Coral Bay (part 1)

We are on our way, back past the termite mounds, waiting for the signposts that tells us we are about to head back in towards the coast. We are all so excited, soon we will be with old/new friends and be snorkelling once more.

Not long to go.

Almost there!

  We made it!  Please meet our old/new friends. Next to Boaz is Leila, she is 11, then next to Timna is Jack, he is 9 and then next to Benj is Adam, he is 8. I believe it took all of 5 minute for the boys to work out we had arrived, and within 45 minutes they were all down at the Jetty jumping in to the clear turquoise water.

Our caravan at the Bayview Caravan Park. Coral Bay is a tourist village and there are only aprox 190 locals. The main street is about 200 metres long and there is one other road that leads to the jetty. We felt at home instantly, thanks to the mum and dad of the kids friends, Fab and Mandy. It does not take long for us to fall in to a beautiful routine. Leila, Jack and Adam are being home schooled Monday to Friday. This means that they are out of bounds till about 1.30pm. This gives us family time, journal writing time, chilling out time and snorkelling time. When school is out the 3 kids become 6 and are inseparable till bedtime. They sing, they dance, they play amazing imaginary games, jump off the jetty and they swim in the pool or beach and swim and swim some more. Wine o'clock brings the adults together and then dinner is a communal effort with each cooking and then pooling the finished products together. This proved successful in increasing the repertoire for all kids. Their kids will now eat fish, and ours will now eat butter chicken!!!

Sunset over the Reef restaurant. This is in our caravan park, and is where Fab disappears to each afternoon. He is the pizza chef here.

Looking out on to Coral Bay we notice many children from a local school camp. All the kids are heading to the pontoon on the right for the daily fish feeding by the waters edge. Observing this while snorkelling under the pontoon is quite amazing as many different fish, large and small, come in for their daily snack. 

Not a bad place for a quick dip.

On their way to visit Mandy. She disappears twice a week to work at the beautiful Mermaids Cave in the small shopping centre ahead. Timna and Leila are on a mission to purchase a pair of dragonfly earrings. This is day 2 of Coral Bay and already the kids have decided they are locals as they no longer wear shoes!!!!

Today the Farabegoli's take us on an adventure. We are off to Oyster Bridge and the Lagoon. Tyres deflated, 4WD engaged and excitement building.

The sandy trail ahead.

Thanks Madam Mandy!!! We are on a stations property now and we have to pass through two of these gates.

Oops, this was not the turn we were supposed to take, all these sand dunes look the same.

This is where we were supposed to be. First stop the Lagoon and we are able to drive right down onto the beach.

Time to explore the rocks.....

.....and ponder the future.....

Or contemplate a swim.

This is Oyster Bridge, Wow!! White as white sand dunes and incredible water. The tide was crashing in over the oyster ledge reducing visibility a little, but it would take much more than that to keep us out of the water.

Benj was in absolute heaven. His first succesful wild ride boogie surfing down the sand dunes. Pretty awesome.

The most incredible place, all to our selves.

After a few short days we have already worked out that this is going to be very hard place to leave. The locals are so friendly and our kids are so relaxed and happy. This is certainly a holiday within our holiday.