Perth To Kilbarri

On day one we depart at 7am.We meet with our group and driver and head North through market gardens and vineyards on our way to Nambung National Park to see the fascinationg Pinnalces Desert. After exploring these unique formations we continue heading north along coastal roads to the town of Geraldton.We journey on towards Kalbari where we get the chance to sandboard down the stunning white sand dunes before we get to our overnight stop along the beach front. Our first day was a lot of driving as we get deeper into the outback. We retire to a nice evening barbie and a few cold beers.

Day 2- Kalbari to Shark Bay

After an early rise we have a short drive to Murchison Gorge in Kalbarri National Park.Here we strolled through the bush and viewed Natures Window, The Loop, and discovered the wonders of the Z-Bend Gorge. At Z-Bend Gorge it is an exhilarating 150 metre descent into the heart of the Gorge. Here is were I tried my hand at abseiling off a 25 metre cliff.It was very nerve wrecking leaning backwards over the edge but a great feeling when i finished. We made our way towards Monkey Mia stopping at the beautiful Shell Beach. Here we saw the most amazing sunset.We all sat down to watch the beautifully colored sky.We travel on through the dusty red outback and reach Shark bay were we all enjoy many glasses of goon at our overnight stop.

Day 3- Shark Bay to Coral Bay

An early rise with the sun we make our way down to the beach to see the world famous Monkey Mia dolphins.They swim into the same area everymorning and come right up to your feet. Its a unique experience. Heidi the lucky thing got picked from the crowd and got the fantastic opportunity to feed them. Soon time to leave and we head on towards Carnarvon. Along the way we stop off at the the fascinating Stromatolites at Hamelin pool. We got great photographs of these amazing organisms that were the first things to produce oxygen on the planet. We drive right through the never ending Outback to reach Coral Bay. The craic on the bus is great. We have such a nice group of people travelling together.So we dont really find the long hours go by. As night approaches it's hazardous on the Outback roads as mobs of Emu's, Kangaroos,wild Camels and Cows appear from nowhere. We stop and skid a few times to avoid any animals until finally we hit and kill an unfortuante cow. A family of four appeared on the middle of the dark unlit road and one just runs right out infront of us, we skid an swerve from side to side and come to an abrupt halt. Only for our Bull bar on front to take the impact things could of been a lot worse than a smashed up bus. To end the night on a high note we endured mouth watering beef burgers on our barbeque!!

A few of us went down to the beach that night with a box of goon (wine). deborah i think must of had too much as she started to see jumping fish of up tp 3metres high or maybe even 4metres . The view of the moon shimmering on the the water was amazing as we all toasted to it paddling in the warm ocean. My new flip flops that i only bought that day along with the box of wine which we managed to rescue set sail on their own little sailing trip around the world. Has anybody seen them yet??

Day 4 Coral Bay to Exmouth

Early start again and Today we explore Coral Bay and the wonders of the Ningaloo Reef and its fantastic marine life. We firstly go for our quad bike tour around the sand dunes and the beautiful bay. We stopped at Turtle Lookout to take in the breathtaking views of Coral Bay and Ningaloo Reef. I luckily spot a sea turtle along the waters edge.Heidi misses most things along the way as shes focusing on keeping us on track.

In the afternoon we all go snorkelling on ningaloo reef were we spotted so much colourful life under the sea. Two weeks prior a woman was standing in the water with her child when a "friendly" reef shark came and bit her leg. This obviously caused us some easiness as we snorkelled through the amazing reef. Late afternoon we make a short drive into Exmouth. we have another delicious barbies and drinks, we all sit and relax into the night.

Day 5 Exmouth

A full day to explore the exmouth region.We jump on our new bus that replaced our killer cow bus and we head out to yardie creek in the Cape Range National Park.Here we discovered the Outbacks wildlife and tranquil settings. We start our slow return to Exmouth were we stop off along the way to sunbathe, snorkel and swim at the beautiful Turquoise Bay and discover the northern part of Ningaloo reef. This bay was amazing, crystal clear waters and perfect for snorkelling . We fortunately got to see a Sting Ray, Dolphins,Sea Turtles and the most electrifying colour of fish.Some of the others spotted some reef sharks and swam along with them. We then drove up to the historic Vlahming head Lighthouse and enjoyed spectacular views of the sun setting over the ocean. We make our way back to the small quiet town of Exmouth.

Day 6 Exmouth to Karijini National Park

This morning we head inland through vast Pilbara cattle stations towards the oasis that is Karijini. We stopped off in the iron ore mining town of Tom Price before setting up camp overlooking the magnificent Hamersley Range. Just in time for for a beautiful sunset. It took us over 12 hours drive deep inot the Outback to reach Karijini that really was the most isolated place ive ever seen. All that surrounds our camp for as far as we can see is bush,shrubs, and dusty orange road tracks in the distance. On our first night we cook on the barbies and relax with drinks. Dave put his Mp3 on on the bus and we chilled to the music as we sat in darkness under the stars. Temperatures dropped to about 3 degrees so we had to layer up with all our clothed. Some of the other guys slept outside the tent under the stars but hearing the howling Dingos we decided a tent would be the better option. The first night was absolutely freezing, we didnt sleep much in our swags as we shivered the night away.

Day 7&8 Karijini National Park

Up with sunrise and a hot cuppa to warm us up we get the next 2days to exlore and bask in the magnificence of this National Park area and its Gorges. The Hamersley Ranges were formed over 2,500 million years a go and are some of the most unusual landforms on earth. From cascading waterfalls found deep in the Gorges to fresh still pools ideal for swimming. We get to experience it all. We go to our first Gorge which was amazing.It took about an hour to descend down into it via the cliff face. it was very steep and the rocks were unstable as many came loose under our feet. when we got into the the Gorge we walked down along the mouth of it and stopped for a swim in the icy cold pools. it was quite difficult as we had to climb and pull ourselves over and around slippery rocks ovver hanging the water with some sheer and dramatic drops. HAncock Gorge was stunning as the sun shone down in through it onto us. We made our way back to camp in the evening time after a strenous day. we all had a much deserved beer and a nice night sitting relaxing under the starry sky.

Early rise again for another day exploring the gorges. We go to Knox Gorge. we firstly stop at the lookout over the spectacular Joffre Falls. We see this huge waterfall cascading into a deep gorge and thats where we go for our next swim. We start the climb down it. we eventually reach the amazing waterfall were we swim and bath under the clear waters of Joffre Falls. Our next task was Weano Gorge.This is the hardest level gorge to complete and is very high risk. It takes hours to master.So some of us give it a go. We start off walking through icy cold pools as they rise up to waist level. Then with nimb limbs we have to climb up and over the cliff face. Trying our hardest not to look down and not to Slip! We then climb into a narrow gorge with gushing water under our feet.Heidi and a few others stay at this pool as the next level have sheer drops and are dangerously slippy. We reach the top of Handrail Pool, this is a metal rail that is placed over a high waterfall which leads down into a dramatic pool. Turning around backwards in our freezing cold barefeet we slowly walk down gripping the rail for our lives as the gushing water passes through our legs. At last we reach the bottom and are emersed into the amazing gorge. Happy to have achieved it, I begin to wonder how are we going to to get back up, I then see a rope hanging below the handrail. It now looks even harder. From inside the gorge we swam in the coldest water ive ever felt to the other side. Thinking the hardwork was over. We now have to climb into a narrow pool and swim to the next amazing gorge. These pools and gorges are the most spectacular things I have ever seen. The pools are a crystal crisp,bluey green colour. It is so rewarding when you reach each one.We journey back shivering and shaking with the cold and its been pointed out my lips have turned blue. We have to abseil up the cliff as far as the handrail and then pull our bodies up the rest of the way. I was never so glad to reach the others waiting.

After dinner with aching muscles we make our way to Dales Gorge. This is a pleasant cliff top walk through the bush until we reach the look out point for circular pool. As we stroll along the way stopping to take scenic photographs we come upon two men pointing to the ground with a video camera and to my horror there is a big brown snake slowly sliding along the ground through a bush!Only to be told its the third most dangerous snake in Australia..."Western Brown Snake" and yes i managed to get a picture! Circular pool is amazing from the look out point as we stand over the top of the gorge and look down into it.This amazing coloured pool shimmering deep inside the gorge. We make our way down into the steep and rugged gorge descending down ladders attached to the cliff for a swim in the fresh water pool.We relax in the tranquil pool before darkness sets upon us we drag ourselves back to camp and retire for the evening with a nice cold bottle of beer.

Day 9- Karijini National Park to Indee station

We get up this morning now an orange colour to us as we have been living and sleeping in the out back for the last 4days without a shower.It definately is the best fake tan ive ever had! we take a leisurely stroll down to Fortescue Falls in Dales Gorge admiring its beauty while basking in the sun.We continue on with a short walk  through the forest  to have our last swim in Fern pool which was the most beautiful pool of all. Turquoise water with little black fish enclosed by ferns as we enjoy our swim in the warmer water of this pool.

We leave the tranquil settings of Karijini and drive towards Indee Station. Indee Station is a small cattle station were all the miners stay. Unfortunately of March this year the whole area was totally destroyed by a Cyclone and is in the process of being rebuilt. 300 Kilometres deep in the outback away from everything our nights accomadation is sleeping outside under the stars along a camp fire in a swag (warm sleeping bag). We begin tonights dinner on the fire (chilli concarne).We then get invited to go and have some nibbles and drinks with the people of Indee station in the only standing house.Here they tell us the tales of the devastation brought by the destructive Cyclone. We saw some heartbreaking photographs.One man was killed that particular night as he refused to leave his caravan for shelter in their house.They found him the next morning among the debris and reckon he went to make his way into them during the night. As we are sitting there the miners arrive in after their hard days work down the mine the family here cook for them everyday at 7.00pm.It was such a welcoming house and it really was a unique and overwhelming experience.

We didnt really sleep much that night around the fire as we were stiff with fear of snakes or dingos coming across us! we were jumping and turning with every noise we heard.we were certainly happy when morning came. Heidi went for a walk  to find a toilet (bush) only to be met by a snake crossing her path needless to say we still havent seen Heidi to this day. (joke) 

Day 10 Indee Station to Broome

On the road again as we head towards the coast and the Iron Ore Port of Port Hedland. We have time to for a quick town tour to marvel at the sheer size of the operations involved in the Iron Ore industry. On route to Broome we enjoy a leisurely break and take in the glory of the stretching sands of Eighty Mile Beach. As the name suggests the beach goes for miles.  Passing through the Outbacks vastness driving over flat land of sunburnt shades of red, orange and brown this is a place were the road truly seems to stretch forever. Much of the country is flat, and featureless as far as the eye can see but there are plenty of birds, mobs of emus and Kangaroos along the road to watch- and watch out-for. unfortunatley on our last leg of the drive we hit and kill a Kangaroo. we finally arrive in Broome after about 13 hours drive through the Outback and over 3000 kilometres of the most amazing adventure.We now have the next few days to chillout on cable beach in Broome.

Our next few days in Broome were really relaxing and many of the people from the tour stayed and we had lazy days together . Broome is a small laid back town with broad white sandy beaches with clear emerald waters. Cable Beach is one of Australias finest beaches and has azure waters and a classic, wide white sandy beach as far as the eye can see. We spent our days on them and caught the most amazing sunsets. we had a stroll around town and went to a bubbly market with local crafts and food. we also went to an outside cinema and got to view a colourful firework display. A lovely ending to an amazing trip.