Cape Range National Park / Ningaloo Reef Marine Park


Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Marine Park are collectively known as the parks of the Coral Coast. Together, they support a range of unique wildlife habits from existing ocean reef, to ancient reef, rugged limestone gorges and cave systems.

Our campsite in Osprey Bay

My family and I have spent the last 2 weeks camping in Osprey Bay, Cape Range National Park. We had to carry in our own water and survive without any electricity, mobile phone coverage, internet access, shops etc. We enjoyed the challenge! At Cape Range National Park we snorkelled, fished, swam and went boating. Finding time for schoolwork was a challenge!

School time!

At Cape Range National Park there are some great places to snorkel. The reef system is home to 220 species of coral and 500 species of temperate and tropical fish. We saw great numbers of large and small fish, turtles, sea snails and slugs, sharks, sea cucumbers, starfish, sting rays, dolphins and whales. Ningaloo Reef is a snorkeller's paradise! My favourite place to snorkel was Oyster Stacks.

Ready for a snorkel?

Over our two week stay at Osprey Bay we caught and were given lots of fish.  We fished from both land and from our boat. We had fish nearly every day! My favourite was the golden trevally that my dad caught from the shore.

Catching dinner

At Osprey Bay we also swam at our own private beach and enjoyed being towed by the boat on our boogie boards.



Private Beach

 Boogie board rides

Cape Range National Park is the home of a permanent creek that is surrounded by a spectacular gorge. We walked the Nature Trail and the Yardie Creek Gorge walk. This gorge is home to many black - footed rock wallabies.

Yardie Creek Gorge





 If you take a look at the map from my last post you can see Ningaloo Reef. It stretches along 260km of coastline from Exmouth to Coral Bay. We are enjoying a couple of days in the sunshine of Coral Bay before we head to Carnarvon. On Friday, I will be attending a music lesson at the School Of The Air in Carnarvon.

The Coral Coast

Today I am including a map of the Coral Coast. It should help you follow my travels up and down the coast.

The Coral Coast of W.A.







 The Past Week

Geraldton

Highlight: My 11th birthday!

The water park on the esplanade of Geraldton



Carnavon

All aboard the coffee pot train on One Mile Jetty, Carnarvon

Lighthouse? Carnarvon heritage precinct.



Fishing


About a week ago, we went fishing in Gracetown.
The same day we also went on a boardwalk to a historic site.

Ellenbrook Homestead

Rock fishing in Gracetown

Bussleton

Last week we visited my great aunt who lives in Bussleton. We were lucky enough to visit the day of the iron man championship.

First female to cross the line

 We also saw the Bunbury lighthouse which is chequered black and white.

Bunbury lighthouse

Travelling to Geraldton

On the way to Geraldton we passed Greenough. It is famous for its bent trees and historic buildings.

Bent tree

Jurien Bay

We stayed at Jurien Bay for two nights. At the caravan park we stayed at there was a jumping pillow.



Jumping pillow

Fremantle

Last week we went to Fremantle. Along the Esplanade there are lots of fish and chip shops and breweries. We also saw dolphins near the jetty.

The docks at Fremantle

Margaret River

This week we are sharing a townhouse with our friends from Perth. The townhouse is in Margaret River.
This area is well known for it's magnificent wineries and great surfing beaches.

On the way to Margaret River we stopped for lunch at Donnybrook. At Donnybrook there is a huge playground.

The apple funpark at Donnybrook

On Sunday we visited Augusta. It is Western Australia's third settlement ( behind Albany and Perth ), dating back to 1830. Augusta is also the point at which the Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean meet. We also enjoyed a picnic on the bank of the Blackwood River.

Augusta

Picnic on the Blackwood River