Cannot believe we are past halfway! So much to see and do this week before heading to Perth on Thursday, we are trying to squeeze in the school work in the car so we can make the most of exploring the Shark Bay World Heritage area.
Day 58: First stop Hamelin pools visiting the stromatolites- the worlds oldest lifeforms (that’s part of school work right). Next stop was Shell Beach. This beach was voted in the top 21 beaches in the world by national geographic. The beach is formed by billions of tiny shells. It’s stretches for 120km with shells 10m deep! Then we headed into Denham the most westerly settlement of Australia. With the most ‘westerly pub’. Only appropriate we have a beer here right.
We stayed at a camp called whalebone bay only metres from the shore (hoping the tide didn’t come up too high!). It has to be up there with the favourites. The water was so still and glassy. Had a awesome afternoon on the SUP, spotting stingrays, reef sharks and even a shovel nose shark. It was topped off by an epic sunset. A few attempted (really bad) yoga moves on the paddle board will feature in our ‘outtakes’ slideshow which none of you will see. 😂🙄.
Laughter moment for the day: We heard over the UHF that there was a chick on the side of the road coming up giving a kangaroo CPR after she had hit it. Look, I am all for wildlife conservation but this was next level. Fair to say I didn’t bust out the old ICU life support skills.
Day 59: We headed to Monkey Mia. Spent the morning with the dolphins that come to the shore to feed. Harry got picked out of the crowd to feed them so he was pretty stoked with that. We told him to look at the lady with your cute hat and glasses and give her your best smile and they might pick you… and guess what! We checked into Denham caravan park then headed out for the afternoon to explore Francois Peron National Park. Favourites were Cape Peron and Skipjack Point. Where the red dirt meets the aqua ocean was pretty incredible and we also spotted a tiger shark pretty close to shore.
Day 60: Denham to Kalbarri. We did plan to do Tamala Station and steep point but we couldnt get into Tamala on a Sunday and we were running out of time on our trek to be in Perth by Thursday. Caught up with the wards in a small town pub and happy hour sucked us in again! The excuse this time was it was the day before Luke’s bday so it was a cause for celebration. Been awhile since I selected tunes on a dukebox and played pool. Pool skills are still on point. 😂 Also maybe dusted off the old dance moves for the first time in 9 weeks.
Day 61: Kalbarri National Park after a million G&T’s the night before I was glad, the walks were a class 3 and only a few km’s. Someone else, not so happy. Before the trip I really didn’t know how the kids would go on the big walks but instead they are disappointed when it’s not a class 5 and 7-8km’s!! We have named the class 5 walks with long steep sections, climbs, water crossings and unstable slippery surfaces ‘CLASS HARRY’. Z-bend lookout and natures window…. incredible!
We kept heading south towards Geralden. The scenery between Kalbarri through horrocks was beautiful! Everything was so green! We stayed at Bringo’s lookout just outside of Geraldton. Gorgeous freecamp overlooking the mountains and the lights of Geraldton.
Day 62: We are headed east (inland) again! Hard to get your head around saying east is inland. The weather on the coast has been fairly blown out and average this week so we decided to explore the start of wildflower season.
Visited Mellewa, coalseam conservation park, depot hill walk.
Yes I took a man with a bee allergy to the wildflower country with an Epi-pen on hand! We stayed at a National Park campground at Milligan island.
Day 63: Milligan island to Perth via the pinnacles.
The pinnacles were so interesting. There are many explanations as to how they are formed. As rainwater comes in contact with the dunes sand, it dissolves the calcium carbonate grains. As it dries out it recrystallises, cements the grains together and forms limestone.
So when we were getting close to Perth city.. Harrison says ‘what are all of these houses?’. Makes you realise what we have just done over the last 9 weeks has been such an eye opener for the kids.
Day 64: morning of van maintenance. New front window protector under warranty from Perth coromal, jack repair. Mum and Dad arrive to visit us in Perth!! Chilled arvo around Scarborough and Hillarys marina.
Kids are still loving life and travelling super well. BUT if I had a dollar for everytime I have heard ‘I’m hungry’ we would be able to do another lap of Aus!!
The Butler did it 
These photos are brilliant Nic!!!!
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