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.

 

 

Perlubie Beach {Camping}

Saying Ceduna at just after 10am with a night stop planned for Perlubie Beach {on advice from Amanda & John} we decided to make a detour to Smoky Bay for a look.

What a lovely little sea side town it is, another oyster town and another jetty.  The jetty was teaming with sea life, people fishing & crabbing and a shark safe swimming are {I really had no idea how bad sharks are in South Australia}.

 

We arrived at Perlubie Beach at noon and WOW!  It was amazing, the camping is right on the beach and there are also lovely little shelters scattered along the beach.

 

Our chosen camp spot was right next to another lovely family from NSW.  Sadly this time I forgot to exchange details with them {how silly am I} but if by chance anyone else happens to bump into Tina, Paul & their two daughters in their travels let me know {they're traveling in the opposite direction to us}. We had a great afternoon watching the tides, chatting, fishing, swimming, crafting and simply relaxing.

 

  

The sunset was beautiful, if not weird to be facing directly west to watch it!  The only downfall was the field mice, that for some strange reason moved to the beach after the sun went down.  A cheeky one snuck in the camper at 530am when I took Kaleb to the look, which didn't make for much sleep before it was time to get up for the day.

 

  

At $5 a night we could easily have stayed here for a few nights but there was a wedding planned for Saturday {which we knew prior to arriving} and they had hoped for a free beach for it.  The set up for it looked beautiful, so hopefully the couple had a great day.

Point Quobba

Well we arrived at the turn off to Carnarvon and decided to head to Point Quobba and checkout a spot that 'old mate' had shared with J when we stopped in Port Gregory.

 After initially turning the wrong way {and seeing yet another lovely coast line} we found our place, chatted with the ranger and paid our massive $5.50 per night to stay. Four nights sounded good!

We pottered around setting up, discovered that the gas strut on the side we replaced the bolt had now broken { we think one of the kids beds contributed to this one } but given it doesn't old it together we set up as normal, awning up and also our little ensuite tent as there are no toilet facilities here {ranger said that there used to be so no idea what happened there}. The smalls placed with the matchbox cars again, best thing we packed for them so far and we then headed to the beach of a look. Collecting shells, looking at how high the tide comes up and also making sand castles before heading back as the boys decided to try for a fish.

K and I stayed at home reading and watching a DVD while the boys tried to get dinner {thankfully I wasn't counting on it}.

Another two days of fabulous weather have seen school work set finished, time looking at the blowholes and the coastline that comes with it and also seeing the creatures in reef {we didn't know was here}.

We went into Carnarvon today for the farmers market, the smalls had been dying for fresh fruit. Stocked up which meant a lovely roasted Quinoa dinner, we also stopped ion a place that had lovely frozen 'ice cream' and I most certainly would like to stock up before we leave, the coated strawberries where amazing. After lunch we headed down to the reef in our swimmers, the smalls loved finally being able to have a swim. Once they had finished we slipped on our things and headed over to the reef {I'm so disappointed I didn't have a camera as we saw some awesome things}. We saw, all be it hidden, an octopus, bright crab, hermit crabs {some very large}, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, all kinds of fish {which swam around is when we stood still} and some lovely colored coral. So wish we had looked for a snorkel in town!

 

 

Our last full day was a nice lazy one with some bike riding and then another trip down to the reef and the smalls had a swim in the lovely water {J even jumped in too}.  I am still so made that we didn't have a snorkel to explore but given this is on our list of 'Must come back to' I will make sure we have one with us this time.

Now to pack down and head to Carnarvon for a power recharge, water refill and a HOT SHOWER.

Fig Tree Crossing Rest Stop {Geraldton}

After originally planning a stop along the coast line outside of Geraldton we decided to try this little place.  Now it was listed as a free stop but the council have since done work on the site and are now charging a massive $5.50 per night.

It is a massive open space and there is still plenty of shade {and even though the sign says only 48 hours it appears some had been there longer with no comment from the council who come to collect the money every other day}.

We stayed for two nights in total which gave us a change to catch up on some school work, get some shopping done {including some more walking friendly shoes for me} and also have lunch with my grandparents who are on their way north for 'the winter'.

It was really lovely to watch the sunset & rise from a different location.  Surround by trees and farm land, listening to sheep.

 

Next stop Kalbarri