Jurien Bay

Entering the  Jurien Bay Caravan Park we had the most wonderful suprise when we arrived. While negotiating our van into its new home for the next 4 days, we find ourselves staring at a very familiar rig. As we were scanning the park for the owners of this van we hear a 'hello!!'. Turning to our right we find ourselves staring right into another old/new friends van. We met this crew back in Broome and last saw them in Coral Bay where we had said our fond farewells. The kids were excited as they had a jumping pillow to play on with friends and us oldies, with beer, wine and dinner in hand, settled down to catch up with old/new friends, just one of the many treasures on this trip.

 Next morning, with three cars full, CB radios in tune, torches and lunches packed, we join the guys for a day of adventure. First stop only 10 klms north of our park we find ourselves at  Sandy Cape Beach, boasting beautiful clear blue water, white sand, dunes perfect for sand boarding and apparently pods of dolphins and sea lions who regularly visit.

Diamond Bay beach at Greenhead. The mounds of seagrass reminded us of Balnarring Beach.

As much as we could have stayed at the beaches all day we drove onwards to the Stockyard Gully National Park. To get there we had to first find Pearsons Track, off the Leeman-Eneabba road, and get ready for some more 4WD adventure.

6.5 klms of this rough track to get to our destination.

Here we have the Stockyard Gully Tunnel caves to explore. This historic cave is about 300 meters long, and was created by a river that ran below ground level. In the droving days, cattle and sheep were held in the tunnel, which was then blocked to form a natural stock yard.  

The Stockyard tunnel is part of a more extensive cave system that follows the creek bed and honeycombs the area. As the creek carved out bigger caverns in the limestone, sections collapsed creating the entrances we see today.

Benj and Gary climbing up to explore a small cave they spotted.

After walking the 300 metres of the tunnel we walk back through to where we started.

Spectacular W.A. Christmas trees in flower.

Situated north of Jurien Bay, off Indian Ocean Drive, Grigson’s Lookout offers a stunning view of the surrounding coastline, pristine beaches and hectares of flora.

Tonight we farewell our new/old friends as they are moving on tomorrow. Like we seem to say all the time, it  is not just about the spectacular places we are privileged to explore, but the people we have been lucky to meet, share a drink and our adventures with. Sue and Di we cannot wait to share a bottle of red and some yummy food with you back in Melbourne. Tony, Nads and Ruby bring on some more 4 wheel driving and Gary and Lynette may the next year be safe and full of wonerful adventures.......watch out for the rock!!!!!