Pure bliss.
Seeing all those tropical fish in their natural habitat instead of an aqaurium gives you the sensation of floating on another planet.
Since I don't own an underwatercamera I will not be able to share this beauty, you will have to come see for yourselves :)!
Coral Bay is a small town filled with tourists, shops offering al sorts of snorkelling and diving tours and gear. A lot of expensive hotels and lodges, a hostel and of course a huge caravanpark filled to the top.
So not my kind of place to find a place to sleep. I like my peace and quiete and even though I am one myself, I am not keen on spending time in places filled with tourists.
After an hour on the beach and in the Ocean I needed to get moving if I wanted to find a place to stay further up north in Exmouth.
Arrived their around 18h I decided to spoil myself with a night in a Big 4 caravanpark. I know them from last year and they are most of the time good value for money.
Normaly it was $35 a night for an unpowered site (no electricitiy outlet for your van), but the older gentleman who checked me in couldn't give me change for my $50 so I got it for $30!
A nice clean shower and toilet and noisy English and Dutch neighbours later I woke up and drove on to the Cape national park.
It has many beaches to go snorkeling from, gorges to hike in and nice camp sites.
To get into the park I had to report to the ranger at the entrance and pay $12, this is the daily entrance rate. I told her I wanted to camp so she checked the availability and got me a spot at Mesa's camp. Costs $10 a night. I quickly decided it would be worthwhile to get me a park pass. Costs $88 a year and allows free entrance for a year in all of WA national parks.
My hosts at Mesa's were Cheryl and Larry. A couple of pensioners travelling around their beautiful country for already 2 years while their daughter was keeping their shop open in QLD.
The way it works is they volunteer to keep the campsite open and clean for 1.5 months and stay for free.
Again the most helpful and friendly people! Always smiling, ready for a chat or to give advise.
I had just enough time to go for a snorkel at Tourqoise Bay. Once there the name made sense. A sky as blue as in those Bounty commercials the water a mix of blue and green. You could spot the reef by the darker spots in the water. After spotting even more types of tropical fish then before I was blown away by the sight of a Manta Ray on the bottem, almost invisible covered with sand. I hoovered above him/her trying to stay as quite as possible not todisturb him/her. And after a magical while he/she swam away and I was left in awe. Huge was my joy when only a couple of mins later I spotted another smaller one. Amongst the fish I saw were the, Racoon Butterflyfish, Threadfin Butterflyfish, Bluespot Butterflyfish, Neon Damsel, Brown lined puffer, Clarks anemone fish, Emperor angelfish, Moorish idol, and many many more.
Next morning I quickly paid for another 2 nights, eager to explore the park and do some more snorkeling.
I started the day with a walk in the Mandu Mandu Gorge (scale 4) and almost twisted my ankle walking on loose stones climbing up and down this gorgeous gorge. Being very proud of completing this trail in less than the estimated time and without injuries I rewarded myself with a bit of snorkeling at Tourquoise Bay. This time I was lucky to swim next to a Whitetip reef shark. It was a small one, about almost a meter long. To my surprise I did not feel the slightest bit of fear, just a feeling of utter joy. I looked at her/ him she/he looked at me and after a few seconds she/he was gone.
This experience convicted me I need to start taking diving lessons once back in Belgium.
Back at the campsite talked a bit to my neighbour, he and his wife (both in their mit 30 I guessed) where from New Castle Sydney and had been travelling for already 2 years. A very nice guy. Very considered to others. When they went into town for supplies he went around asking people if they needed anything. We talked about Yardie Creek Gorge, which is the furthest down the park. And he assured me it was worth taking the trail. He also added to be on the look out for the snakes, it being snake season... For those who do not know, snakes scare the heebie jeebies out of me.
Luckily I did the same to them and I saw none.
The Yardie trail was also a scale 4 but not at all like the Mandu Mandu. And the scenery was 10 times more beautiful. The lake and the eagles in the gorge might have something to do with it.. The lake is one of the only lakes in WA that never dries out. That is due to its natural barrier to the Ocean.
One giant shrimp, lots of shrimp fishers in Exmouth.
The main attraction in Exmouth for most of the year, the Sharkwhale! I arrived a couple of weeks too late to see them.
One of the many parrots visiting a the campsite, funny guys.
The emu, awesome bird!
EThe beginning of my hike in the Mandu Mandu gorge.
I wonder what scale 6 is... Climbing the rocks by hanging from them, just using your fingertips?
View from my camp site by nightfall at around 18h30.
Yardie Creek Gorge start of trail. You can see where the creek is separated from the Ocean by a sandbank.
First floor :)! Amazing view!!!
Where the Eagles live. You could here them in the echo's of the rocks.
Saw them flying in and out, gorgeous birds.
A termite hill. They get pretty big and you see them all over the place, hard workers those termites!
Again proud of myself seems the time at the gym paid off.
Even the bush toilets are friendly in Australia! I prefer one of these over the French squating ones believe you me!!
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