Heading just South of Kalbarri to Lucky Bay 31st

We left this morning with an easy day of driving only 200kms so we stopped along the way to have a look at Eagle Bluff. This is another great lookout with a fantastic viewing platform. This was the second time we pulled up here. The first time lets just say IT WAS WINDY!!!!!!! This time it was calm and we saw loads of sharks and couple turtles. It is also home to some nesting Nankeen Kestrels. Love to watch them on the breeze. 

First visit WINDY!

Second visit Calm.

There is a great view of Shelly beach on the way out of Shark Bay

Look at that colour.

Our easy day of driving and pulling into camp at a decent hour was soon not to be. We came across an accident. We pulled over and couldn't believe that the two people in the car were still alive and not injured. Someone had tried to overtake them over a rise and on a bend sending them off the road and through the bush at 90km per hour. Remarkably the van rolled over but did not roll the car. Lucky is an understatement!

We helped them get their belongings out of the van and car and gave them a big hug. We hung around until the police arrived and then bit longer to make sure they were Ok. Lots of people stopped and offered assistance😊

Sue and Mike as we now know them gave us all their diesel containers, a slab of beer and a bottle of wine as they had no where to put them. 

We felt bad for leaving them but there was nothing else we could do and they were very capable people 

So off to Lucky bay.

On our journey down the coast we were lucky enough to see a Thorny Devil! He was crossing a busy Hwy so we stopped and gave him a hand.

This wooly flock were our last obstacle  before setting up camp at Lucky Bay

François Peron National Park 29th

 Tyres down, 4WD lock and off to the National Park

Francois Peron covers pretty much the top half of Shark Bay. It is so beautiful. The coast is red dunes with white sand and aqua water. There is a coral reef and sea grass beds that encompass the park and it is full of sea life. We headed in and checked out the camp ground at Big lagoon. Easy access you could get a caravan in there easy. There are drop toilets and camp BBQ it is pretty busy and it is first come first served basis. 

All the shells were black on his beach

Once past this point the sand becomes soft and you must have 4WD. The trip is about 150kms return so make sure you have enough fuel. We headed for Cape Peron and Skipjack point which really is the highlight of the park. It is located right at the tip. We stopped at the Cape Peron carpark and saw some friends we met at the Bungle Bungles ( it happens alot in WA) We also met this guy.

We all walked on the beach together then myself, Maya and Nash did the walk from Cape Peron to Skipjack point and Adam met us at the other end with the car. We met a colony of Cormorants and when they took flight it was art in motion, took my breath.

Cape Peron

Walk to Skip Jack Point

Blue sky, aqua water, white sand and red earth. A feast for your eyes.

On our walk we hoped to see a little lizard know as the Thorny Devil but luck was not on our side today.

Once we got to Skip Jack it was a different story there was marine life  everywhere in the water. There are a fantastic series of viewing platforms and it gives you a birds eye view into the shallow waters that surround the point. There were giant Mantra rays, Sharks, Turtles, and lots of Dugongs!!!!! 

You can see into the shallow water from Skip Jack Point

(I haven't posted photos because they look like just blobs in the water)

We spent the rest of the day visiting all the beaches down the coast of the park, all beautiful. You can camp at most but only with 4WD and camper trailer. (wouldn't get vans in)

The last beach we visited was Herald Bight and we bumped into Nick and Hillary and the kids. This would our pick if camping in the park as it is out of the wind.

South Gregory's 

Black and orange sand 

Mulga Snake heading into Herald Bight

This is the reason you stay on the tracks. 

Salt lake that looks dry but this car would have been flat on its floor pan. 

An expensive mistake as cost of recovery is around $800 min.

Whos foot prints???

Driving Herald Bight.

A great day and we finished off with dinner and a beer at the Pub!

Shark bay World heritage / Denham 27th

 Up the road and into Denham

We stayed at the Denham Sea side caravan park and had a beach front site. They had a deal stay 3 pay for 2 nights so that's what we did. We used this place as a base for all our activities when at Shark bay. Its kind of right in the middle of things. We were going to 4WD and stay on the beach at François Peron National Park however we were feeling a bit weary and couldn't be bothered getting bogged in the soft sand that is at most campsites in the park.

On our way we stopped at Shelly beach. Appropriately named as the beach is totally made up of tiny shells about 2 metres deep. Nash says it would be great place to use remote control cars as there are lots of mounds of shells that are pretty compacted that would make a great track. The water is blue blue and shells are white white what can I say. There is also a fence there that was put in place to try and eradicate all feral animals mainly cats. If you walk up to it the fence barks!!!

After we set up we headed into François Peron NP for a dip in the thermal pools that are at the back of the ranger station. The water comes out about 43 degrees so it is HOT. There is a old shearing and wool shed on site that tells of the pioneer history.

We stopped off at little lagoon and took a drive on the beach. No swimming here as there are plenty of stone fish in the creek and surrounds.

(Stone fish are deadly) the toxin doesn't kill you but the intense pain causes cardiac arrest.

We booked a tour to Dirk Hartog Island with shark bay marine safaris the following day. This Island is famous for being the first recorded landing of Europeans in 1616. Dirk Hartog landed here and placed a pewter plate with an inscription that basically says  'DIRK WAS HERE 1616'. Its was put a bit more elegantly than that of course.  That place is now known as inscription point. The tour was a small group and the day consisted of two guides one a university student studying turtles and the other a shark enthusiast. A boat trip to the island and 4WD tracks to Surf Point and the Blow holes. The west coast of the island is wild with sheer cliffs dropping down to a pounding sea. The sound of the waves and air being forced through the rocks and caves was a display of Mother nature showing whos boss. We all enjoyed a hot choc at the homestead and were farewelled from the  island by a lone Pelican. 

Leaving Denham

Arriving Dirk Hartog Island

View from surf point to Steep Point

 ( Steep Point is the most westerly point on Mainland Australia)

We saw loggerhead turtles and nervous sharks.

These liitle guys were all over the beach so cute

The blow holes

Our ride

Looking to Madagascar 

 View from the cafe/bar 

We got back from our Island adventure in time to go to the Ocean aquarium that was just out of town.

This was an informative place with lots of sea creatures from Shark bay. Everyone who works there is a Marine biologist and has a passion for sea life. We saw some fantastic things.

This fish has learnt to spit water at you for a feed

This guy is like Jagger 

This is a  Stone fish that can be fatal.

Hamelin Station 27th

Hamelin Station was our next stop to see the Stromatolites. These ancient lifeforms have been around for millions of years and are some of the first forms of life to create oxygen through photosynthesis. (that's air basically) Thanks guys without you we would not be here. The boardwalk over the pools  where these guys live was damaged by the cyclone so we could not get a great view but still interesting all the same.

We also checked out the quarry. Quarry I hear you say, yes this quarry is shells! They are so compacted  that some of the buildings in Shark bay are made out of them cut into blocks and assembled like a regular build. Cool huh

Our station stay was Ok the camp host was a piece of work and was definitely over her role.  She is the only person I have yelled at on this entire trip. She was inflexible and unhelpful. I thought it was just me however she had been the same with some other campers who had had a challenging day with two flat tyres in the middle of nowhere and were going to be late in to camp after leaving a message to explain the situation she left them a voice message saying get your van out or I will lock the gate and you wont get it back till next season!! Lady you need a new role. However we did have this little bundle of fur follow us around so that made up for it. Check him out. The kids named him Button

Feature Creatures 

Grace the swan and crew

Wooramel Station

 We arrived at Wooramel with red eyes from crying about our sad news. I tried to make a booking but the lady asked me how my day was and I just burst so she gave me a big hug. (You can do that in WA no Covid)

We set up along side some magnificent gum trees next a huge dry river bed. 

The station has hot thermal pools so we all needed a long relaxing soak. We spent 2 nights here its a great stop just North of Shark Bay. You could easily stay longer there are 4WD tracks, an old tip full of treasures and some great art installations.

This is wire sculpture 

Heartbreak

 We received a call from my Mum who had the devastating news that our beautiful dog Molly collapsed and died. We did not want it to be true but sadly Mum with the help of our neighbours  buried her the next day.

 Molly was a gentle soul who gave us lots of love. We can not believe that she will not be there when we return home. We were so looking forward to seeing our gorgeous girl. I imagine our return will be tinged with sadness.

Farewell Molly we loved you.