Heading across to Exmouth the scenery was big wide open plains, we had a section of the road where about six snakes and about five lizards were sighted.

We arrived in Exmouth and had a drive around town before heading out the Cape Range National Park. We were greeted in the National Park by Exmouth's greeting party, an emu walking down the road.

We already were aware that all the campsites within the park were taken for the night but we drove into the first two camp areas to check out the sites. We spoke with the camp host at Ned’s Camp, Chris and Kate and asked about the process of getting a campsite. Ned’s and Mesa campsite you can queue up at the park entrance and hope you can get a site. All the other campsites you have to book online.

So we paid, yes PAID. Now that's a dirty four letter word for us, at Yardi Homestead at $32 for the night but it was the closest place to the entrance to the park. Did some washing and had a fairly early night.

RISE N SHINE at 5.15am. OMG, it was the second earliest morning on this trip, the first being the day we left. We arrived at the entrance at 5.30am and were first in the queue, and yes we got a site at Neds. We booked in for three nights, paid $20.00 per night but it was well worth it. We had an ocean view, feeling like we were back at home.

Spent the first day chilling out, big day, after getting up so early. Then the following days we spent the time exploring the coast, snorkelling at Turquoise Bay. Alan put on his mask and snorkel not once but a couple of times and thoroughly enjoyed himself in the water. You walk into the pristine turquoise coloured water and the World Hertigate Ningaloo Reef where the coral and vivid coloured fish were stunning.

We did the walk down at Yardi Creek, checked out the Oyster stacks (can only snorkel there on mid to high tides), Lakeside, the Milyering Discovery Centre, Jurabi Turtle Centre and the Vlaminghi Head Lighthouse. We saw lots of whales breaching at the lighthouse.

We had a goanna walk across the road in front of us on one trip out and saw a few signs of snakes in the sand and had a kangaroo checking out campsites during a night. There is certainly plenty of wildlife out this way.

Our fellow campers at Ned’s were really great company. Happy hour started at 5pm every night and it was great chatting to different people. On our last night we had a movie night. A screen was set up off the side of a 4x4 with the tiniest projector and speakers. So under the stars there was 12 of us that enjoyed "American Snipper". A very enjoyable night was had.

The last sighting of the whale sharks was on the 12th August, we were too late for the season.

On leaving town we drove up the Charles Knife Gorge Road which had amazing coastal views, along with very impressive gorges. We had lunch at the Learmonth Jetty before leaving town, heading towards Coral Bay.

We pulled in late in the afternoon 3km north of Coral Bay on a beach, hoping that the local ranger wouldn’t find us and fine us. We were up again early, had a quick drive around town and had breakfast overlooking the harbor before moving on.