Chilling out on Quobba Station

Our private little beach

Rerd Bluff Luxury Eco Tourist Accom.

Quobba Station Coastline

Day 73
Alan has a look at the shearing shed and other farm buildings and has a chat to the manager who tells him a nice snorkelling spot , great at low tide, near Red Bluff at the north of the station about 80km on a dirt and gravel road. We drive there and find the Luxury Eco Accommodation here at Red Bluff most of which sit high on a cliff with uninterrupted views of the ocean. We didn’t get a look inside the tent like buildings but would imagine they are lovely and would appeal to city dwellers in stressful office jobs to get away from it all. There is also basic camping here and cute little beach shacks made of palm fronds which cost $20 per night and are very basic. We saw many with surfboards outside and the point break was the main draw card for lots of surfers. Even though the dirt roads are suitable for 4wd only we come across quite a few old 2wd vehicles one of which we had to help out after getting bogged in the soft sand. We head to our secret snorkelling spot and although we are able to swim, we have to wait till about 3pm till low tide for snorkelling. Not a bad place to chill out for the day with no-one at all around “Our” little bay. The water is just a delightful temperature and after reading sleeping and eating we manage a short snorkel in lovely clear water over some lovely coral and with lots of colourful fish, we even see a turtle. Unfortunately there is a bit of a swell perhaps from the full moon so not as calm as we had hope but we will get more snorkelling in at Coral Bay and Ningaloo Reef so are just happy with a lovely swim. Back to the camp and even though it is not very cold we have a fire and Al cooks our first barbq of the trip on an open fire. It is delicious and we again fall asleep to the roaring of the sea.

Kalbarri to..... "The"best camping spot of the trip!!

Old Gladstone jetty. Me walking the plank!!

Pics of Gladstone camping spot

Day 72
Our camper and awning have copped a very healthy cover of bird shit over the past 2 days under the trees and we decide to clean it up and head out of here. Kalbarri is a lovely little place but we have probably seen all we want to see here and decide to head north. There is so much to see when you look at the map but will keep all these lovely little places in the memory bank for “Next Time Around”. Wendy and Nick left this morning heading for the Peron Peninsula (Monkey Mia), not sure where we will catch up. We clean the canvas without too much trouble and then do a swim across the river to check out the surf on the other side. Alan, a little reluctantly as he is a bit of a wuss, but with much encouragement from me he makes it!! A spot of lunch on the waterfront before we head for Carnarvon about 340 km. We are driving along the Highway about 5km from Overlander Roadhouse when we see a familiar looking van “only just” off the very busy road and tyre rubber scattered along the before them. Wendy and Nick shredded one of their caravan tyres about an hour before and Nick is trying to change the wrecked tyre with no luck. Alan soon fixes the problem and they are very grateful that we came along as Nick was just ready to unhook the van and drive to get some assistance. With it being Sat. and not much hope of getting the correct new tyres till Monday they head to Denham about 130km and assure us they will drive carefully getting there. It is about 4pm and we are a bit concerned that it will be a bit dark by the time they reach their destination. We keep heading north and I find a lovely little campground called “Gladstone” about 130km south of Carnarvon and 6km off the Highway. Ignoring the warning signs on the entrance gate that there would be a $550 vehicle recovery fee if stranded, we drove into the sunset not knowing what we would find. It turned out to be “THE” most beautiful camping place we have ever been to. We camped about 20 metres from the water in a big wide open area with only a few other distant campers. The sun set in the west as the moon rose in the east and we enjoyed the peaceful surrounds and perfect clear starry sky with no wind!!

Kalbarri Nat. Park

Day 71
We decide to get up early and visit Kalbarri National Park so up at 5:30 and we head east to view first Natures Window. I have been told you must go at sunrise to see it at its best and we are not disappointed. It’s not too cold so a great morning to see this lovely Nat. Park. After a few pics. We go to another part of the park where we do a walk down into the gorge to where the Murchison river winds its way through high cliffs. The colours of the rocks are a magnificent red and we are back at Kalbarri by 11 and beat the hot midday sun. A lazy afternoon before we head to the Kalbarri Golf Club for “Scroungers”. Not sure what this involves but hope I don’t have to get down on all fours to find balls in the rough!!!! Luckily they are fairly civilised and we just play a 9 hole comp in a shotgun start. Nick and Al and I are joined by another visitor and an enjoyable afternoon of golf. Dinner is fish and chips in newspaper and tastes like it’s just been caught!

Kalbarri

Flies????? What flies!!!

Kalbarri Cliffs

Day 70
Packed up (it is a bit harder after staying somewhere for 6 nights) headed north to Kalbarri which is only 160km away. Stopped at the gorgeous Kalbarri Cliffs on the way and which are similar views to what we have come to enjoy along this beautiful coastline but with the added red marbling of the cliff faces. The breathtaking blue of the calm ocean with only a large pod of dolphins swimming by is mesmerising......until the flies start buzzing around us!! We decide to have lunch later rather than share it with these marauding nuisances and head on to the Murchison C.P. in the centre of town where Wendy and Nick have just pulled in and we manage to get a nice shady site in this quite busy park. A swim and sunset drink followed by dinner ( crayfish expertly cooked again by Alan) as we end another fantastic day.

Great day at golf plus 4 crayfish!!

Me with Cindy and April

Day 69

After our daily swim Alan dropped me off at golf. It is a very warm day (31 predicted) hope I can handle the heat. There are over 100 ladies playing today from many clubs some over 1 and half hours away. Me from Coolangatta Tweed has come the farthest tho and my new friends from Sunday welcome me again. I find I am playing with April Hetherington who used to live at Kingscliff and play at Murwillumbah and whom I haven’t seen for about 10 years. We are also playing with a lovely lady Cindy from the Geraldton Club. We have a delightful day with lots of catching up and the afternoon tea later would rival Singapore Raffles High Tea! I am excited to win a ball (losing runner up on a count back) but have had such a nice day it doesn’t matter and I get my 4 crayfish so what better can you ask for!! Back to camp for our last sunset here and Al has a “small” dinner ready for me. Will have to continue this practise at home!!

Dinner with a Gold Medalist!!

The catholic cathedral in Geraldton

Joe, Lynette, Me,Al,Nick,Wendy,Ruth and Sharon.

Day 68
Another bike ride to town for a swim and coffee and a look at the old Gaol, Hospital which is now a visitor information centre and the catholic Cathedral which was renovated by Monsignor Hawes in unusual Baroque design. We actually found the outside much more appealing than the inside, but not being experts in this field is only a couple of mugs opinions. We also visited the Western Australian Geraldton Museum which was wonderful and gave great insight into the history of Geraldton, its people and outlying areas and the treacherous coastline which claimed many ships and lives recorded from as far back as the 1600’s. Alan dropped the car at the repairer and we had a swim at another beach along this lovely coastline. Wendy and Nick picked us up and we went to Joe and Sharon’s for dinner and met their house guest Ruth Highman and her mum. Ruth with her paddling partner recently won a gold medal in the women’s double surf ski at the recent Aussie Surf lifesaving titles in Perth. This is not her first medal having also won Coolangatta Gold in the 30/35 age group in 2008 as well as many other races. She is a G.P. in Geraldton and will be moving to Perth soon to try and further her sporting career. It was a delightful dinner with lovely interesting people. Joe himself is a coach with the SLSC here and has had many successes with his dedication to the Geraldton Club and members.

Cruising around Geraldton

Day 67
Rode our bikes to town about 5km and all flat riding. Had coffee with Nick and Wendy and their friend Joe Knight-Smith who lives in Geraldton. Had a swim at the main harbour beach and water temp definitely improving. Back to the local hairdresser for a bit of maintenance and then back to town for nail maintenance. Alan has found a place to get some work done on the car and he has also booked in for a massage for Wednesday. We saw a lovely sunset back at our camp and Wendy and Nick and Joe and his wife Sharon came over for a Barby dinner. A lovely dinner washed down with some nice western Australian Red wine.