Paradise

The coastline between Exmouth and Coral bay is truly amazing

 Snorkeling here is a blessing from god unlike the great barrier reef where you need a boat here it is straight off the beach

 Below is the shark nursery

Since we have been in this area we have seen humpback whales turtles sting rays manta rays thousands of fish while snorkeling I even managed to catch a couple for tea also a 2.5 meter Queensland groper named Merv who lives at the boat ramp in Coral bay he can be regularly seen under the boats and we were lucky enough to see him we spent some time snorkeling in turquoise bay exmouth and in coral bay Last time we were here we went swimming with the whale sharks that is magic wrong time of the year this time the weather is perfect it truly is the best beach location in Australia

I have not got too much in the way of pics no underwater camera and i was having too much fun to take photos anyway from here down south for a wedding and then back to work in a few weeks not much between here and Perth that would really excite me seen it all too many times

Cooling down

We move down to broome walk on cable beach and generally cool down below is the prison boab tree in Derby

 The Malcolm Douglas wildlife center in broome during a snake demonstration

 a few friendly locals

 found this sign on town beach in Broome

some nice coastline around here

onwards to eighty mile beach for a spot of fishing nobody keeps the catfish so back it goes

That is fishing when there is water the tides are enormous up here ah well just have to have a beer and wait for the tide to change again

 we found this jelly fish on the beach it is about 800mm diameter I have  never seen one so big before

And another great eighty mile sunset

Then it was off past Port Hedland and Karratha nothing there to see We are stopped on the way by a family needing a jump start which we did boy has there been some breakdowns on the side of the road this trip Then its into Exmouth for some great snorkeling which is where we are now the ningaloo reef certainly gives the Great barrier reef a run for its money especially as you can snorkel it straight off the beach the amount of sea life is amazing

another visitor to the caravan park in exmouth

The heat continues

We are currently in Fitzroy crossing temperature still 40 degrees so lets recap

from kununurra we went to El questro just down the gibb river road a lot of the way is being sealed but we took the van down through the pentacosta river into the station its not real deep

 A hot long walk to Emma gorge we finally get to the swimming hole above

No power here only the campsite with showers and toilets but boy do they charge more than a top of the range caravan park it was much to hot to do a lot






These two are on the way to zebeedee thermal springs but who wants warm water when its 40 nice scenery though

we set off down the gibb river road for a bit in the comfort of the air con in the cruiser leaving the van at el questro

 boy is home valley station nice the bar and restaurant below 
 home valley station swimming pool below Elquestro doesn.t have one

 Home valley gate

 below the ever flowing mighty Pentacost river just a dried up puddle

 very dry up here at the present

We leave El questro back to kunnunurra to stock up and straight back on the road when we arrive at Mary pool we find a young family with a camper wheel bearing shot they had a new one but had never changed one before although they were giving it there best shot I got out the tools and get dirty with a bit of help from me its not long before they are on there way

 Above and below are Giekie gorge on the river cruise fitzroy river

and more crocs

we will stay in fitzroy at the lodge for a day to swim in the pool run the air con in the van and generally cool down then its off to Derby We were going to spend some time at the bungle bungles but it was bungled by a bush fire in the national park even the caravan park was closed so we just push on smoke haze hangs in the air everwhere

Into the Heat!!!!

 We of the never never above

There were 250000 fruit bats in the palms at mataranka hot springs and they pong

We continue on through Cloncurry and mt Isa into the northern territory gaining 1/2 hour Stayed the night at the famous outback Daly Waters pub always wanted to do that and on to Mataranka went for a look at the thermal pools and we of the never never And on to Katherine its getting hot didn;t do much been here before swam in the pool and relaxed Shoved off to Kununurra on the way stopped at the Victoria river just outside Timber creek and watched a crocodile swim around for a while we were on the bridge

Stopped at a overnight stop did a service on the car beside the road after sleeping the night there a hot one we woke to find a camper bus in distress its aboriginal owner was waiting for us to rouse his battery dead we tried my jump start pack no go my spare battery with jumper leads no go even the generator with the charger for 1/2 hour the battery was cactus we tow started his bus and he was on his way after 2 hours trying we meet him again in Kunnanurra a happy man Arrive in Kunnanurra to 40 degree heat boy the parks pool looked good went to zebra rock for some souvenirs had a look at ivans crossing

Went for a cruise on lake argyle boy is that place big you can/t see the other side over the horizon after seeing one of the lakes 35000 fresh water crocs we have a swim the wont harm you its the saltwater you got to watch out for it was a brilliant cruise will update more after next is El questro and Home valley station

The Lava Tubes

We are now near the NT border and nearly finished with Queensland but first a little left over from the cape and the Undarra  lava tubes

 Above and below Seisia from the caravan park tip of Australia pity can't swim crocs

 Below the road to the tip furthermost point north

 Nobody told me another creek crossing to get to the top never mind glad I bought the snorkel

click on the picture and look at the number plate that creek crossing took mine

 Well here we are a long way to see a sign

 view from the tip

below this is what happens if you take your eyes off this road even for a second in the middle of nowhere on the cape

 

 we also came across a recovery by the racq  on the road to fruit bat falls a couple stuck for 20 hours after the suspension on the off road camper they were towing ripped clean off the chassis expensive recovery

 Spent the next few days in cairns cleaning the car and fixing the trailer plugs brake controller etc then it was off to the Lava tubes these prove to be exhilarating we could only visit with a guide the only way you are allowed to see them

 I will not comment as the pics say it all

 all created by lava flows these are the best in the world and a pleasure to see

 Lots of animals die in here and to Marion's delight loads of micro bats live here

below its pitch black in here this is  light up by the camera flash we walked at least 300 to 400 meters into this tube but it went on a lot longer

 On to Normington and the biggest croc ever caught

The road trains are big up here four trailers I could not get the whole thing on the camera

 Tomorrow its Northern Territory  and with over 10000kms done we are about a third of the way through the journey see you all later