Karijini and Road side stop 14th August to 18th August 2014

Ship at Port Hedland being escorted out of the Harbour

Entering Karijini NP

Start of our first walk Kalamina Gorge

Kalamina Gorge

Climbing the rocks in Kalamina Gorge to get to the top of the falls

Top of the falls in Kalamina Gorge

Kalamina Gorge

Kalamina Gorge

Kalamina Gorge

Lower Weano Gorge (the walking path went through the water and no we didn't go any further)

Jacob trying to warm up after going in the water at Lower Weano

Trying to gear themselves up to go in the water

Circular Pool walk

Dad trying to get kids wet with water from the falls in their hats.

Circular Pool

start of the Dales Gorge walk

Some of the obstacles on the Dales Gorge walk

Dales Gorge walk

Fortescue Falls

Made it to Fortescue Falls and ready for a swim

At the base of Fortescue Falls

At the base of Fortescue Falls

Fern Pool

Dale Gorge Rim walk

Dale Gorge Rim walk

Girls with their Karijini Junior Ranger Badges

We left 80 mile and headed for Karijini with the plan to have an overnight stop somewhere on the roadside. Karijini was somewhere when we originally planned our trip wasn't on the itinery however after speaking to a number of different people we altered some plans and managed to put it in. We are glad we did.
We went through Port Hedland to have a look and show the kids. We were lucky enough to see a ship being escorted out of the harbour by the tug boats. After having a quick look around we grabbed some lunch and stocked up and headed to Karijini.
Jacob's tally of the road trains grew quite dramatically this day around Port Hedland and heading out towards Karijini. We found a road side stop and pulled in for the night. Strick and the kids rounded up some wood so that they could have a fire (albeit small but they were happy to have one). It wasn't a late night as it was cool and of course the bugs started to come out.
An earlish start the next day and we only had about 150km to travel. We arrived and checked in. The kids were given a Karijini Junior Ranger Program they could work through while we were there. The girls were overly excited.
When we set up our tent the zip had really spat the dummy and wasn't working at all. So it was decided we would do a quick trip into Tom Price (100km) to see if we could find a new zip slider. Everything we read on good old Google said if we replaced the sliders we should be all good. Unfortunately Tom Price didn't have what we needed, so it was back to camp. Night time saw us having to put a table outside the door on it's side so that we didn't have any visitors throughout the night (this was also done when we went exploring each day).
On our way back from Tom Price we stopped in at the Visitor Centre in Karijini and the girls answered some questions in their Junior Ranger Book. They were that excited (especially Hannah) they expected the answers to jump out at them and didn't stand still long enough to find the answers.
The nights in Karijini were COOOLD!!! It reminded me of being back at Alice Springs at the start of the trip. The kids went to bed clothed and even used the spare sleeping bags and blankets that we had gained once mum had left us in Broome. Because it was cold it was hard to get moving each morning but once we did the days were rather warm. Karijini is one of the highest points in Western Australia so if you were staying at one of the highest points in another state then we would possibly be cold (especially Victoria). With it being cold it was early to bed each night as this was often the warmest place to be.
On our first full day in Karijini we travelled to the other end of the National Park where we walked the Kalamina Gorge (this was fantastic and again the kids did a great job walking the Gorges). We went and just looked at some of the other Gorges (Joffre and Knox) as they had lookouts and their walks were alot more difficult. We watched some people on some and they also looked dangerous for the kids so we decided not to walk them. We also had a look at Lower Weano where the kids decided to have a swim. This was FREEZING according to the kids. Jacob jumped in and jumped out. The girls played around with Hannah ending up slipping and falling in so she ended up getting wet and it took her breath away. The plan was to have a shower at the Visitor Centre, but we of course spent too long on the walks enjoying ourselves and missed out.
The second full day at Karijini we spent locally around the Dales Gorge camp ground where we were staying. We walked down and looked at Circular Pool. It really is a small world with us running into a lady from Wonthaggi who I know through netball, on the Circular Pool walk. We asked the kids what they wanted to do next either, go back to the top and drive to Fortescue Falls or walk. The kids were keen to walk, so we walked along the bottom of Dales Gorge to Fortesque Falls where the kids had a well deserved swim. Hannah enjoyed looking for the walk path markers to make sure we were going in the right direction. I then walked back to get the car at Circular Pool walking along the top of the Gorge. This was interesting with some fantastic views knowing that we had walked along the bottom of the Gorge. When I got back to Strick and the kids we went and visited Fern Pool and after talking to them about the Gorge Rim walk they decided they wanted  to do that (except Hannah). So I drove the car back to Circular Pool and met them along the walk to pick them up. We then went back to camp for lunch before going back to the Visitor Centre to purchase some souvenirs.
The girls worked really hard on their Junior Ranges books and learnt alot. So were very excited when before we left I took them down to the Camp Entry where they were required to read out the Junior Ranger Oath and were asked a few questions by the park Volunteers. They were then presented with a cloth badge as a Karijini Junior Ranger. They were so proud as were we with what they had achieved.

The next day saw us leave Karijini via Tom Price and Paraburdoo to a road side camp. While in Paraburdoo we searched the internet to book some accommodation at Cape Range (as this is all required to be done online now). As we couldn't get in when we wanted we  decided to head on to Carnarvon before coming back up to Cape Range.

80 Mile Beach 12th and 13th August

80 mile beach at low tide (it is just wet sand that you can see not water)

Kids posing for their sunset photo

Sunset first night at 80 mile beach

High tide at 80 mile (notice all the fisherman and ladies)

Kids enjoying the water at high tide (we had trouble trying to contain them to keep them out of the fisherman's way)

Sunset 2nd night (the beach is absolutely covered in shells)

Sunset 2nd night

Butterfly Louise made out of shells on the beach

Kids decided that they could have sand socks!!

On the beach

Well the plan was to have 3 nights here and really relax and catch up on all our blogs, postcards, diaries etc. It was a spot that had been recommended and we were really looking forward to it. When we arrived to begin with there were no more powered sites, so a non powered it would be and we decided to see how we went if we needed to move so as to charge all the batteries we would move. The second thing was it was soooo windy, it took us twice as long to set up the camper (that is without the awning) as everything kept getting blown away. The wind was so strong it was getting under the tent and really blowing a gale. It even ripped open the door at one stage. So we were getting a little agitated with each other but eventually we had it sorted and parked the car in a position that at least would allow us to cook out of majority of the wind. With the wind so strong and bad Strick and I were toying with the idea that we may not even survive two nights let alone 3. So it was decided to see how we went.
We went for a walk on the beach and collected some shells and saw the tide way out (too far to walk as you would have needed a picnic lunch). Believe it or not it wasn't as windy on the beach as it was at the park. We sat and watched the sunset before heading back to brave the winds to try and cook tea.
The wind seemed to settle through the night, only to start up again about 4am. We woke to rubbish having been blown around the park and really unless you had it nailed down it wouldn't still be there when you came back. I tried to do some washing (we decided to persevere for another night) and that was a task in itself to try and hang it out. Every time the kids went to the toilet they had to check that the washing was still on the line.
We went for another walk along the beach and visited it again at high tide to see that it was basically splashing the bottom of the sand dunes. The beach was literally lined with fisherman and fisherladies trying to catch a fish at the turn of the tide (it did appear that no one was having success). It was fascinating how much the tide can change the landscape.
The afternoon was spent catching up on diaries and writing postcards and Strick and I doing a little planning for the remainder of our trip. The kids played cards in the tent to get out of the wind and visited a little market by the other park residents and some of the money that was burning a hole in their pockets was spent on ice creams, drinks and lollies (oh and Jacob on some thongs as he left one of his thongs where we had lunch the day before).
Again we watched the sunset and thankfully the wind had settled a little more that night. It was interesting watching others that afternoon try and set up tents and camps as we had done only the day before and to think we would have given others a laugh.
If there wasn't the wind 80 mile beach, would be a fantastic place and one we would really enjoy. It is a place I would love to come back to when it isn't so windy and be able to explore it properly. The sunsets and shells were beautiful. Although it was nice we were looking forward to getting out of the wind the next day as we started to head inland to Karijini NP.

Broome 9th to 12th August

Kids footprints and a momento of Broome

Cable Beach

Sunset at Cable Beach

Moon at Cable Beach while also watching the sunset

Sunset at Cable Beach

On the beach with a number of other cars.

Jacob and the Hovercraft

Dinosaur Print Jacob and Strick found

Some of the mudflats Strick and Jacob went on on the Hovercraft

Staircase to the Moon

Exploring the rocks at Cable Beach

Sea Eagle at Cable Beach

Cable Beach

Hannah and I riding the Camel.

 

Jacob and Louise getting up on the camel.

Jacob got warm air down his neck.

Riding the camels on Cable Beach

Playing on the beach at Cable Beach

Well after finally packing up (we seemed to have the slow boots on) we headed back to Broome.
After arriving at Broome we set up camp and while the kids enjoyed a swim Strick and I took it in turns to supervise and shower in some warmer water than what we were used to. We paid a visit to the Visitors Centre to check out the camel rides and what else there was to do in Broome. Camel rides were booked so we went to catch up with mum and see what she had been up to while we were at Whalesong.
After discussions about where we were going to watch the staircase to the moon on Monday we ended up going out for tea. We were outside and it looked out over the mangroves and Jacob and Strick enjoyed watching the boats coming in and out of the harbour. After a nice feed of fresh prawns and of course lovely fish and other foods we headed back to camp. Mum and Sue were going to see the Horizontal Falls the next day and were going to be picked up at 5.30am. The kids were excited for Nan and were looking forward to hearing all about it.

The Sunday which was our first full day in Broome we spent catching up again on washing (unfortunately this is one chore that doesn't go away whether you are on holidays or not) before going for a drive around Broome and having a look. We also went to a market where Jacob bought a photo of a road train going through a river (Jacob had taken an interest in the Road Trains on our trip 2 years ago and had been keeping a tally of all that we saw while driving). We visited the Port where the kids saw some pretty large ships, and we took the tourist route to the lookout. We found a beach that we were able to drive onto. Cable Beach was another destination we had a look at and found where we had to go for the Camel Rides that afternoon. Jacob had decided he wanted to do a hovercraft ride and tour so we went via the Visitor Centre to see if we could book that for him and Strick.

After lunch we ventured back to Cable Beach for more of a look around the beach and for the long awaited Camel Rides on the beach. This was something that the kids had seen on a pamphlet and were very keen to have a go at, so as you can imagine they were over excited. While waiting for the Camels we looked around the rock pools on Cable Beach, with the kids finding a number of different little sea creatures and a sea eagle that we think was injured as it didn't really move.

The time had come for the long awaited Camel rides. Jacob and Lou had the front camel, while Hannah and I had the next camel. We were told when the camel stood up you had to sit back with your arms straight so that you didn't fall forward over the camel. Both Jacob and I were on the back of the camel and had the camel behind us breathing (or dribbling) down our necks. It wasn't the smoothest of rides on the camel's along the sand. The kids were looking around and you know how kids love to stare well we went past the nudist beach and there was a couple lying there enjoying the sun. How do you tell your daughter in the front camel to stop staring without drawing attention to it? We were in a group that only had another 2 couples so we got a bit of personal attention with the guide taking a few happy snaps for us on our camera's. The kids really enjoyed it and didn't want it to end.

Once the camel rides had finished we stayed at Cable Beach where the kids went swimming while we watched the sunset. The moon was a great sight this night also. The water got colder as the night went on. It was also the night of the Paul Kelly concert in Broome so we got free entertainment while we were on the beach. With us seeing pictures of the Staircase to the Moon that we were going to watch the next night, the kids thought we had seen the Staircase to the Sun tonight.

Our second day in Broome we went for our drive again (so I could take some photo's this time as I forgot my camera yesterday). As this was also our last day in Broome we stocked up on groceries as we were heading south to 80 mile and we weren't sure what would be available. After lunch Jacob and Strick went for their hovercraft ride and tour over the mud flats and were shown some Dinosaur Prints. They were told that Broome had 23 different Dinosaur Species with prints, although there were no skeletons to go with the prints. This is the most in the world. Jacob loved the hovercraft and I think quietly Strick enjoyed the time with Jacob. While the boys were doing this the girls and I sat with mum and Sue and caught up on some postcards and they had a swim.

Once the boys returned we went to where we had had tea Sunday night to watch the Staircase to the Moon. This is something that only occurs for 3 days a month and only for a certain number of months throughout the year. It is when the tide is out, the moon is full and it reflects on the mudflats and water to show a staircase going to the moon. It was an awesome sight. The number of people that were there to watch it with us was astronomical. No sooner it had arrived but it was over. After watching this we then had to find the car and ventured back to Sue and mum's apartment to have a BBQ tea and help them clean out their fridge as they were flying home in a couple of days. 

Our final morning in Broome was spent packing up, fueling up and also finalising photos for mum before heading South to the 80 mile Beach.