe this idyllic location. Clear blue water, white beaches and dunes, and the reef is so close to the beach you just walk out with your snorkel and before the waters deep enough to swim, you hit coral. AMAZING. This particular section of the reef wasn't outstanding in coral, but there
were plenty of fish to spy. We stayed 3 nights in the Cape Range, visiting various snorkelling spots. I saw 2 rays which was cool, plus fish and coral a go go. And Dolphins in the distance! The guys saw reef sharks, gutted to miss that. We went the the lighthouse lookout on the way out and spotted several humpback whales just off the coast. Another big plus for the west coast is the simple fact the sun sets over the beach every night, so what better way to finish a hard days snorkelling and sunbathing than a beer and a red sky...
We then headed to Coral Bay, which still neighbours Ningaloo reef. Not as impressive as in cape range but still a lovely spot to snorkel. The next day another beach and another swim before heading off. Stopped at a few significant places. Saw some Stromolites... What? you've never heard of them? Basically they are incredibly old organisms. It was a fossil bed of older stromolites as well as ones growing today. These organisms are as old as time and one of the first things producing oxygen allowing us humble beings to exist. Ok, lesson over. We also
stopped at some Blow holes which a raging ocean shot water though and got us all soaked. We camped for the night nearby. Next day we mainly drove and restocked. In the morning we went to Monkey Mia. No monkeys there sadly, but where it lacked in monkeys, it made up for in Dolphins. For last 40 years, dolphins have been coming straight to the shore thanks to one lady in the sixties feeding one fish. So now in a controlled manner, the dolphins still come to the shore and the mothers are fed a few fish. They can come anytime during the day but are only given a percentage of there daily intake to ensure they still hunt themselves etc. We were told all about them as they swam around and then they selected people to feed them, sadly not me! But it was still excellent. With feet out of the water, I was still about 3ft away from them and they were so cute! Another bit of sightseeing on route to Kalbarri National Park - Shell Beach. Exactly how it sounds, the beach was composed entirely of shells, the unique factor being it was only one shell type.
Turns out there wasnt that much to see in Kalbarri without a 4WD so the next morning we left. One final stop on our way to Perth - New Norcia. Little random, only Monastery town in Oz! We camped on the grounds, its allowed dont worry! And then it was back to Perth.
So, that's it for the west coast I think. Spending a little time here seeing friends from Cairns and popping back to Pemby for a while now...
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