Sun 29 Sept 2013 – Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef

Well when we woke up this morning, there were no insects, just one fat praying mantis, with a satisfied smile on his face! We thought about keeping him as a house guest.

We're now on the last leg of our journey to the coast and Exmouth, the beginning of the Ningaloo Reef. The road is flat and vegetation sparse.

We arrived in time for lunch and went to the Visitor's Centre, where we filled up with drinking water, like gold dust out here.  Being in the Outback has given us a new appreciation for water and it's priority in our lives. We have a better understanding of some of those Bible passages that talk about Jesus being the Living Water ie vital to our very existence.

Exmouth is on a peninsular and the whole Western side, where the reef is, is National Park. Even though they have about 8 camping grounds here, it's so popular, it's always full by mid morning. It's school holidays over here too, so that makes the situation even worse. We toured up the East side and Rodger hoped to be able to surf on the point, but it was all blown out. We did, however, see from the Lighthouse viewpoint half a dozen hump back whales frolicking close to the shore, blowing water from their spouts, breeching and doing tail flips, it was a fantastic sight. 

Also a couple of Sea Eagles near the shore.

The lady at the Visitor's Centre recommended that we stay at Yardie Homestead, which is the closest to the National Park and easily recognised by the old yellow caravan on the side of the road before the turnoff. She said we need to get to the Ranger's station by 8.00am when they allot the remaining places on a first come, first served basis.

We took her advice and enjoyed a swim in the pool and the luxury of a hot shower, with the chance to use soap and shampoo ( after 6 days). I also took the opportunity to wash our bedding and another set of clothes, covered in red dust and Rodger cooked us a BBQ.