Ningaloo Take 2

Day 1- 39 deg, 25 km winds, 8 dead mice

Arrived as the temperature peaked at 39deg, sand burnt our feet during set up. The rough road in had shaken the fridge open and it was beginning to defrost. Sweat poured down us as we set up, with Daniel ending up a sweaty, sandy mess after putting all the pegs in. Spent the afternoon drifting in the current to stay cool. Dinner on our laps watching a gorgeous sunset. Realised our camp area is just behind a sand mound where you get phone reception so had a slew of strangers sharing their phone conversations with us!

Some of the haul from the first night - Jackson was very interested!

Emilia didn't want to touch them but wanted to be in the photo (Daniel took all these photos by the way, I stayed inside each morning until all the traps were cleared and the mice disposed of).

Day 2- 35 deg, 35 km winds, 8 dead mice, 1 sand storm, 1 early morning snorkel, 1 massive shell.

Snorkelled, swam, walked, buried the kids in the sand and walked up the beach then floated back in the current many times. Gave up sweeping the mat and accepted the sand swirling around the front of the van. Kicked the footy on the beach at dusk and Jackson proudly showed off the dead sheep he had found - delightful! Spent the night listening to the crazy wind make unexplained noises on the van whilst wishing I had opted for the earplugs instead of Daniel.

The awesomely big shell Daniel found while diving.

The sand strewn campsite we awoke to (all the table and shelf tops were covered).

Day 3 - 33 deg, 25 km winds, 1 golden trevally, 1 sweetlip, 1 chinamans cod, 1 improvised, yet surprisingly effective, sand/wind break, 11 dead mice.

Had a lovely snorkel with Emilia while Jackson and Daniel fished off the bank, they were the talk of the camp area when Daniel pulled in a 60cm golden trevally. Whilst the kids rested Daniel went for a spearfish and came back with a huge sweetlip and a silver trevally then that afternoon Jackson reeled in a Chinamans cod. Emilia also reeled in a fish but we didn't know what it was so she threw it back.

Mr Fisherman with his cod.

The Golden Trevally Daniel and Jackson caught

Day 4 - 38 deg, minimal wind (so very hot), 1 huge painted lobster, 1 swim with a turtle, 9 dead mice.

Woke up to a glorious day, with supremely calm waters. Super hot though so we opted to get into the water asap. I went for a snorkel in a different area and found some great coral bombes so went back to shore, where Daniel was fishing and the kids were playing, and got Emilia. On our way to the coral we saw a turtle!. It let us swim with it for ages, it was incredible. Tried to rest but it was 38deg in the van with no breeze- stifling. In the afternoon Jackson impressed us all with his request to snorkel and he had a successful first try with Daniel. He was very pleased with himself. Daniel spotted a lobster while out with Jackson and, once he'd grabbed his snare, managed to get it. After more swims, sandcastle building and snorkels we feasted on lobster tail at dusk followed by the delicious sweet lip Daniel got yesterday. 

Just before we got to snorkel with a turtle.

Jackson getting ready for his first snorkel.

All set and ready to go.

Getting his first snorkelling lesson (and building up the courage to put his head in).

The painted rock lobster Daniel got not far from shore - what a find!

Very impressive.

Day 5 - 35 deg, morning - 40km wind, afternoon - no wind, 1 slithering sea-snake, 11 mice (6 mice before we even went to bed!), 1 full moon.

We awoke to strong easterly wind that ended up blowing sand through the windows and coating our beds. After a morning spent cleaning up we went for a drive to explore some other beaches in the hope of one protected from the fierce wind. We ended up at Boat Harbour, a place we'd stayed last October. It was calm so we spent the afternoon snorkelling, swimming and shell collecting. Got back late afternoon and the wind had completely stopped. Dusk was spent on the shore watching a lovely sunset while the kids swam and Daniel (unsuccessfully) fished. We got back and had our nightly rinse off with the 12V shower and a little water in a bucket. As I am in the shower out the front of the van a MOUSE scurries across the mat and into gazebo. I am trying hard not to scream (did not want to draw attention to myself showering nude in the dark at the front of the van). (Nikki if you are reading DO NOT READ ON). Daniel becomes Super Mouse Slayer and actually kills the mouse with a swift flick of Emilia's flippers (the first thing he could lay his hands on). That kids look on in awe whilst I try to block my senses and forget what is happening (all the while still trying to shower). Another weird experience to add to our travel memories!!

Our campsite with the full moon rising.

Feasting on lobster tail (the kids love it now).

Counting the morning's catch.

He was always very pleased with the catch.

It was so hot at Boat Harbour the kangaroos were sheltering in the toilet.

Day 6 - 33 deg, 10km breeze, 1 sweetlip, 1 super high tide, 3 pushy sharks, 6 dead mice (and one native bush mouse released early morning)

Daniel and Jackson took advantage of the perfect morning and went fishing in the kayak, but, as Jackson put it when he returned, 'No luck for us Mum, no fishes'. Spent the rest of the morning at the beach where Daniel and I took turns snorkelling over an impressive coral bombe (a new one he found). The kids enjoyed playing in the channels of water the super high tide had created in the sand and Daniel dug them a huge hole which quickly filled up. While the kids rested (and I cooked) Daniel went out spearfishing, conditions had worsened, the current was strong and visibility was poor. After much effort he managed to spear a lovely Sweetlip and he began making his way to shore when he noticed several reef sharks following him. He now has the fish he catches attached to a float which is about 5m away from him so the sharks weren't technically after him, they were after the sweetlip. Daniel worked hard for that fish so he was not giving a freebie to some lazy sharks. In order to protect his fish Daniel had to turn around and swim at the sharks with his spear gun poised which would scare them off for a few minutes. In that time he would swim frantically trying to get back to shore. Then he would repeat his attack on the sharks then try to swim to shore when they retreated. This went on and on and the sharks stayed with him until he was a few meters from shore. It took him so long to get back but he very proudly (and exhaustedly) presented his fish when he returned to camp (several hours after he left) then collapsed into a chair for a well earned drink. 

Watching the sunset while eating ice-cream.

A gorgeous evening for a sunset swim.

Day 7 - 35 deg, slight breeze, 3 sweetlip, no mice as mouse traps packed away after Daniel had to release another native mouse in the evening (we're happy to get rid of the feral ones but not the native ones).

After breakfast we took the kids out to the coral bombe we both snorkelled over yesterday. I took Jackson around in the boogie board and it was wonderful listening to his enthusiastic noises as he spotted different fish, huge blue star fish and giant clams. He had to keep clearing out his snorkel as he kept trying to talk underwater! After a decent snorkel Emilia and Daniel headed back in (she was exhausted after swimming the whole way). Jackson refused to go and wanted to keep snorkelling. After another 15 minutes or so I had to call time as he was shivering, though he still wanted to stay out there! We are so proud of both the kids efforts snorkelling and can't wait to do more with them in Coral Bay and Cape Range NP. In the afternoon Daniel went spear fishing and got 3 sweetlip which he promptly deposited in the kayak as the sharks had got the scent of blood and were beginning to converge on him! 

It was a great week at Ningaloo Station, such a beautiful part of Australia.