Halls Gap Victoria {Caravan Park}

We have arrived in VICTORIA!  It really didn't take long at all, and we almost missed the important sign picture. Proof that we had arrived.

Our plan was to find a nice spot in The Grampians National Park to spend a few nights while we explored the national park but at $38 per night for nothing we ended up picking Halls Gap Lake Tourist Park which was not that much more for a powered site & hot showers! Parks Victoria have got something out of whack here, no day costs {when they have bucket loads of day visitors to places like this} and charge ridiculous fees for the use of a drop loo!

After setting up the kids did a little schoolwork while watching all of the birdlife that came in around the camper.  After this e popped into town to have a quick look around and have a treat of ice-cream.

 

With a full day to explore the national park we got up early to only be disappointed by the terrible weather.  It was going to rain but we decided to brave it, fingers crossed we could at least see some of The Grampians.  Our first point for the day was Boroka Lookout, way up in the mountains and with a lovely view.

 

 

Next stop was Reed Lookout and The Balconies.  When we arrived we could barely see one step in front of us, oh dear here goes our day of exploring was the first thought but we decided to get out of the car and have a look around anyway.  This was the view:

It started to rain so we stopped our walk and figured we would try further up and around, hoping the weather would improve for us.  So off to Mackenzie Falls we headed and as you will see from the pictures below the weather turned around and we climbed more stairs than the kids could count!

 

 

  

What a beautiful set of falls, with so much more to explore but given we had little water {no food for the ever hungrer Kaleb} and Kyla was over walking we decided it was best to climb the stairs back to the top.  The national park also had three spots on the otherside with Aboriginal Art that we decided to drive around and explore, sadly however they had remained closed still after a fire early last year.

We traveled around the outside of the national park and happened to come across, randomly one very large & scary looking Koala.

With the need for lunch high on everyone's list we actually ended up driving around to Stawell, a lovely town on the side of a hill and surprisingly it even has a functioning mine.  We got a lovely lunch from a bakery in town before going for a drive around to explore a little before heading back to the caravan park.

The kids had fun when we got home playing with a few other children and even feeding the birds.  They had birds landing on their heads and eating from their hands, they loved every minute of it.

  

  

Given the weather was still nice and we still had plenty of day light we decided to head into town to take in one of the other smaller walks.  It was a great walk up past the swimming pool that went around in a loop.  Nice and easy for all of us and a great way to end our day.  I am glad we went as we even found a little art.

   

 

Another night watching the wild life fly and hop in before heading to bed ready to head towards the cost tomorrow.

42 Mile Camp - The Coorang National Park {National Park}

What a beautiful location when it is warmer.

The wind was blowing when we arrived but we found a nice spot on the back of a the sand dunes, on the green grass.  We set up the camper, did some schoolwork before we headed for a drive down to the beach.

A big space, with loads of soft space that is used by people for both camping and 4WDing.

 

 

Lincoln National Park {National Park}

It was a quick and beautiful drive.

We needed water before we headed into the National Park and thankfully for us the town of Port Lincoln have a dump point & drinking water available for travelers.  It was easy to find and easy to access, even better it is on the way to the Lincoln National Park.

A spot to ourselves again, right on the water at a spot called 'Engine Point'.

 

School and swimming before we headed off to explore & have lunch.  We saw different beaches, different coloured waters, a light house and dolphins.

 

  

It was a lovely day out, even if the weather wasn't playing the game.  We headed home and I studied while everyone else went fishing.  A little more school work before and early night.

xxx

Coffin Bay National Park {National Park}

We stopped in Coffin Bay on our way, had a look at a local market and the kids had a play at the park right on the water.  Coffin Bay is a quiet little town, known for it's oysters and looked pretty laid back.

Coffin Bay National Park was another location that wasn't in our 'plan' but we are all glad we decided to head here for a few days.  We picked a spot called Black Springs, which was right on the beach.  A quiet little bay with camping spots nestled under the trees. 

 

We spent our first after doing some school work and then exploring the beach.  The boys had a fish while Kyla and I had a walk along the beach. Beautiful. The local wildlife are somewhat friendly, the bees and the wallabies/kangaroos.

 

Some more schoolwork, a picnic packed and we headed out to explore the National Park.  We headed out to checkout Sir Issac Point, the point of the National Park and then headed back to Morgan's Landing to pull up on the beach for our lunch {terrible spot isn't it?}

 

 

 

 

Driving around we had some killer hills to go up and of course come down, then there was the emu's.

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Kalbarri {Caravan Park}

It was just as lovely as the last time we visited, just shy of two years later.  The biggest difference was it was quiet, so few people, so much more space and some lovely weather.

A few days, just the four of us was exactly what we needed after the last few crazy busy months.

We stayed at the same caravan park as last time, right at the front overlooking the river.  It was a beautiful spot and a lovely place to watch the sun rise and set.

Exploring the coastline that leads up to Kalbarri was, as last time, spectacular.  They have recently spent some money in the area with new paths and broadwalks added to some of the locations, which did make it easier with the kids to do some walking.  We got blessed, several dolphin sightings.  They kept the small people amused and me on my toes as I tried, probably a little too hard, to capture a picture of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishing was high on the agenda and much to J's pleasure he managed to get out everyday, all be it with a child or two in toe.  We had a nice afternoon the first day we arrived down at the jetty, another afternoon with all of us at the beach and the boys took off the last day for one last fish.  They even managed to get enough whiting for us to have a fresh fish & chips meal for dinner.

 

 

Not that it was planned, but we left just at the right time, before the rain started.

Next stop Wooramel Station.