C U in the NT 1

Hello loyal followers (mum)

sorry its been a while since I've reported my adventures! I've been pretty caught up in the boring stuff that makes my travel happen... yes that dreaded 4 letter word 'work'

After an extended stay in Kununurra, I've finally made it to the promised land, Darwin! So while sitting in my little apartment*, pants off, coffee in hand, I'll catch you up on some of the highlights!

Fogg Dam

To kick off the New Year, I decided to check out Fogg Dam a conservation reserve, just under an hours drive from Darwin City. a beautiful scenic drive this time of year, with lush pastures scattered throughout the country side.

Fogg dam is easy to find and accessible by all vehicles. The reserve is surrounded by beautiful, tropical forest where kangaroos and birds live. There are many  walks through the wetland and forest, however I did not venture far due to the mozzies! I'm not one to fazed by mozzies but they were pretty bad! However the stunning views of lily covered waters made the drive worthwhile!

An excellent place for nature enthusiasts with lookouts either side of the dam wall. I spotted many types of water fowl, birds and finches! December to July is the best time to visit, with a greater variety of birds most common!

Window on the Wetland Visitor Centre 
Also a must do while visiting Fogg Dam is to stop in at the free Wetland Visitor Centre!
this is an amazing, interactive and insightful centre great for all ages! I was climbing through things, pressing buttons, all the while learning about all the different animals and plants found in a wetland. This centre was fantastic and it gave incredible views of the surrounding landscape, with a viewing platform and cafe upstairs!

Howard Spring Nature Reserve

On the way home, I decided to stop in to have a look see at the nature reserve in Howard Springs. Only 30 kilometres from Darwin City this was a fantastic way to end the day! This reserve had a great playground and pool for children  and barbecue facilities overlooking a water hole and rainforest. The walk through the forest was stunning! the stream flowing through forest added to the peace and tranquility of the walk. An absolute must see when visiting Darwin!

A hidden gem in WA outback

I can't believe I have not travelled to Karijini sooner. I had the best three days exploring some of the most beautiful gorges Western Australia has to offer.

Karijini covers 627, 422 hectares of tropical, semi desert area with beautiful gorges suited to an adventurous climb or a leisurely stroll with magnificent views.

My friend Matt and I stayed in the Eco retreat camp site which was perfect. It has great facilities including excellent bathrooms with showers, kitchen areas with a barbeque and a great little restaurant. When we weren't exploring we were enjoying 1 or 2 or 3 drinks (bottles) at the restaurant, meeting the staff and having a grand old time. 

On our first day we visited Kalamina Gorge which is a class four walk. It was amazing! We took our time to explore this beautiful area with trickling waterfalls and deep pools providing a peaceful and tranquil setting for a fantastic day. When we reached the end of the trail and were able to enjoy a packed lunch in cool shady spot. It was like we had wandered into this forgotten land, such serenity! We also had a dip which was errr... refreshing, but totally worth it!

The following day we visited Joffre Falls which was spectacular. This walk is level five and required a lot more confidence and a good bum shuffling technique for getting across small ledges and slippery rocks. Matt was much braver than I and had a dip in the icy waters. Joffre is definitely a must see especially if you enjoy a challenge.

We also visited Dales Gorge and walked to Fortescue Falls which was a long trek but well worth it. A lovely shaded walk with the the noises of trickling water gave the walk a magical feel. The walk consisted of a few water crossings where you had a hop skip and jump across. The only risk you are taking on this walk is getting your shoes wet and looking a bit sweaty for photos on the walk out. Guilty on both counts. We had a swim at this quiet little spot along the way. A huge Paperbark hangs over this pool giving amazing views of deep, crystal clear water; absolutely stunning! And let me tell you, I thought swimming in Kalamina was fresh, I've never been so refreshed in my whole entire life. 

A welcome surprise in Tom Price

Its nice to be able to sit down with a coffee and think back to all the great experiences I've had over the last few weeks. 

I have not stopped since Coral Bay, which feels like months ago! 

From Coral Bay I took a hellish long drive down the highway towards Tom Price. 100km of road works and unsealed roads at 40 km per hour made for an extremely bumpy and slow drive. It wasn't till I reached Tom Price that I realised that my dash cam also records sound. So I literally have 12 hours of me 'singing' (howling) everything from Dan Sultan to Disney classics.  

I met a lovely couple at Nanutarra Road House who blew a tyre, so my pink tool kit and jack got it's first use, so mum, they work very well. 

After my long 600 km drive, it was such a pleasant surprise to drive into Tom Price. The town looks lovely and the community is very friendly. I remember raving to mum about how clean Coles was and my very proper mother made a crack about making sure to wear nickers so no one would have a perv from the reflection in the shiny floors. 

I stayed at  Tom Price Tourist Park which was amazing! Not only was it extremely affordable, the facilities were great with a camp kitchen, pool and drive through powered sites. Its also the first time I've put my awning up without the traditional phone call to dad. What can I say? I'm bloody brilliant and have officially lost the P plates on the caravan. hehe. 

 I met a group of lovely Irish girls who were traveling South. We watched Practical Magic squashed in between two little tents. After a big night the previous night, I think only two of us were awake to see the movie, with the film punctuated with quite a lot of snoring!

I decided during my stay in Tom Price that I would climb Mt Nameless which is the highest point accessible by 4WD in Western Australia. Mt Nameless is very close to the caravan park and provides lovely back drop to the area. Don't let the lovely views lull you into a false sense of security. Maybe you are fitter than I or maybe I'm a wuz, but it was super tough! It took me 3 hours to climb. At first I was very confident, raving to myself about strong independent woman blah blah blah, by the halfway point I was cursing and huffing and puffing about how shit it was. I'm very glad that I did do it though the views are stunning!

I really loved Tom Price and definitely recommend it for a stopover when travelling! I think on my next visit I will be driving up Mt Nameless though! 

Terrific Diving Experience at Ningaloo

Oh my Goodness! I have had the best 3 days of my life! I am now a certified open water diver, Yay! Ningaloo Reef Dive provided the best possible experience for a beginner diver such as myself. Rich and Jess my instructors were friendly and knowledgeable. All staff were professional and extremely  helpful.

I can't believe I haven't been diving sooner, so much better than snorkeling! As soon as you're in the water there is hundreds of fish swimming around, which you can enjoy comfortably without worrying about swimming to the surface for air!

My dive buddy  Chris, and I saw so many different species of fish and marine life! We saw turtles, a stingray, Moray Eel, a Dwarf Lionfish and the most exciting sharks!!! we swam with up to 5 sharks at a cleaning station, which is where fish come and get spick and span from nibbling cleaner wrasses. It was so exciting to watch these shy creatures dart about through the coral!

We also had the opportunity to snorkel with the elusive and gentle giant manta ray which is an awesome experience! These huge animals gracefully glide through the water as our tour group almost frantically take photos whilst trying to keep up with the steady pace. It is truly amazing!

For anyone who loves the ocean and marine wildlife I thoroughly recommend diving not only at Ningaloo but also with this company. I found it to be significantly easier than what I expected. Diving also gives a special and unique perspective which  you wouldn't usually experience from snorkeling.

Luckily the guys at Migration Media took some spectacular photos and captured the best experience of my life! It won't be too long before I'm back in the water diving again! I'm well and truly hooked!

All photo credit: Migration Media

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10 destinations you must visit while in Carnarvon

I had the best time in Carnarvon! A very friendly town with many things to do and see close by. I found this town to be an excellent base for exploring some stunning country.

I highly recommend the following places for your next visit.

1) Red Bluff Stunning views and lots of opportunities to spot dolphins, turtles and even whales when in season. We stayed in the humpies but camp sites and speccy eco tents are available. We were able to get out in the car but 4WD preferred with roads unsealed and sandy.

2) Quobba an excellent spot for a day of snorkelling or an extended stay camping. I went on a great day, the waters were pristine with literally hundreds of fish circling me in shallow waters.

3) Gnarloo Bay a beautiful beach with amazing snorkeling. Definitely an overnight visit.

 4) Carnarvon Space Museum is a great visit for all ages. I'm not much of a history buff, but this was great!

5)  Rocky Pool is excellent for a quick day trip. Pack a picnic and some pool noodles and take a quick 45 minute trip to this great spot.

6) Pelican Point a great beach for morning walks and a decent walk to the 1 mile Jetty. My walks often took quite a while because of all the great photo opportunities.

7) You gotta do the token 1 mile Jetty walk. I found it quite tricky to navigate but there is always something to see, be it fishermen or a sea turtle like I did or perhaps a Tiger Shark which was spotted when I first arrived.

8) Chinamans Pool is great for an afternoon stroll. It is especially good if a keen bird watcher. Black swans, ducks and pelicans call this pool home.

9) Absolutely favourite place for a coffee and cake! The Port Hotel has great service and a trendy feel. Excellent Friday night dinner and drinks as well.

10) And where you ask, might you stay while completing your Carnarvon adventures? Outback Oasis Caravan Park of course.

• The staff are friendly and helpful 
• Not too crowded and a quiet neighbours 
• Shaded, grassy areas on drive through sites. 
• Bathroom and laundry facilities are clean and well maintained.
• A great kitchen area with barbeque, microwave, gas burners and fridge.
• An excellent games area with table tennis, pool table, darts and t.v
• A swimming pool for a quick dip after a long day exploring. 

Enjoy some of my other entries for videos and further details about my Carnarvon adventures. Watch this space, Coral Bay coming soon...

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