Cape Range National Park

Yesterday we spent the day snorkelling again at Bill's Beach in Coral Bay then made our way up to Exmouth, passing loads of termite mounds. There was a World War 2 memorial where information boards told of Australia and US bases here, we also had a good view out to a couple of pods of dolphins fishing. Once in Exmouth it became clear that you have to pre-book camping in the National Park, and even though the signs said full there was a last minute available spot at one of the many campgrounds. Not only is it very popular with travellers but it is also filled up with the 'grey nomads' who are like whales and migrate for the winter and stay for weeks at a time (Australia's version of going to Costa Del Sol, but with 25 foot caravans, boats, bikes, tents....). It has the usual, no electricity, a drop toilet and no drinking water but in a great location. We are now in the northern part of the 300km, World Heritage Ningaloo Reef. On the way we stopped a few times, including Turquoise Bay where we went drift snorkelling, keeping a close eye on where we had to get out because of the strong current. There is less coral from the beach, than at Coral Bay but it is slightly different and still plenty of fish. The water is warmer and really clear too. We saw massive Angel Fish, a wedge shaped ray right at the shore edge, a turtle that swam next to us then fed off the grass on the sea bed, not at all bothered by our presence. We then saw the largest fish either of us had ever seen, hiding under a shelf of coral. Its mouth was about 30cm wide and the wide body about 1m long!Read more