Maccatraks Australian Adventure

Saturday, 14 May 2011

Location: Kalbarri, Australia

Kalbarri

Last stop for a week before we head home and our long journey comes to an end. We have visited Kalbarri every year for the past 4 years and just love the place so no better place to end our adventure. They must have known we were coming as we managed to get a waterfront site with spectacular views opposite the boat hire place. I don’t know if I could come back now without an ocean front site we have truly been spoilt. Well back to our strolling about, down by the river, down to the Bakery, down to the park. The Caravan Park has a great playground and the girls just lived there with all there friends they had made so John and I just kicked back. He got up early one morning and took the girls down to his favourite fishing spot at Wittercara Creek and it definitely didn’t disappoint he bought me home some Tailor but caught a few other things which he threw back. We took a drive out to Lucky Bay, in all the years we have visited Kalbarri we never new of this place but some fellow eastern states travellers had told us about it on more than one occasion so we were interested to take a look. It’s a free camp about 43km south of Kalbarri down a dirt road right on the beach. There are many shacks down there that have been there for years. We had a drive onto the beach it was a nice stretch of coast with a lagoon this side of the reef but I think for the small price you pay I would rather stay in town with my shower, Bakery and play park. Oh and don’t let me forget the butcher the orders have already been coming in from the Lamb Burger Lovers!!!! All ordered ready for pick up.

Well we picked up the meat and had bit of a drive in the rain down the river (yes it’s raining again) ready for our trip home tomorrow. Our last sleep in the van!!! The girls are very excited about going home to there rooms, nannas & pop and there friends. Jade is also looking forward to going back to school. John is looking forward to getting his thongs off and walking around the house in bare feet. I on the other hand feel a bit sad the trip is coming to an end and a bit anxious about getting back to every day life. Well six months has definitely flown but we have had the greatest adventure. I will give you one last update when we get back to reality!!.

Catch Ya in Perth………

Saturday, 14 May 2011

Location: Coral Bay & Quobba, Australia

Coral Bay

Well we had the best site on Peoples Caravan Park with uninterrupted bay views. It was so lovely sitting out there in my PJ’s in the morning having my coffee and once again having a vodka whilst watching the sunset at night. So spoilt not sure that life could really get any better than this!!!!. Well our days here were really laid back and relaxed we would stroll 20 meters across the road for a swim and snorkel every day then stroll back for some lunch. Then stroll back for an afternoon cool off. We even managed to stroll to the bakery and for pizza one night but it was an effort!!! The girls were now great at snorkelling so we would all go out together until they were shivering with the cold waters then John would take them back in whilst I kept going for a while longer. The inner reef has definitely deteriorated here over the past 10 years, gone are the beautiful bright blue starfish and a lot of the colourful coral also the big schools of fish that used to scare me as they all closed in on me. There were still many colourful fish but not as many. The outer reefs are still great (talking to some other travellers) but we never ventured out on a boat trip as we had fantastic snorkelling in Exmouth, we will leave that for next time we visit when the girls are a bit older and more independent. The big thing up here now is swimming with the Whale Sharks but at $380.00 per person or $1200.00 for the family it was just not within our budget!!! Well we went to the fish feeding and the size of some of the snapper was unbelievable John was wishing instead of feeding them pellets he could just drop down his hook with a bit of occy and catch himself a beauty. Jade got her hand bitten by one of them as she tried to feed them out of her hand instead of throwing the pellets into the water. She was busy with her friends she had made in Exmouth when the accident occurred but she definitely wasn’t too interested in fish feeding after that.
John tried his luck fishing at Five Fingers Reef but the flies won, I wasn’t there but apparently there is a real knack to drinking your beer with a fly net on and yes my John mastered it!!! We all went out to Maud’s Landing one morning and I was all set for some action but there were so many wasps and flying ants and sand flies that John decided it was time to leave as I was working on my tan. So back to our view from the caravan and our little strolls across the road!!.

Next we drove to Quobbo this is a free camp about 80km south of Carnarvon right on the ocean. It’s more known for the blow holes and Quobbo Station. Here there are a heap of old shacks a bit like Wedge Island and then a lot of people camping in there vans and motor homes. A lot of Grey Nomads stay here for months and there is a row of them all set up with there huge satellite dishes and solar panels, it is so funny to see the amount of money’s worth of equipment and here they are in the middle of nowhere!!! We were lucky we got there early and got a lovely flat spot just at the end of them with ocean views. We stayed here for 3 nights the girls met some friends that were travelling around Australia also, so we didn’t see much of the girls when we were back at the van. We walked down to what they call the Aquarium it’s water that lies between the mainland and an Island. In between there is a reef which is about 60meters wide. The water was really shallow over the reef and it was just amazing for snorkelling the visibility was great and there were so many tiny colourful fish and lots of clams and colourful coral. It was up there with the snorkelling at Exmouth only down side was that the current was really strong so wasn’t ideal for the girls as holding on to them and trying to get through the strong drag was too much for my supper fit level. I was okay on my own though so managed to get out a few times whilst John stayed with the girls. John tried a spot of fishing in the late afternoon but nothing was bitting. We had Mothers Day here and I got spoilt by my two beautiful girls. I already new what I was getting as Shae couldn’t keep the secret when she went out with John to get it in Broome she came straight back and told me she had bought me a bracelet for Mothers Day bless her, Jade was so upset with her. Jade made me a lovely card and then I enjoyed a gourmet Omelette for breakfast and Ice-cream from Quobbo Station in the afternoon. Quobba Station was not what I expected before heading out on this trip I had though to myself wouldn’t it be great to stay on a Station but after staying on one and visiting a few they are really not that special some of the free camps are so much nicer. Quobba was all dust and had a few shack like units for rent and then you could camp there in your van with limited power. The free camp was so much nicer and in a great location.

Well Kalbarri next for a shower after three days with an outside wash down from the solar shower we can’t wait, but I will definitely miss the Snorkelling on my doorstep and the solitude of these beautiful places.

Love us

Monday, 02 May 2011

Location: Exmouth, Australia

Exmouth

On the way to Exmouth we stopped at 80 Mile Beach there is nothing there but a Caravan Park, but it is just an amazing stretch of coast. The 9km’s of rich red dirt road managed to coat the van like coconut on a lamington and the bikes (by the way which I have rode once!!!) We stayed two nights as you have to fish on the high tide and this was at 12pm lunch time. It is amazing how far the tide goes out you can’t even see that far into the distance, but when the tide comes in so do the fish and there big!!! John caught about 10 Blue Nose Salmon and a couple of Sharks in about 3 hrs. He gave some away as I already had a heap of fish but a guy filleted one for me and John cooked it up that night it was really nice. The beach also washes up the most amazing shells the girls and I walked the beach and collected lots. The hard part was convincing there dad to let them take them home, but as usually they won!!! They are just so cute how could he resist (not sure how they are all going to cope when they return home being separated, I know I’m going to love just a few hours of peace an quiet to myself) We also went for a big walk once the tide had gone out and tried to catch little crabs the girls had so much fun. Jade was so funny running around in circles then jumping on them like the crocodile hunter, they were so fast. Shae also did a lot of weaving and dodging but wasn’t to keen to pick them up so always managed to fall short of them. What a laugh!!!

Exmouth has not changed any in 13years. The town is still so tiny and other than a few more resorts and houses it looks like time has really stood still.
I decided to get some Hot Cross Buns for Easter morning from Brumby’s on the Saturday with what seemed like half the town, it took me about 20minutes but I conquered!! We went back to the van dropped them off grabbed our bathers and went for a snorkel and swim. Well on our return I discovered a million little sugar ants had got into them they were just everywhere all over the bench all in the pantry!! So I was devastated not only did I have no Hot Cross Buns for the morning but I had to clear and clean out the pantry. John turned into the Insecticide exterminator. He just loves it you should have seen him in Broome with the mosquitoes he had 4 “Survivor Flares” with citronella oil burning, sticks and coils and outdoor fogger spray every night!!! Well with the ants he sprayed some chemicals, then ant powder then surface sprayed all the inside. I thought he was going to kill me and the kids! But he did come to the rescue when he called in at Brumby’s on the way back from the Bottle shop and got me some more Buns, how sweet!!!

Well the Easter Bunny made it to the girls they were a little worried he wasn’t going to find them and I was more worried that the Ants were going to find them before the girls did but all was delivered well in the end. They had both made Easter Baskets out of paper and decorated them, they turned out really well and Jade had made a Bunny which she stuck on the caravan door so that he could find us. They were not disappointed and were up at 5.30am eating chocolate eggs. We followed the chocolate with Bacon & Egg sandwiches so here’s to a healthy start to the day.

We headed out to the Ningaloo National Park to do some snorkelling; it is about 40km out of Exmouth. The first day we went to Turquoise Bay it was just beautiful with its white sand and deep turquoise coloured water. The girls had new snorkels so the four of us headed out about 40m together to the reef sections. We saw lots of different fish, the colours of some of them were amazing, Jade was soooooo excited and did so well swimming and snorkelling out in the deep water. The next day we spent at lakeside, this was a bit of a hike along the beach and over rocky terrain, but well worth it. John forgot the water bottles in the Engel so had to turn around after setting up camp to retrieve these, not happy jan!!!!!! The snorkelling here was even better; we even saw two turtles and a lot more different colourful and bigger fish. The only down side was the current was a lot stronger. Both nights we got back to camp after hours of snorkelling and were just exhausted.

John got some fishing in and managed to catch me a North West Snapper at the Mildura wreck, he even cooked it that night on the BBQ and done the best job like the MKR chefs, LOL (I did deserve that fish after he made us walk miles through the sand dunes and I had to carry the fridge bag, swim bag, buckets and spades his words to me were ‘spoon full of concrete’ as I struggles over the hills!!!). He also had a fish on the wharf with no luck; the mossies were biting more than the fish! At Bundegi beach whilst fishing john got the fright of his life, a 1 metre black snake slivered right within a metre of the girls! On his last fishing attempt he caught a large dart fish, also he got hooked up with a couple of big ones but they got away, typical story!!!

The rest of our time in Exmouth we spent at the pool and relaxing around the caravan, or having a nice stroll into town. John had to visit the camping expo at the hall and bought another chair, he’s got a collection happening now!

Tomorrow we are off to Coral bay for 5 nights for more fishing and snorkelling. Only 2 weeks then we are home ;-(.

Love us

Monday, 02 May 2011

Location: Broome, Australia

Broome

Well we finally found the sun and the warm weather. Welcome to “Paradise” a warm 34deg by day and 22deg at night. Have I told you before WE JUST LOVE BROOME!!! After travelling around Australia it is really hard for me to say this but Broome must be one of the most relaxing places to visit. It is just naturally rugged and beautiful. The aqua blue of the calm cable beach water with its white sand against the red earth of the land is just something. But you still have great shops and restaurants at your doorstep.

I haven’t really got much to report from Broome as we visited here just three years ago and did all the tourist things, Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park, Willie Creek Pearl Farm, Stairway to the moon, Camel ride. So basically we just did the beach in the mornings and pool in the afternoon. It was so relaxing but 12nights just flew. Cable Beach Caravan Park has a resort style pool with a waterfall and sun lounges all around, it is lovely and shady the girls played with there friends and we met some fellow travellers from Vic so it was great. We had dinner out a few nights but nothing beats the meals from the Clubs we have had on our travels. I caught up on some Target retail therapy, just loved all the specials and stocked up on Bathers at $15.00 a pair I couldn’t resist. I finally finished my book only took 5 months!!! We went to the Markets and I got a lovely Pearl Bracelet and the girls chose some gifts for there nannas. John had some man bonding time and went out on a Fishing Charter for the day with two guys he had met. He had a fantastic time they were all pretty full by the time they got back but continued drinking!!! He even bought me three fish back apparently they were huge with there heads on!!!!! But they were top dinner fish Coral Trout, Snapper.

We had a bit of car trouble it wouldn’t start but was just the battery so John got a new one and fitted it (twice??? Yeah he bought the wrong battery the first time, but I think he just had fishing on his mind). So hopefully that will be the end of our car trouble as we have been really lucky so far!! (Touch wood). Well my feet are now stained red from the red dirt and I feel waterlogged from days spent swimming, I’m all shopped out and ready to hit the road again. Only just over three weeks to go and we will be home!!!! See you in Exmouth; we haven’t been there for 13years so hope it has changed a bit.

Love Us