Driving to Coral Bay

We have spent a couple of days driving to get to Coral Bay (570km) the first place you can drive on a tarmac road to get to the Ningaloo Reef. We had a look around Denham and saw an old building that had been built using the shell blocks. We also had a quick paddle at the lagoon before setting off. Yesterday we passed two roadhouses and today just one, the rest of the journey consisted of a straight road and desert type low lying scrub. We also crossed over the Tropic of Capricorn. We stopped over night at Carnavon, where 80% of Western Australia's winter fruit and veg is grown. All the farms are lined on a short stretch, either the north or the south bank of the Murcheson River (which is actually a dry bed with billabongs apearing along it). The water is pumped up from the underground river that runs below it. We enjoyed having a look at these and buying some fresh produce. As well as feeding some big snappers, we had time for a snorkel in the bay. With the tide out you only had to take a few steps and then the sand dropped away to the reef.Read more