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WA Road Trip 2023

mars - maj 2023
  • McDermotts Travel Oz
Making memories one road trip at a time - Nullarbor Plain, Southern WA, Perth, Coral Coast & Wheatbelt Regions Läs mer
  • McDermotts Travel Oz

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  • McDermotts Travel OzResenärWA Road Trip 2023
    Little Salmon BayWadjemup Lighthouse

    Rottnest Island WA

    9 april 2023, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Happy Easter!

    Another early start in Fremantle to catch the ferry across to Rottnest Island. Mission: Selfie with a quokka.

    First up, we grabbed some hire bikes and pedalled around the island, stopping to cool down with a quick swim at Little Salmon Bay.

    Then, as we rode up to Wadjemup Lighthouse in the middle of the island, we found them - two cute little quokkas living their best life posing for selfies with excited tourists. Mission accomplished.

    We rode on through the lakes area and out to the stunning Pinkys Beach and Bathurst Lighthouse with its sweeping views back towards the Perth skyline.

    Back in the village precinct we sat down for a few minutes to eat some snacks when an opportunistic little quokka decided Anthony’s lap looked like a comfy spot for a sit down. It caused quite a spectacle as it made itself comfortable while we tried to coax it off (without touching or feeding it as per the rules).

    We ended a perfect day on 'Rotto' with happy hour overlooking Thompson Bay as we waited for our return ferry.    Läs mer

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  • McDermotts Travel OzResenärWA Road Trip 2023
    Nilgen LookoutIndian Ocean Drive with Lancelin Sand Dunes in the distance

    Cervantes WA

    10 april 2023, Australien ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    Travelling from Fremantle to Cervantes we now understand why they say WA stands for windy always!

    As we pulled into the RAC Cervantes Holiday Park we encountered the first real disruptive rain of our trip so far. We didn’t really have plans for the afternoon so retired to the camp kitchen for ‘happy hour’, which then rolled into dinner.

    On account of the weather, the camp kitchen was pumping. It was interesting seeing the different meals being created by our fellow travellers - everything from monster T-bone steaks with mushroom sauce and all the salad trimmings, to spaghetti marinara loaded with prawns and a side of garlic bread. My all-microwave version of butter chicken and rice was not the envy of the kitchen. Fortunately, we have boys who are not discerning and appreciate quantity over quality in these circumstances.

    Anthony and I, with Dan and Helen, were warmed by our first bottle of Margaret River red (a Xanadu special Cabernet Sauvignon). This definitely improved our meal 😋    Läs mer

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  • McDermotts Travel OzResenärWA Road Trip 2023
    2

    Turquoise Coast WA

    11 april 2023, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Another cracking WA day!

    This morning we ticked off the second of our ‘swim with’ experiences - Sea Lions!

    A short jet boat ride from Cervantes wharf and we were snorkelling with a bunch of super friendly bubble-loving sea lions who seemed quite happy to share their natural environment, playfully performing for us both in and out of the water.

    Back at the wharf we indulged in our much anticipated lunch at the famed Lobster Shack. We even splurged to try abalone for the first (and last) time - an expensive taste of disappointment. The lobster and prawns on the other hand were amazing.

    Moving on, we checked out the Stromatolites at Lake Thetis. Apparently these rock-like formations are the oldest lifeforms on our planet and played an important role in the history of the earth by contributing oxygen to the atmosphere. You can see tiny bubbles on the surface of the lake from the living Stromatolites. Pretty cool.

    But the highlight of the day was definitely the lunar-like Pinnacles in Nambung National Park. These tall limestone spires are definitely one of the most unique and fascinating landscapes we’ve seen. We felt transported to another world as we drove the 4 km loop through the yellow dessert sands. And we timed it all perfectly to coincide with a beautiful west cost sunset.    Läs mer

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  • McDermotts Travel OzResenärWA Road Trip 2023

    Pinnacles WA

    11 april 2023, Australien ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    The weathered limestone pillars known as the Pinnacles are definitely one of the great geological attractions in the country. Some of the tallest pinnacles reach heights of up to 3.5 m above the yellow sand base. The different types of formations include ones which are much taller than they are wide and resemble columns, while others are only a metre or so in height and width resembling short tombstones.Läs mer

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  • McDermotts Travel OzResenärWA Road Trip 2023
    Iconic leaning tree at Greenough - a bizarre natural phenomenonFlooded Murchison River meets the Indian Ocean at Kalbarri

    Batavia Coast WA

    12 april 2023, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We’re not quite in the middle of nowhere but we can see it from here…

    Tonight we’re in Kalbarri at the Red Bluff Tourist Park, a fancy little place in a fabulous spot on the edge of the Kalbarri National Park and nearby the mouth of the Murchison River.

    Our journey here took us along the coast road through the towns of Jurien Bay, Dongara and Geraldton, past some curious sights (including a BIG lobster), and through a lot of nothingness, before cruising into Kalbarri just in time for ‘happy hour’.

    The iconic leaning tree on route at Greenough epitomised the southerly wind blown landscape of the region.

    But perhaps the most interesting stop today was the Hutt Lagoon, a remarkable pink lake which is mined both for its salt and for its food colouring properties. The colour of the lake changes from red to pink to lilac, depending on the time of day, time of year and the cloud cover. Happily for us it was blushing pink at the time.    Läs mer

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  • McDermotts Travel OzResenärWA Road Trip 2023

    Kalbarri WA

    13 april 2023, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Watching the local news tonight we’re not sure if we’re heading north to Exmouth for a solar eclipse or WA’s biggest cyclone party! Either way it’ll be a cultural event to remember. But that’s for another day…

    Today we visited the outstanding Kalbarri National Park where the Murchison River has cut a magnificent 80km gorge through the red and white banded sandstone. I had been looking forward to this and it didn’t disappoint.

    First stop - Kalbarri Skywalk. Wow! Perched right on the cliff top two enormous platforms jut out over the gorge providing incredible views up and down the valley and of the river below.

    Just down the road, we climbed out to Nature’s Window, a natural rock arch formed from layers of Tumblagooda Sandstone. No wonder it’s one of WA’s most iconic natural attractions. It was truly spectacular!

    We also walked out to Z Bend overlooking a sharp bend in the gorge - us and a million flies! The boys inventively made swatters using fallen branches. The river was officially in flood and we could see and hear it rushing through the valley below.

    Back in town the kids enjoyed a swim and made themselves comfy in the camp kitchen with their beloved game of Settlers of Catan, while Dan, Helen, Anthony and I took ‘happy hour’ to Red Bluff. A perfect end to yet another great day.    Läs mer

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  • McDermotts Travel OzResenärWA Road Trip 2023
    We officially found the middle of nowhere!
    Woodleigh Crater - recorded as the fourth largest impact crater in the worldThere's an ideal speed for floating over corrugations - apparently...

    Wooramel River Retreat WA

    14 april 2023, Australien ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    Today as we continue to head north we crossed the 26th parallel officially welcoming us to the north west. Thankfully we’ve seen no signs of TC Ilsa which reportedly made landfall near Port Headland and is now dissipating inland.

    What we have seen today is a whole lot of nothing! The landscape out here is perhaps even more sparse than the Nullarbor. In contrast, the highway is quite busy with signs announcing ‘major event in progress’, which we understand to be the upcoming total solar eclipse. The Billabong and Overlander Roadhouses on route were doing a cracking trade with crazy long queues for fuel.

    Tonight we made camp at Wooramel River Retreat, a working cattle and goat station and outback station stay. Usually the Wooramel River flows upside down with water running on the surface only 2-3 times a year for a couple of weeks at a time after good inland rain. We were lucky enough to experience this phenomenon. It was beautiful wading through the cool water in the warm afternoon as the setting sun highlighted the big river gums.

    After a competitive thong float race down the river we retreated to the hot bore baths for a relaxing soak. Natural pressure pushes the artesian water some 240m to the surface with a constant temperature of around 33 degrees. The high mineral content of the water is said to have therapeutic qualities but all we got was a weird orange glow like a bad fake tan. But we were relaxed 😎

    After a campfire dinner we sat back with another Margaret River red to watch the stars (including the best shooting star we’ve ever seen) and appreciate just how small we are in the context of the universe. As it turns out, we also happened to be gazing upwards at the perfect moment to witness the fuel plume from the second stage of the Ariane 5 rocket carrying the European Space Agency's JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) mission, beginning an ambitious voyage to uncover the secrets of the ocean worlds around giant planet Jupiter. Very cool!

    Sometimes life without power or internet is bliss xx    Läs mer

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  • McDermotts Travel OzResenärWA Road Trip 2023
    Arid coastal plains of Cape Range NP

    Exmouth WA

    15 april 2023, Australien ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    We’ve made it to Exmouth, the half way turn-around point of our trip. We’re also officially in the tropics having crossed the Tropic of Capricorn somewhere along the way.

    It’s a bit surreal finally being here. Almost 18 years ago our besties and partners in travel crime, Dan and Helen, came to Exmouth for their honeymoon. They loved what it had to offer, especially the beaches and Ningaloo Reef, but the timing wasn’t right for Whale Sharks so they vowed one day to return when their kids (then not even conceived) were old enough to appreciate the experience. That just so happens to now coincide with Dan and Anthony’s 50th years and what better way to celebrate together! And so this epic trip evolved…

    Today was a long travel day. We stopped briefly in Carnarvon for groceries and fuel before once again hitting the open road. Fellow travellers had warned us that between towns there’s a whole lot of nothing. They weren’t wrong. However nothing can be interesting if you choose to see the beauty in it.

    As we left the main highway and headed out along the Minilya-Exmouth Road the landscape was scattered with giant termite mounds in all directions as far as the eye could see. Some of them were really tall, others really wide, and I read that they can last upwards of 100 years!

    As the road continued on (and on) we were teased by a sign saying ‘Welcome to Exmouth’ - a mere 90 kms away! I guess it’s all relative.

    We also saw the setting up of the ‘live site’ for viewing the solar eclipse out near Learmonth in the direct path of totality. Whilst we didn’t plan our trip to coincide with the eclipse, we’re embracing the experience and learning the lingo as this highly anticipated astronomical event draws near (we’ll be umbraphiles by the end of the week) 🤓

    The Exmouth Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort will now be our home for the next week while we relax and explore this part of the Coral Coast. It’s a lovely park, predictably full with caravans and motorhomes but with a friendly and relaxed vibe.

    After a long day in the car we enjoyed dinner at the on-site Italian restaurant before retiring early in preparation for Whale Sharks in the morning!    Läs mer

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  • McDermotts Travel OzResenärWA Road Trip 2023
    AnthonyJoshRyanLachlanNever too old for monster trucks and sand pits

    Whale Sharks WA

    16 april 2023, Indian Ocean ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    Today was exactly what this trip was all about. The catalyst for being here. A bucket list dream years in the planning. We swam with Whale Sharks at Ningaloo Reef and it was fantastic. And to top it off we were joined by a pod of dolphins for the experience!

    Our vessel for the day was called ‘Blue Strike’ operated by Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks. After a short practice snorkel at the inner reef, we headed out to begin our search for the big fish. It took only half an hour or so for the spotter plane to find our first Whale Shark and we were quickly into the water. We got a glimpse, but this guy was a juvenile with a case of the zoomies and just too quick to keep up with. So back on the boat and off to find a slower one.

    After not too long we found a big Whale Shark (approx. 7m long) that was happily cruising near the surface - the perfect candidate for us to swim along with. We spent quite some time getting up close and personal with this magnificent creature as it casually swam by only a few short metres away. Immersed in the water alongside it we could see every detail of its spotted skin and truly appreciate the scale of this gentle giant as it cruised the crystal waters of Ningaloo Reef.

    Heading back to the wharf we dropped anchor in the calm waters of the inner reef to enjoy an on-board lunch and snorkel in the warm shallow waters off the back of the boat. The water was a stunning 26 degrees and the day-time temp was sitting at around 28 degrees. Just perfect.

    Another magical day in WA was topped off with woodfired pizzas and a tasting paddle at the Whalebone Brewery - an Exmouth institution.

    We all agreed that today has moved to the top of our highlights list. It's going to be hard to bump it from here, but we still have a few weeks and many adventures ahead so who knows...    Läs mer

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  • McDermotts Travel OzResenärWA Road Trip 2023
    Town Beach, ExmouthWelch Street overflow campgroundSettlers of Catan for the win!

    Coral Coast WA

    17 april 2023, Australien ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    While Dan, Helen and Claire departed early to scuba dive the outer reef, we enjoyed a much needed sleep-in and ‘down day’.

    We explored the town centre, including an obligatory visit to the bakery and coffee shop, and necessary stock up at the IGA. Ten minutes later, we drove out to Town Beach and through the impressive marina housing estate where a single block of land was selling for $750k!

    What was interesting to see is all the temporary infrastructure and event planning that is being set up around town in preparation for the solar eclipse and anticipated influx of some 20,000 visitors.

    There’s food trucks everywhere and live performance stages at key locations in town and down at the beach. They’ve also installed a giant water bladder to boost supply to the town. Plus we learned today that 40 extra police have arrived in town for the 4 day event - we’ve already been waved through two RBTs in a day!

    We checked out the Welch Street temporary overflow campground on the outskirts of town where the Shire is literally selling an unserviced patch of desert for $320 for 4 nights! We’re very grateful to be in the premier caravan park in town with lovely manicured sites and a full range of amenities. Thanks Dan for being on the case more than 12 months ago to secure our bookings.

    It’s been getting busier by the day but so far the town seems well prepared.    Läs mer

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