Where the range meets the reef

Now we've been to some pretty beautiful places on this trip but our stop at the Cape Range National Park to see the Ningaloo Reef has left me in awe. We arrived after coming over the range and past the giant communications towers built by the US in 1963 to spy on Russia - an impressive site that had is wondering until we read the info signs at the lighthouse.

After an obligatory night in Exmouth to fuel and water up, we went on to the ranger's station where they give you the available camp options. The park is well looked after with camp spots spread along the coast so no one spot is over worked. We choose Kurrajong as no generators are allowed which normally gathers more like minded, solar inspired campers. And what a choice - BEAUTIFUL!

The spread-out campground is managed by volunteer campers who register you in/out and organise the cleanest drop toilets I've seen on the trip. Just over the dune is the beach and reef at your doorstep - a walk off the sand! And the reef is alive and flourishing! I've seen allot of reefs in my time and this one astounded me. Here is where I wish I could channel all my marine biologist friends to rattle off what we saw but it included heaps of colorful fish and loads of different corals - those are the technical terms ;-)

Different areas of the national park have different corals thus fish so we spent our days snorkeling a few. Oyster Stacks literally had piles of oyster rocks that when you dive under you see the really big fish. Then Turquoise Bay is a pristine white sandy beach that opens onto the reef where we found clown fish fluttering around their anemones. Osprey Bay had some great drop offs to peer under in addition to the tusk fish, parrot fish and angel fish that we saw at each location including just off our camp at Kurrajong. There were just so many fish and such a variety of coral - I came out of every snorkel with a giant smile!

We met some lovely campers at this spot that we're likely to see again as we all travel south. One couple came around after dark to rush us down to see the florescent shrimps rolling onto the beach and glowing - so cool. But we bid them farewell after five days to head on to Coral Bay. Matt did have a fish on the reef with a guy we met with a boat so we leave restocked with some beautiful yummy fish.

At Coral Bay, we got a camp spot at the caravan park right on the turquoise waters. Our first snorkel here reminded us how good we had it at Cape Range but now after a few more, we appreciate the differences of this reef (still Ningaloo). The coral is giant cauliflower plants and huge fields of stag. I've seen bottom feeders creeping along in a mass of thousands, a giant black and white spotted eel swimming between rock hides, turtles, shovel nose sharks, blue spotted rays, a lion fish, and schools of parrot fish!

The white sand levels off into the water slowly and then drops down to the reef, so you get this lovely shallow warm water before entering the deeper bit and amazing sunsets! Matt did have a fish on the outside of the snorkeling area and caught a gorgeous Tripletail Maori Wrasse - we decided too beautiful for eating and threw out back only to catch again but it leaves another day.

Slight issue with the truck's engine light coming on but all sorted (thanks Land Rover) and it meant another night's stay in Coral Bay and another snorkel - oh the tragedies we go through.

Big news (& the reason we came back into phone reception) is my sister and her husband welcomed Caleb Luke to the world and I wanted to Skype with the new guy! Such a cutie and my god daughter is an ace already at being a big sis.