Coral Bay - Ningaloo Reef <2009.4.19>

Here we are,, 1.600km north of Perth - 10 days after the start of trip - at the Ningaloo Reef. It is the West Australia main diving destination and most famous beach spot - the Coral Bay.

At Coral Bay we stayed just one night as everything was booked out over the easter holidays which are still on until 25th of April.

Neverhtenless we had time to explore the beautiful beach and dip our heads in the cool water to snorkel around.

The beach and sourrounded bays are really nice, however the corals are really done around this spot and not so many fish left. So don`t expect too much when start from the beach ...

The better place to explore the Ningaloo Reef is the small village up north at Exmouth. So there we are and I - already on my first dive trip out to the reef :-)

I choose Ningaloo Reef Dreaming as they are the only ones offering the Navy Pier Dive - one of the Top10 spots in the world (Place 6 right now)

http://www.scubatravel.co.uk/topdives.html

Today I dive at the reef at Blizard Beach & Banana Hammock which were really great dive spots already.

Expect plenty of fish, sharks, bull rays and all those below:

Wobbiegong - Carpet Shark

Sea Snakes

Transperent Fish

Jelly`s

And wonderful nudie branches

I really can recommend this shop as the offering great service, small groups, professional guidance and a lot of fun!

http://www.ningaloodreaming.com/

I will be with Ningaloo Reef Dreaming also the other days for the Navi Pier & finally the whale sharks :-o)

Underwater Dreams

Meet the Dolphins - Monkey Mia <2009.4.16>

After the country side national parks, it is time to check out the sea side. So we were driving an other 400km up north on the world heritage drive to Monkey Mia to meet the wild dolphins.

The way up there showed us again the many facet of the Australian Outback

And for the quick stop - the great Australian Dunny

On the way up we stopped at Shell Beach - guess why - yes, it is made purely out of small shells

And early in the next morning the show starts. From 7:30 every day wild dolphins coming to the shore of Monkey Mia to swim along your feet and wait for a little fish snack.

Some of them are coming already since 25 years - most famous one below "Nicky"

The other show you get from the local pelicans - which are really funy guys up there...

After all those activities we were starving for proteines - what else is better than Burger & Steaks :-p)

Little time left for us to relax on the beach, enjoying the sunset ...

... and fading out below the sea of stars!

Below the Milky Way

From Mysterious Pinnacles over Spectacular Coast Lines to Giant Gorges <2009.4.14>

The last 3 days we head up along the west coast to visit Pinnacle National Park (in Cervantes) & Kalbarri NP which were our first 1.000 Km on the road. Yes, here in Australia you need to go far from one to the other sightseeing spot. Expect an average distance of 400km here on the West Side.

In general the roads are good and deserted, thus easy to drive but with less thrilling scenery. Expect long, long lonely roads through valleys with bushes and sometimes trees - if you are lucky ;-)

Here you see the well paved sub-urban roads – aren`t they lovely:




Nambung National Park – The Pinnacles

The Pinnacles desert is about 19km south of Cervantes and consists of thousands limestone pillars, up to four meters tall, rise out of the stark landscape of yellow sand. There are many myth stories about the origin, so I leave it up to your imagination ;-)

It is very easy to explore the area as there is a one way road leading you through most of the scenic spots with the Pinnacles.

As this is the desert – don`t forget to drink a lot!

What`s uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup?

Sitting around – having a bud!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIXMzD5Ayvg

Kalbarri National Park
With our cars & our own batteries charged we had further to 400 km north Kalbarri, famous for the great costal cliffs where I liked the Mushroom Rock & Natural Bridge most.

Me & my Dad

If you follow the Murchison River landwards you will find magnificant red and white banded gorges which can be accessed by concrete (Ross Graham Gorge) or dust road “bouncy-bouncy” (Natural Window).

I liked the Ross Graham point as it is easy accessible and you also can have a refreshing swim in the river :-o)

Out here in the desert there is clearly only one rule:
ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVES!

After a nice sunset BBQ with steaks, grilled potatoes and plenty of VBs (Victorian Bitter Beer) for fire extinguishing we are ready to go further up to coral bay & Ningaloo reef to meet hopefully our large buddies – the whale sharks.

On The Road Again

Welcome to Australia - Perth <2009.4.11>

Welcome everyone to Australia - I finally arrived at my second stage which leads me through West-Australia, starting at Perth.

Here you can find the overview of the entire trip through Australia for the next 5 months!




The trip until Adelaide - I will do together with my parents (from left Heinz & Greta) and our friend Luigi.


As you already can see this is a road trip which will be quiet exciting for us ;-)

We spend three days in Perth - the capital of West Australia & about 1.5mio inhabitants. Perth is a quiet & relaxed city compared to Sydney and offers you lush parks, shopping malls & harbour cruises.

One of its highlight is the bell tower, which is with its 82m one of the worlds tallest instruments.

Don`t forget the kangaroos - which are called short Roos...

The real highlights are a bid outside of the city, along the swan river which is the sea side Fremantle and the 10km off the coast situated holiday escape - rottnest island.

Rottnest offers great beaches with breath taking views, but also breath taking water temperatures just around 20deg brrrr.

It has its name from the cute kangaroo type of animal - called quokka. Once the british sailor thought this are giant rats so they called the island rat-nest ;-)

Fremantle is a nice beachfront town with a lot of history, thus old houses, prisons and of course endless cafes & restaurants.

It is great to sit back in one of the street bars and just watch the people around who are a highlight themself ;-)

During easter there was also the Austin car gathering in Perth where you could see nice oldtimers all around you.

At the end of such day you just lay back - take a beer and relax.

Just do it the australian way: NO WORRIES!

During the entire trip we will leave in our campervans - my parents in our own car "Jaquline". Guess why, she is not good on speed ;-)

Luigi & I in a rented Kea mobile where I sleep in/on the roof!

Actually it is much more comfortable as it may look like ;-)

It`s time for me to head up in there and wish you all a good sleep!

Dream of the southern cross...

Heading North