Candys on tour

A 100-day adventure by Gareth Read more

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Day 27
Friday, July 28, 2023
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 633 m
Australia Fortescue Falls -22.477317, 118.54825322°28’38” S 118°32’54” E
Karijini - Dales and Kalamina Gorges
July 28, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Our first night at Karijini we made a quick trip down Dales Gorge to Fern Pool and Fortescue Falls from our campsite at Dales Campground. The gorge was stunning and we felt a special connection to Fern Pool which is a special and sacred place for the local indigenous people.

The next morning we headed back down to revisit Fern Pool and the falls and then complete the walk down through the gorge. The scenery was stunning and the rock hopping, traversing and scrambling was a lot of fun.

After lunch we headed to the Karijini visitors centre and then on to Kalamina Gorge. Jessica was tired and emotional after the morning walk and decided not to come. The visitors centre had lots of great information on the traditional owners of the Karijini area, the joint management of the park and history of the area. This was the first time we saw information about the aboriginal skin groups and how that relates to relationships and families.

Kalamina Gorge was stunning with a beautiful but cold pool at the end of the walk.Read more
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Day 28
Saturday, July 29, 2023
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 640 m
Australia Ashburton -22.358659, 118.28593122°21’31” S 118°17’9” E
Karijini - Hancock, Weano and Knox Gorge
July 29, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Today was a big day of walking and exploring gorges. We had been told that the water was a lot colder in this part of Karijini than in Dales Gorge so we came prepared with wetsuits for the kids and Kelly. We had also bought water shoes for the whole family at the visitors centre.

We started with Hancock Gorge leading to Kermit's Pool with some sections of traversing along the cliff walls above pools and some straddling across the stream with arms and legs against each wall of the gorge. Kermit's Pool was very fresh at the end but with amazing views further along the gorge.

We grabbed some lunch and then headed straight to Weano Gorge. There were some more adventurous scrambles and then beautiful Handrail Pool at the end after clambering down the metal handrail.

We then headed to the Eco retreat for a treat and then a third walk for the day at Knox Gorge which had wider but taller cliffs.

After a massive day we headed back to Dales Campground for a well earned rest and dinner.Read more
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Day 29
Sunday, July 30, 2023
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 627 m
Australia Fortescue Falls -22.477541, 118.55070622°28’39” S 118°33’3” E
Karijini - rest day!
July 30, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
After a massive day of exploring gorges and lots of driving on rough corrugated dirt roads we decided to stay at Dales for the day. Kelly and I went out for a run along the top of the gorge in the morning and then we all walked down to Fern Pool and Fortescue Falls for another visit.

Jessica and Lewys were inspired by our last couple of days of adventures and dragged me down the gorge walk to practice more rock climbing on the cliffs.Read more
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Day 30
Monday, July 31, 2023 at 2:00 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 569 m
Australia Ashburton -22.257903, 117.98716122°15’28” S 117°59’14” E
Karijini - Hamersley Gorge
July 31, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
We packed up the camper trailer and left Dales campground but had one last stop planned before we left Karijini National Park behind. After picking up some supplies in Tom Price we drove to Hamersley Gorge.

At first glance Hamersley was a nice stop with beautiful rock walls and a big swimming hole. A bit of exploring undercovered the amazing spa pool, hidden behind some rocks at the top end of the swimming hole. It was a small deep pool, completely surrounded by rock with a warm water fall spilling down from above.Read more
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Day 30
Monday, July 31, 2023 at 7:00 PM
🌙 23 °C
Altitude: 277 m
Australia Mill Stream Hill -21.586967, 117.07208321°35’13” S 117°4’19” E
Car trouble
July 31, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 23 °C
After leaving Karijini National Park behind we headed to Millstream Chichester National Park via the private Rio Tinto rail access road. We saw a steady stream of 2km long iron ore trains heading towards Dampier but the rough roads paid a toll, when we arrived at the campground our car wouldn't shift out of drive or start. Luckily we were helped out over the phone by RAC and the car was functioning again after replacing the fuse for the rear brake lights. The fuse had blown due to damage to the trailer electrical cable from the gravel roads.Read more
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Day 31
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
🌬 31 °C
Altitude: 271 m
Australia Mill Stream Hill -21.586664, 117.07125821°35’12” S 117°4’17” E
Millstream Chichester National Park
August 1, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
With the car back up and running after repairing the trailer electrical cable with some tape, we stopped off at Deep Reach (Nhanggangunha) for a swim before driving to our next stay at Dampier Caravan Park. Deep Reach is a large permanent pool fed by the aquifer beneath the National Park and is home to the Warlu serpent of Yinjibarndi people.Read more
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Day 32
Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM
☁️ 26 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Australia Hearson Cove -20.636203, 116.78757520°38’10” S 116°47’15” E
Dampier and Burrup Peninsula Rock Art
August 2, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
After finding a cafe for some morning tea and school work we headed out to the Burrup Pensinsula for a tour by local ranger Sarah from the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation to explore the local indigenous rock art.

Sarah was an amazing tour guide and told us about the history of the rock art, traditional stories and song lines, the native plants and much more. She also showed us how to open up a Sturt Desert Pea to get to the edible part of the flower. Lewys was very excited to have finally found a vegetable that he enjoyed eating.Read more
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Day 32
Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 6:30 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Australia Hearson Cove -20.633707, 116.7979620°38’1” S 116°47’53” E
Staircase to the moon - Hearson Cove
August 2, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
After an early dinner we headed to Hearson Cove, near where we did the rock art tour, to see if we could see the famous staircase to the moon. It was an overcast day so we weren't optimistic, and as the time for moonrise passed it looked like the clouds were going to block the moon entirely.

Many people got into their cars and left, but our patience was rewarded as after 15 minutes the moon appeared through a gap in the clouds and created a spectacular reflection along the mud flats all the way to shore.Read more
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Day 33
Thursday, August 3, 2023
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Indian Ocean -19.753886, 120.671919°45’14” S 120°40’19” E
80 mile beach
August 3, 2023, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Next stop was 80 mile beach caravan park. As we arrived the receptionist told us in no uncertain terms that we were "not to go swimming or even put your feet in the water" as she glared at Jessica and Lewys.

We explored the mud flats (staying away from the ocean) and enjoyed a spectacular sunset.Read more
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Day 34
Friday, August 4, 2023
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Australia Church Hill -18.363639, 122.04016718°21’49” S 122°2’25” E
Barn Hill Station
August 4, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Next stop after 80 Mile Beach was Barn Hill Station, just a couple of hours down the road but with a very different attitude towards entering the water: "go for it, make the most of our beautiful beach!"

As well as a beautiful beach, Barn Hill offered open air showers, baby goats, guinea pigs, coastal cliffs and amazing wood fired pizzas. A great stop and before we left we booked in for another visit on our way back down south.Read more
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Day 36
Sunday, August 6, 2023
🌙 27 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Indian Ocean -16.380453, 123.9593516°22’50” S 123°57’34” E
Horizontal Falls
August 6, 2023, Indian Ocean ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
After arriving in Broome and visiting the Courthouse Markets we set up our trailer at Broome Caravan Park and got an early night as we had a 5am start the next day for a seaplane flight to the Horizontal Falls.

After about an hour on the plane, taking in some amazing scenery as we flew across the Dampier Peninsula, King Sound and the Kimberley, we landed at Talbot Bay, disembarked at the floating hotel and were ushered straight on to the jet boat to go and explore the Horiozontal Falls.

The boat went up and down the wide gap several times and gave us a close look at the narrow gap, the drop in levels from one side of each gap to the other and resulting surge of water was incredible, all powered by the 10m tides of the Kimberley.

After returning to the floating hotel we were treated with a cooked breakfast, but Lewys was feeling a bit green and only managed a couple of mini croissants. Next up was a close encounter with some lemon sharks and a bull shark and then a jet boat tour of the creeks of Talbot Bay before we got back on to our sea plane and flew back to Broome via Cape Levique and the coastline of Dampier Peninsula.Read more
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Day 37
Monday, August 7, 2023
☀️ 30 °C
Altitude: 79 m
Australia Station Hill -17.917483, 122.20987817°55’3” S 122°12’36” E
Broome
August 7, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Also in Broome, we got some new tyres for the car, enjoyed visiting Little Local for coffee, went to Gantheaume Point and did a sunset camel ride at Cable Beach. We left feeling like we would have enjoyed spending more time here but excited to be heading out along the Dampier Peninsula towards Cape Levique and Cygnet Bay.Read more
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Day 38
Tuesday, August 8, 2023
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 3 m
Australia Mission Bay -16.453133, 123.00941416°27’11” S 123°0’34” E
Borrgoron (Cygnet Bay)
August 8, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Next stop was Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm where we stayed for four nights and did a tour of the pearl farm and a cultural tour, both of which were led by local Bardi Jawi man Terry Hunter. He told us about the significance of oyster shells to the local Bardi Jawi people and the history of the pearling industry in Broome, initially for mother of pearl for buttons and then later the shift to farming pearls.

On the cultural tour he took us around the shoreline, using spinifex to open rock oysters, educating us about local fishing and hunting techniques, the local marine life and access to drinking water, including showing us where the fresh water spring was amongst the rock pools. He also talked to us about Aboriginal skin groups and kinship and how that determined eligibility to marry.Read more
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Day 40
Thursday, August 10, 2023
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Australia Toolngin Island -16.401686, 123.13828916°24’6” S 123°8’18” E
Waterfall Reef
August 10, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
From Cygnet Bay we also went on a boat tour to Waterfall Reef, a natural phenomenon where, due to the large tides and water that is trapped behind land formations, there is a constant flow of water over a platform reef as the tide drops, creating a long waterfall.

We were warned that the spray off the boat could make it a wet trip but we managed to stay dry until the last 5 minutes when we were soaked after the bow hit a couple of big waves.Read more
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Day 41
Friday, August 11, 2023
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Australia Waterlow Island -16.437344, 123.0755516°26’14” S 123°4’32” E
Ardyaloon (One Arm Point)
August 11, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
One of the best experiences of our trip was visiting the Indigenous community at Ardyaloon and touring the local aquarium (converted from a trochus shell research station that was decommissioned and passed on to the local community) and coastline.

The country here was just stunning, the local people at the aquarium generously shared with us information about the local marine life in each of the tanks as well as their lives in Ardyaloon and history of the community.

After the aquarium we visited the boat ramp where lemon sharks swam up to us and then had a swim at the stunning visitors beach.Read more
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Day 42
Saturday, August 12, 2023
☀️ 32 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Australia Meda -17.349822, 123.77100317°20’59” S 123°46’16” E
Birdwood Downs
August 12, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
After leaving Cygnet Bay we made a detour into Broome to replace the fridge battery (and visit Little Local for a coffee) and then continued on to Birdwood Downs on the Gibb River Road near Derby.

Birdwood Downs is a cattle station with boab trees and free range peacocks and chickens. We had some excitement with what we thought was a baby brown snake in one of the showers but it turned out to be a legless lizard.Read more
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Day 43
Sunday, August 13, 2023
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Australia Derby -17.30505, 123.62535317°18’18” S 123°37’31” E
Derby
August 13, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
After hearing about high crime rates and social issues in Derby, including a couple who had just had their car stolen from the Derby Caravan Park arriving at Birdwood Downs, we were a little apprehensive about visiting.

After stopping at the Boab Prison Tree we headed into town and went into the Mark Norval Gallery, Jessica was a little upset when she was pushed by an agitated local boy, but after sitting down for some drinks at the gallery cafe, we were soon enthralled by the artwork, working artists, museum and Mark Norval's vinyl collection. We saw Taniesha Wungundin-Allies painting a piece which she talked to us about and then saw some more of her work in the gallery, one of which we bought as our first art purchase.

After the gallery we went to see some sculptures on the edge of town to finish up what was a really enjoyable and interesting trip to Derby.Read more
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Day 44
Monday, August 14, 2023
☀️ 33 °C
Altitude: 141 m
Australia Tunnel Bore -17.606517, 125.14577817°36’23” S 125°8’45” E
Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek)
August 14, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
We didn't have the car or equipment to tackle the Gibb River Road but we did head out to visit Dimalurru (Tunnel Creek) as a final outing before starting the trip back down South.

The water level was pretty high so we had a 20m swim near the start of the tunnel before walking through past the growing stalacmites and stalactites and a colony of bats to the far end and the bonus of some aboriginal rock paintings.Read more
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Day 45
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Australia Church Hill -18.365869, 122.03638318°21’57” S 122°2’11” E
Return to Barn Hill Station
August 15, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
We enjoyed our first stay at Barn Hill Station so much that we came back for a longer stay, enjoying the beach, playground, goats, daily fresh bread, live music and once again the pizzas.
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Day 49
Saturday, August 19, 2023
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Australia BHP Billiton Marrapikurinya Park -20.311975, 118.57698620°18’43” S 118°34’37” E
Port Hedland
August 19, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
After a night at Eighty Mile Beach we arrived in Port Hedland for one of the highlights of our trip, King Stingray performing at the Odyssea Festival in Port Hedland. We spent some time exploring the town and then were the first in when the gates opened for the concert.

First up was Adele Oliver performing some country music, followed by Spici Waters, South Summit and then King Stingray. There was a great energy and vibe at the concert, Jessica got very tired and was flagging by the end but it lived up to our expectations - what a night!Read more
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Day 50
Sunday, August 20, 2023
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Australia Point Samson -20.622778, 117.19323120°37’22” S 117°11’36” E
Point Samson
August 20, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Point Samson was a lovely seaside town for a short stop. The caravan park was notable for having an adults only reading room with a sign proclaiming that there was a $20 cleaning fee if any children entered the room.Read more
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Day 51
Monday, August 21, 2023 at 10:00 AM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Australia Roe Island -20.779689, 117.15349420°46’47” S 117°9’13” E
Ieramagadu (Roebourne)
August 21, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
On our way to the next camp site we stopped at Ieramagadu and did the Ngurin Bush Tucker Trail and visited the Yinjaa-Barni Art Gallery where we talked to one of the artists and Kelly bought a dress with a print designed by one of the local artists.

We also stopped in Karratha for some supplies and had lunch at a pizza and pasta place offering a surprising range of gluten and lactose free options.Read more
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Day 51
Monday, August 21, 2023 at 6:29 PM
🌙 27 °C
Altitude: 62 m
Australia Ashburton -21.83755, 115.64182821°50’15” S 115°38’31” E
Peedamulla
August 21, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
Our next camp was at Peedamulla, a bush camp run by the local Aboriginal community. It was a beautiful spot, peaceful and with some interesting creepy crawlies.
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Day 52
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
☀️ 32 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Australia Exmouth -22.681522, 114.03813622°40’53” S 114°2’17” E
Bullara Station
August 22, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Bullara Station was a great stay, offering open air showers amongst gum trees, a great cafe, fine dining, calves, sheep and a goanna. Kelly particularly enjoyed the gluten free scones and it was nice to meet a few families on similar trips.Read more
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Day 55
Friday, August 25, 2023
☀️ 30 °C
Altitude: 3 m
Australia Shark Bay -25.742392, 114.28355825°44’33” S 114°17’1” E
Wooramel Station (again)
August 25, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
After enjoying our first visit to Wooramel Station we returned for a longer stay, relaxing in the hot tubs, enjoying pie night, roasting some marshmallows and having another night of country music with a highlight of Jessica jumping onstage to join a song.Read more
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