Cape Range National Park (By Simon & Liz)

We had originally planned to drive from Coral Bay to Cape Range National Park via Yardie Creek Road, a 4WD track which follows the coast north through Ningaloo Station and onto Cape Range. However, after the recent cyclone (March '15) the sand bar at the mouth of Yardie Creek has been washed away and the creek is now impassible (about 100 metres wide and 2 metres deep!) so we were forced to head back to the highway and head up to Exmouth.

We stopped in at Exmouth for lunch and to pick up some last supplies before heading around the tip of North West Cape and down to Cape Range National Park.

Tulkie Beach Camp Site:
Our camp site at Tulkie Beach was simple; seven spacious camp sites and one "Aussie Bush Loo" (the cleanest and best smelling long drop in the country). No power, water, radio, mobile phone reception... nothing! It felt great to be "off the grid".

Our camp site hosts, Michael and Margret were fantastic even giving us a huge feed of Spanish Mackerel which Michael had caught earlier in the day. We had never seen or eaten Spanish Mackerel before but it is certainly an impressive fish (by sight and taste). We all agreed that it was one of the best fish we have ever eaten (apparently it sells for $48/kg in Perth).

Getting ready for a week of no showers, salt water and wind, Liz took some time preparing the girls hair (which they were very happy about and it worked... no knots!)

 
Turquoise Bay:
If we thought Coral Bay was great nothing prepared us for Torquoise Bay! This stretch of beach and sandy point was located only a few kilometres from Tulkie Beach and we spent most of our time there.

The snorkeling was amazing! Just walk up the beach, jump in and drift with the current admiring the coral, fish, turtles etc. The only catch is that you need get back to the beach before you get to the little sandy point as this is where the current picks up speed and turns seaward... next stop India or South Africa!!

 

Other than snorkeling we just enjoyed relaxing on the beach, having the fish swim round our legs and jumping in the fast flowing water and drifting down the beach.

Exploring the Gorges:
We also explored Mandu Mandu and Yardie Creek gorges. Great short hikes up the gorge and then back along the gorge rim. Amazing views of the dramatic gorges with the Ningaloo Marine Park in the back ground.

Also came across a couple of the locals including Red Kangaroo's, Black Footed Rock Wallabies and an Osprey (see below).

Each day ending with a fantastic sunset... don't think we will ever get tired of these!