Getting dumped by ferocious waves along the South West coast

Gracetown Caravan Park (Margaret River region), WA

Wednesday 14th - Sunday 17th December

On our way to the coast we stopped for a night at Chapman Pool campground on the Blackwood River. We spent Christmas here last trip so wanted to see if it was as nice as we remembered. It was still a lovely place, however the resident wildlife were a bit crankier this time. As soon as we pulled up I jumped out of the car to run to the toilet when I felt a gush of air zip past my head, when I looked up I saw a magpie had tried to swoop me. I ran to the toilet with my hands in the air, then walked the long way around to get back to the others. Unfortunately the bird didn't like me walking that way either and went in for the kill again! The magpie really didn't like females as it also had went Emilia quite a few times, even when she was just sitting at camp. It was super aggressive and we couldn't walk anywhere without a hat on (and our arms in the air shooing it away!). We still had a nice afternoon/evening there though - kayaking, swimming, relaxing in the hammock and then singing karaoke by the fire.

Carving it up on the log podium, by the last campfire we will be allowed to have for a while.

Jackson even got his air guitar out!

Gracetown

We stayed 3 nights at a lovely park just near Gracetown Beach, on the southwest coast (between Dunsborough and Augusta). The park had lots to do, so when we weren't at the beach we did mini golf, played tennis and enjoyed an outdoor movie. Unfortunately Jackson came down quite sick with Covid, so his time here wasn't as fun as it could have been. Thankfully he was only really sick for about 24 hours, so he still got some beach time.

The first afternoon we checked out Gracetown beach then headed to Margaret River surf beach hoping to catch some waves. The waves were huge and they were breaking quite close to shore. The beach also sloped down very steeply so you were in deep water quite quickly. We still decided to have a go and managed to catch a few waves in between being absolutely churned around in the water then dumped on the sand. It was fun, but a bit easier without our boards so we could swim under the waves! We finished up with a swim in the warm, fresh (ish) water in Margaret River (which flows to just before the ocean). 

The next day Jackson was sick so Daniel and I took turns taking Emilia out. Daniel took her into Margaret River for some shopping and a treat before a kayak in the bay at Gracetown Beach where they picked up a crayfish (that is now in the freezer for Xmas). In the afternoon I took her beach hopping- we went to Gas Bay (a beautiful, remote beach with big waves. We swam then walked along the beach), Gnarabap Beah (a calm, sheltered bay where we swam out the pontoon) then back to Margaret River Mouth for a float in the calm water.

Jackson was feeling a bit better by the next morning so we decided to check out a 4WD access only beach- Kilcarnup (or Joey's Nose as the locals call it). It was an absolutely beautiful spot. We swam and boogie boarded (and got dumped by a few huge waves again). Daniel went out to look for crayfish (with Jackson in the kayak ready to collect his catch). After only about half an hour he came back with 4 huge crays! We had 2 for dinner and gave the others to friends. We had a really great time at the stunning Kilcarnup Beach and hope to come back here again.

Smiling faces after opening presents Logan and Jenna had posted over.

We made the most of the mini-golf course at the caravan park.

We still had a few RAT tests so we were able to confirm that Jackson did have COVID. The test came up positive within a few seconds.

Crayfish No.1 (from Gracetown Beach with Emilia assisting)

Enjoying our mother-daughter afternoon at the beach- this is Gas Bay.

Our second beach - Gnarabup

The third beach on our beach hopping afternoon - Margaret River mouth.

What better way to warm up than a hot rock!

Jackson was heaps better the next day so we were all able to go the beach together

He even managed to go for a short boogie board.

Emilia and I made the most of the waves whilst the boys went looking for crayfish.

The conditions were great and they managed to get 4 big ones!

Kilcarnup Beach was so lovely....

White sand, rocky range behind the dunes...

Then crystal clear sparkling water (and being able to drive onto the beach is always a bonus)..

They were deservedly very proud of their haul.

Dinner was marinated crayfish with salad - amazing!

That night the kids and I enjoyed an outdoor movie under the stars at the caravan park, while Daniel went fishing (no luck though).

Nerves of Steel - The Crazy Katz Climb the Bicentennial Tree!

Pemberton Region

Sunday 11th- Wednesday 14th December

On our way through Pemberton we stopped at the Gloucester Tree, one of the 3 trees in the area that were used as fire lookouts and have since become popular trees to climb for those who want an adrenaline rush and a great view. However the Gloucester Tree and Diamond Tree are both closed for climbing at the moment, pending engineering and safety reports (we have heard that there is a high chance they won't be opened for climbing again). It was still an impressive tree to look at, and we all enjoyed the short walk through the surrounding forest which is full of incredible trees. 

We arrived at our destination, the RAC Karri Valley Resort, in the early afternoon and spent the rest of the day enjoying the resort facilities - the pump track, playground and taking a walk to the nearby Beedelup Lake. After discussing it with the kids, we all decided we'd like to go back to the Bicentennial Tree (currently the tallest tree you can climb in the world) to see if we did have the courage to climb up it. We all got there raring to go, then after another quick family meeting at the first platform (20m high) we decided we all felt good and we wanted to climb the whole way. Playing on all of our minds was the high possibility that the tree would be closed for climbing by the time we made it back this way again.

Well we certainly didn't need to worry about the kids, they climbed up with ease and before we knew it we were all at the top platform - 65m above the forest floor. We had climbed up the 182 pieces of reo steel hammered into the tree in a spiral manner to form a rudimentary ladder. All without a safety harness!

It was an incredible view and we savoured it, whilst congratulating each other on our brag worthy feat. The climb down went just as well and we all made it back to the safety of hard ground unharmed. It was such an experience and I am so pleased that we were all able to do it together. I am so proud of our family- we certainly take up every available opportunity.

We spent the next day and half enjoying Lake Beedelup and the great facilities at the resort - paddle-boarding, kayaking, visiting the nearby waterfall, playing pool and table tennis and the kids carved it up on the pump track. Our stay at the Karri Valley resort was made even better by all the kangaroos that enjoyed the green grass around the caravan sites- at dusk they were everywhere. We had a great few days surrounded by the amazing trees of this area and we all left very satisfied that we'd risen to the challenge of the Bicentennial Tree climb.

The Gloucester Tree - the 53m high fire lookout tree near Pemberton.

The stump of this fallen down tree shows just how huge some of these trees are.

Emilia like this unusual tree that was growing sideways into a rotted tree stump.

The view from inside one of the huge trees

Just a few action shots for fun :)

CLIMBING THE BICENTENNIAL TREE

We were back at the campground the night after climbing the tree, cooking our dinner in the camp kitchen, when a fellow camper approached me to say she loved watching us climb the tree and that she had filmed us (as we'd made her day). We were so grateful to get this video.

The final ladder to the top platform (the easy bit, even though you were 60+m high, it was a normal ladder and you were in an enclosed space).

Me catching my breath- I think I held it most of the way up!!

We made it to the top!!

You could see so far - it was incredible.

One more selfie before we began our descent.

Jackson on the way down (he is just above the first platform)

Continuing our climb down (I was a bit slower!!).

This pic clearly shows the pegs that make up the ladder. There is mesh on the sides but nothing underneath you.

We passed a local avocado farm on the way back to camp. Avocados are apparently in abundance here at the moment, so this box was only $10. We have been living off guacamole!!

This joey was camera shy, when I went up to take a photo it stuck its head into the pouch!

It finally built up the courage to look at us.

Enjoying Lake Beedelup (warming up after a swim).

Emilia and I went for a walk to the Beedelup Falls on our last morning there, we did the extra side walk to this awesome tree that you could walk through.

The very tall, walk-through tree.

Crossing the suspension bridge over Beedelup Falls.

It was pretty hard to take a selfie from the wobbly suspension bridge.

Looking over Lake Beedelup after our 7km walk around it (via the walk-through tree and Beedelup Falls). Jackson and Daniel also did the track - Daniel ran and Jackson rode.