Sat 5 October 2013 - Blowholes and Retro Camping at Quobba Point

The washing machine wasn't working last night because the people camped next to the water tank had turned the pump off as they didn't like the noise! Once this was discovered, we were able to run it through the cycle and leave it on the line, while we went to the growers market in town.

Carnarvon is on the Gascoyne River, which looks dry, but there's lots of water under the sand, which protects it from evaporating and it collects in aquifers and from here the water is drawn by bores to supply the town and irrigate the many plantations. 

They grow all kinds of fruit and veg here, especially bananas. At the market we were able to stock up before heading back North and along the coast to Quobba Point.

On our right was an enormous dry salt lake, where there's a salt mine ,inevitably owned by Rio Tinto who seem to almost all of WA! It was interesting to see a company called Beta Nutrition producing beta carotene, by culturing and harvesting microscopic saltwater algae (Dunaliella salina) in shallow salt water ponds which is then exported worldwide.

We came to some enormous blowholes, shooting water high into the sky. There are dangerous “king waves” here, which have taken fishermen off the edge. We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw a food van here, in the middle of nowhere.

Just 1 km South of the blowholes was a very retro camping area. There were lots of old tin cabins, built in the 50s, when it was a popular holiday spot. Many of them are now derelict, as they cannot be rented or sold, but can only stay in the family. Anybody is allowed to camp there and it's only $5.50 per site per night (the cheapest in Australia)!

Right at the camping and picnic place is a little lagoon, which they call "The Aquarium", because it has coral and beautiful fish and is very shallow and sheltered. 

We found a good spot for the night, protected from the wind by the dunes and we were able to collect enough wood to cook up a feast of lamb chops and sausages, inside a ring of rocks and on the half lid of an oil drum we found back on the Gibb.  

Above us was a lighthouse and, as we sat by our fire drinking tea, it was comforting to watch the regular flash of the light, warning ships out at sea. 

Thanks to Luke the Ding Doctor's dad, John, for the recommendation to visit Quobba Point!