Sunset where the Murchison River enters the ocean at Kalbarri, W.A.

Kalbarri to Yanchep National Parks and amazing wildflowers.  

The Murchison River runs 80km through Kalbarri National Park and has cut through the sandstone rocks to form dramatic gorges. This river is the second longest in WA, at just under 1,000 km long, and has a catchment area of 82,000 km². It starts in the outback gold mining town in central W.A. Meekatharra. The Murchison River travels across dry plains, hills, salt lakes, and gorges before reaching the ocean at the coastal town of Kalbarri.

Click on pics to enlarge.

This pic was taken from the ‘Kalbarri Skywalk’, above the Murchison River.

There’s more, continue reading.

Exmouth, Sunrise pic from the lighthouse

Exmouth, where the outback meets the ocean.  

What an amazing week.

Why Exmouth? Chez choose to come here last year to celebrate her 50th birthday. Thanks to Chez, Louise, Pat, John and Tracy for their feedback plus Craig Dougherty, Sue Welsh, Kate Thomson and Greg Young who also provided so much information plus my friend Lee Harris out at Bathurst in regard to the wild flowers at this time of the year which we hope to see during this coming week.

WHAT AN EYE OPENER! So much recent history behind the building of Exmouth. (You will have to look up Google, too much info for me to include)

Speaking to locals, they love the place and would never consider anywhere else to live. These locals include couples who have moved here from the Sunshine Coast Qld., Melbourne and Perth. However one business man I spoke to spends March to October here running his extensive boat tour business then moves to Freemantle for the summer months. Plus the huge number of seasonal workers who arrive every March and stay till October when they then move on to their premier summer work location with plans to return to Exmouth next March. Its so different, houses built from steel frames with  corrugated iron cladding, designed to withstand the cyclones.

Click on pics to enlarge.

Humpback Whale, Ningaloo Reef

Sunday’s excursion was a ‘Whaling experience’ at the Ningaloo Reef. It was a full day’s activity, we had hoped to swim with a ‘Whale Shark’ however the ‘Whale Shark’ season concluded in July and there were next to none being sighted during the latter part of August. June and I dived in with the rest of the group on this trip, did some snorkeling, some actually were in the water with the ‘Humpback Whales’. I was happy to get some pics.

There’s more, continue reading.

Yardie Creek, gorge W.A.

Yardie Creek Boat Tour.  

Yardie Creek is located in the spectacular Yardie Creek Gorge, 1-hour drive from Exmouth. The ancient gorge has deep blue water, red limestone cliff faces and a wonderful array of birds and wildlife including the rare black-footed wallaby and red kangaroos. From the top, the views into the creek and out to the Ningaloo Reef are purely spectacular.

You have the option to do the 1.5 kilometre walking trail which slowly climbs up the red rock cliffs over a flat path which then becomes harder as it narrows and requires navigation of rocks and small creek line gullies. Alternatively, you can do the boat cruise (as did we) which takes you up through the spectacular gorge.

Either way you will see a variety of birds and yellow footed rock wallabies that inhabit the rock walls, there is even a batt colony.

Click on pics to enlarge.

Eastern Osprey

There were a number of Osprey nests along the cliff faces. The Osprey are a medium-sized fish-eating raptor (bird of prey). It has dark brown upperparts contrasting with pale underparts. The Osprey is known to use the same nest year after year. The nest is made from sticks and driftwood and is used repeatedly for many years. It is usually placed on a cliff, a dead tree or even a radio mast. Both birds (male and female) bring sticks, but the female usually places the sticks in the nest. The nest is lined with grass, seaweed or bark. The female does most of the incubation, while the male brings food to the nest.

There’s more, continue reading.

Rottnest Island Express

Rottnest Island, here we come.  

The view of Rottnest Island as we left the main land was something small and distant, way out on the horizon. Once in the ocean proper on our approx. 20 km journey, the chop in the water rose to about 30cm to 40cm. I thought of Laura Wallace who completed this mammoth Cottesloe to Rottnest annual Ocean swim back in 2018. How did she ever do it? I would never attempt it! Then there is Greg Young who completed this swim on numerous occasions when he lived in W.A. Amazing!

Click on pics to enlarge.

Rottnest Island

There’s more, continue reading.