Carnarvon (2 nights)

We are camped in the town of Carnavon in a caravan park tucked away in the corner near a shed and what look to be permanent residents.  There are high fences on the boundary as the airport is close by and in the distance across a bleak landscape we can see the satellite dishes from the ex NASA communication station, feels like we are in a compound in the desert.  The other crazy thing at the caravan park is the thick rope they have laid across the road to as speed humps – ingenious and cheap!

Anyway, today we visited Quobba Point where there are impressive blowholes and a sheltered beach (called a lagoon) where the snorkelling is excellent!  As we were watching the blowholes a humpback whale cruised past, spouting and carrying on, it was the closet we have seen one so far.  Whilst snorkelling we saw lots of sea urchins and some were bigger than a soccer ball.  It was very shallow and as the tide went out we had to be careful not to scrape our knees on coral or rocks.  The coral colours were magnificent as they are closer to the light. 

before the blowhole blew, everyone nice and calm

as the blowhole blows - kids disperse, John still calm

There are lots of old ‘shacks’ (corrugated iron style – kind of like the Selwyn Huts) along the beach were local people stay for holidays, fishing trips etc.  You can also camp there but you need to have a chemical toilet with you, which we don’t.

classic shack!