• Alisha Smellie
Current
  • Alisha Smellie

Big Lap

A year exploring Australia in our Caravan Read more
  • Bullara Station

    October 22, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 37 °C

    This was one of the Station Stays we were really looking forward to after seeing so many wonderful reviews in videos and online. Scones and iced coffee in the shed, the sculptures, bottle tree and the best donkey outdoor shower. What an unbelievable station experience, if it wasn't so hot and windy we would have loved to have stayed longer!Read more

  • Wildflowers

    October 22, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    We have missed most of the Spring wildflowers but mum found a few this morning in Onslow.

  • ANZAC Memorial Sunrise

    October 22, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    The locals said it was worth getting up early to watch the sun rise at the ANZAC Memorial. It was a magical time of the morning and the Memorial sculpture frames the morning sunrise beautifully.

  • Marble Stone Beach

    October 21, 2023, Indian Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C

    Marble Stone Beach was a fantastic find, just near the mouth of the Ashburton River. Starting a long way away in the Hamersley Ranges, stones make their way down the Ashburton River, tumbled along in the red sand over time, spat out to sea and then washed ashore. It's a rock lovers dream, so Oli and Mummy were happy with their finds. The 4x4 track to get here is fun, then there's a thigh high creek to cross, a super hot sand dune to climb over, but the cool water and beach all to ourselves was totally worth the effort!Read more

  • Ashburton River Mouth

    October 21, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 37 °C

    We had read about the fun 4x4 tracks to view the Ashburton River meet the sea, today Dad got to have fun getting us there! The colours of the water, sand and mangroves is truly spectacular!

  • Wily-Wily

    October 21, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    We drove across the biggest Wily-Wily we have seen to date 🌀 we were surprised at how silent it was and were thankful for the quick change in its direction before recreating.

  • Old Onslow Town

    October 21, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 38 °C

    We ventured out to Old Onslow to discover where the town originated. There are few remnants remaining but was great to get to explore from the car as it was a very hot 49 degrees 🥵

  • Onslow

    October 20, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    Our next town on our journey south (West actually) brings us to Onslow, known for its massive salt production and apparently the Paparazzi Dog's! We will remember the crazy swarm of flies at 4 mile Creek and enjoying a cold drink through the fly net (great idea to stop there mum 🤣).Read more

  • Wickham

    October 19, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    We'll always think of Wickham as Uncle Adam's Work Home, but we stopped to see the only other things in town! Great you be able to get up close to the ore piles and machinery along the road to the Yacht Club!Read more

  • Point Samson

    October 19, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    We headed further around for a spot of lunch at the Tavern with the most spectacular views! The best thing was we were lucky enough to catch an ore ship coming in so we could see Uncle Adam hard at work!

    After a quick swim at Honeymoon Cove it was back to Mitch for more discovering.
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  • Historic Cossack

    October 19, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    Once the North West's first pastoral, gold rush and pearling port, today Cossack is a living ghost town. It was a great spot to see a beautilly restored town to give us an insight into 19th Century life in Northern WA.

    The flies were out in force today, so thank God for the flynets!
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  • Hello Uncle Adam!

    October 18, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 29 °C

    We have been planning our trip to Karratha around the arrival of Adam into Karratha for the beginning of his month on at work. Given timing was difficult we picked U. Adam up from the airport and dropped him to his "work home" in Wickham to maximise our time spent for a long overdue catchup. It has been a year since w3 saw each other in Sydney, and only the 2nd time Olivia has had the chance to give her Uncle big cuddles ♥️Read more

  • Dampier

    October 17, 2023 in Australia

    Its an adventure to discover the old stomping ground of Olivia's Uncle Adam, Aunty Marissa and Cousin Aleya. Dampier was a delight for lunch, the most amazing playground overlooking the water and discovering the Red Dog Trail! 🐕Read more

  • Burrup Peninsula

    October 17, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    A visit to Ngajarli to view the rock engravings, Withnell Bay followed by Hearson's Cove for a swim and a 4x4 Adventure. A packed day discovering the Burrup Peninsula around Karratha.

  • Exploring & Lookouts

    October 16, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 35 °C

    A lookout is always on our list, so we checked out a few to get our bearings after a morning of fixes, shopping and the mundane bits of travelling life.

  • Rolling into K. Town

    October 15, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 37 °C

    Today we rolled past the many ore trains into Karratha. It's hotter here on the coast, so we dropped into the local brewery for a cool, refreshing ale and a bowl of chips.

  • Millstream National Park

    October 14, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 39 °C

    Our last day in the East Pilbara Region, a very hot Millstream (40+ degrees), but a welcome afternoon swim at Deep Reach Pool. Lots of big catfish in the reeds - Olivia certainly didn't like swimming back to the steps through it all!

    Onwards and westward from here!
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  • Hamersley Gorge

    October 14, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 34 °C

    One of the most accessible gorges in Karajini, this was the perfect end to this area of Aus. Hamersley Gorge & the Spa Pool were gorgeous and well worth the grade 5 scramble to get here. The rock formations were incredible and the colours amazing, but 2 cool swims were perfect of a really hot day!Read more

  • Tom Price

    Oct 12–14, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    A few days in Tom Price for washing, cleaning and getting our Rio Tinto Road Access Pass. There was big mine machinery to see, locals to say hello to and another big mountain to drive up.

  • Joffre Falls

    October 11, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    Our 2nd walk of the day, a 1.3km return grade 4/5 walk and then a 400m return swim in beautiful refreshing water. Again, Olivia was amazing despite a rest, she hiked, scrambled and climbed the ladders and except the swim she did the whole walk herself! Our little trooper!

    We forgot the floaties and go-pro for this walk, but were lucky enough to see another travelling family (from Barn Hill Station) we had met before just leaving and they lent us one of the boys life jackets that made the swim much easier.

    The sheer height of the cliffs is amazing and the photos don't do it justice. The colours, rock formations and landscape are mind blowingly beautiful.

    Tonight we are camped at the Eco Retreat where we enjoyed a warm, flowing shower and we are ready for a good night's sleep!
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  • Oxer Lookout

    October 11, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    Where four gorges converge at the Junction. Cool lookout, beautiful cliff faces and deep chasms. Spectacular scenery once again at Karajini!

  • Hancock Gorge

    October 11, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    After dropping Mabel off at the Karajini Eco Retreat, we headed off into the NP to do the Hancock Gorge Walk, combining ladders, rock scrambles, water walking, the Spiderman Walk and ending at Kermit's Pool. This was definitely our favourite Walk of Karajini so far. At 1.5km it wasn't too long, but being grade 5 it was a bit of a challenge. Our super hiker Oli took it in her strude and loved it too!Read more