Day 59. The wind has eased a lot and it is a sunny warm day of 26 degrees. We are off to the beach, at last, down the west side of the North West Cape into the World Heritage Ningaloo Marine Park. The ranger's office and the Milyering Discovery Centre very interesting for learning about the migratory visits of the giant Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, Turtles and Dugongs. Turquoise Bay was just magnificent with its white sandy beach and clear blue water. We snorkelled...

Day 58. Strong winds to 50km per hour kept us in and around the van for most of the day. We did venture out mid afternoon to the post office and later with Ross and Robyn to the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse to watch the spectacular red orange sunset across the Ningaloo Reef with a nice wine and snacks. We could see the distant gas platforms, some burning off gas. Dozens of whales spouting and surfacing, some close to shore. Dinner 'party' tonight at our van - the la...

Day 57. Pancakes at our van for breakfast and then a drive around Exmouth and out to the old defence base for a look. So many old derelict buildings, obviously from the 1970's and 80's when communications with US ships and submarines was key. Now satellite communications have overtaken. We had our first view of the magnificent World Heritage Ningaloo Reef from the tip of the Cape at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse and from the beach where the 1907 wreck of the SS Mildu...

Day 56. Lazy Sunday, slept in after our big drive yesterday. Down to the Exmouth village shops for a coffee and pastry from the local bakery, so lively with so many people about. Visited the information centre and out to the marina to see some attractive upmarket houses and big boats. The town beach not that impressive being on the tidal Exmouth Gulf side of the Cape. We noticed that many of the trees here have been stripped of their big branches from the cyclon...

Day 55. We left very early for our big run down the West Coastal Highway from Point Samson to Exmouth, about 600km. The entire trip was very interesting with the giant mesas of the Cane River Conservation Park and the rolling red sandhills after we crossed the wide Ashburton River. The variety of wild flowers were amazing and we stopped in several spots for photos. Morning tea at Fortescue Roadhouse and refuelling and lunch at Nanutarra Roadhouse. We turned off ...