Road Trip to Coral Coast, Western Australia Part 7 Cervantes

The Pinnacles in the Nambung National Park - a must see. That is what friends who have visited the place told me. On top of that, websites and Australian travel magazines have promoted The Pinnacles as being world famous. So of course, we were not going to miss it. It was a bit challenging getting to the place as the driving signboards were so far apart from one another that we thought we missed one and hence a turn somewhere. Even with the GPS in the motorhome, we were uncertain. It kept chanting, "You have reached your destination." but there was no sign in sight. Geesh, it didn't help that the kids were ready for their legs exercise long ago. The younger one was also starting to get hungry and I needed to get her food ready. Somehow, Daddy had the wisdom to make a left turn, with the practical reasoning that the national park has to be inland. We were driving along the coastal road. Thankfully, Daddy was spot on with his intuition and we were there in a jiffy. Boy, were we all glad.

After lunch, (That's the good thing about driving a motorhome. We were able to whip up yummy hot food anywhere, anytime) we headed to The Pinnacles Desert. It was a nice slow stroll in and the kids were fascinated with the caterpillars they saw along the way. Weather was nice and cool so we were able to stop and appreciate the little things.

Meeting their new small friend

Love their laughters

When the pinnacles appeared before our eyes, we were in awe. Such beautiful creation. I couldn't help but feel dwarfed by these giant works of nature. If you were there, you too would feel the grandeur of the numerous towers so somehow, the photos we had taken didn't do the limestone structures any justice. Good to be there around sunset when the shadows spread their wings around the area, making it more surreal.

The sand amazed the kids more than the pinnacles though

Our own version of 'David and Goliath'

Running around the natural running track

View of the pinnacles from the viewing platform

Next, we headed to The Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre. It is located within the Nambung National Park and is just a short stroll from The Pinnacles. It explains in detail theories regarding the origin of The Pinnacles and the flora and fauna around the region. The displays of animals are also very lifelike, intriguing the kids greatly.

After a good walk around the centre, the kids were tired. Just in time for a well needed nap as we headed off to our next destination - Swan Valley's Margaret River Chocolate Factory.

Changi City Point

We had seen advertisements promoting a new mall in the heart Changi Business Park and heard a lot about the outdoor Water Park for kids, and decided to see it for ourselves! Situated just beside Expo MRT, it was no wonder that the place was crowded even on a weekday mid-afternoon. My first impression of the place was that it resembled a mini 'Vivo-City'. Cafes, boutiques and branded sports apparel factory outlets lined the floors. They even had their own roving balloon artist dressed in clown costume giving out balloon sculptures to everyone from kids to ''kids at heart''. The girls got themselves a balloon flower each. Fish-feeding was also possible at the outdoor and indoor fish ponds but we missed the feeding time. Would be sure to catch it the next time we go.

After grabbing a drink and purchasing a bargain jacket, we continued a quick tour around. There were many children themed shops; I noticed a baby spa called 'babySPA' (what else?), where babies can go for a float-assisted swim, TV assisted haircuts, and other forms of pampering. There is also an educational store, Smart Alley http://www.smartalley.com.sg/ and it stocks a good range of educational books and toys for young children. I couldn't resist myself and got the kids a few things. There is a new indoor children's playground, Petite Park, featuring a bar counter like boundary where parents can leisurely sip their cappucino's while watching over their little once run, climb, and bounce around the play area. The playstations are very much like SingKids at Changi Airport Terminal 3. Singkids is a whole lot bigger so there is more space for the kids to run. Petite Park is very small and the playstations are very close to one another. It just needs a few kids to make the place feel crowded.  Still, it is a good option if you want some 'me-time'.

The children however will have to wait for another time to try out the ball pool, merry-go-rounds, and slides, for today, we decided to check out the Playground & Treehouse, the mall's very own outdoor water-themed playground! The facility features water canons, mist emitting structures, a suspension bridge, merry-go-rounds, and a 'Treehouse Trail'. Parents occupied the wooden benches around the playground. The modern looking toilet facility had an outdoor shower and only one large male and female cubicle each.

We were much less than prepared as we did not come from home. Fortunately, we had a change of clothes with us, so we gave them the green light to jump in with whatever they were wearing. It was a raining slightly, and we wished we had come more prepared with a towel or two. After about an hour of play, the kids seemed to be getting cold and we swiftly changed them into dry clothes and headed for the food court that the playground was fronting for some warm dinner.The kids had noodles with tofu while I tried a fusion chicken chop.

Overall a quick, fun time spent together as a family in a family friendly place. We definitely will be back to enjoy everything else that the mall has to offer.

Wheels and Rods at East Coast Park

I cannot exactly remember how we ended up at East Coast Prawning but it could be the school holidays and availability of dad's car that made us want to try something new.

There was one pole fishing pond and two prawning ponds: one is a seawater pond with flower crabs, lobsters, and tiger prawns, and another is a freshwater pond with 'big head'prawns. So what is pole fishing? It's fishing with a pole instead of a rod and reel. The line is tied on to the tip of the pole. The fish in the pond were huge, which tempted me to put down $25 for six poles. Children were provided with cool eyewear to protect them from careless hooks. We soon found out, however, that the fish in the pond were often too large for the pole and line to hold, and although bites were frequent, the brief fights often ended up with the lines snapping. After about an hour and a half, we snapped our last line, with nothing to show for the experience. However, the experience itself was enjoyable, and the look on the faces of the children when the fish bite was priceless. Overall, it was worth trying something new, but once is enough for now. Perhaps bagging a large fish might have been enough to coax me to come back, but it didn't happen today. Next time, prawning perhaps? I saw how calm and cool those 'prawners' were while we were there. They sat on their chairs, reading books while those who were fishing displayed a very interesting combination of excitement and frustration as the fish snapped and let go off the hooks. Now on hindsight, I really do wonder what those 'prawners' were thinking as they see the 'fishermen' jumping around.

Upon stepping out of the pond fishing areas, we strolled a little before deciding to go cycling. At the bicycle kiosk, a unique cycling contraption caught our eye. It had a box-like carriage with a flat canopy, four wheels, enabling two persons to cycle side by side. It was steered using a wheel, and had a front overhanging bench to place the young ones. We decided to give it a go.

 The kids loved it! There was a cow bell that the kids rang to alert other riders sharing the path, but most of the time, people were passing us instead of us passing them. The contraption was mighty slow, even with two adults huffing and puffing away. Looking at it from a positive point of view, it was good exercise, and within half an hour we could feel a burning sensation in our bums and thighs. We booked it for 2 hours, but within an hour and a half, we were tired enough to return it. Of course, the kids enjoyed the scenic ride. They became the best friends and chatted happily away, with their arms around each other. It was a sweet sight to behold, even from the back. It was an enjoyable hour while it lasted! Would I do it again? Yes! I was forced to sit back and slow down, none of the rushing and housework. Most importantly, we were together as a family and that matters the most.

Roadtrip to Coral Coast, Western Australia Part 6 Geraldton and Jurien Bay

We had to return the motorhome in 3 days time so we could only manage a day trip to Geraldton while on route to Jurien Bay. Geraldton has tonnes to offer - the beach, the museums, shopping, eating...but we decided to focus only on two. We headed for a live lobster tour at Geraldton Fishermen's Co-operative Ltd. They run a morning tour every Monday to Friday at 930am and we were glad that we made it. We paid AUD$25 or 2 adults (AUD$10 each) and 1 child (AUD$5). It was free for the younger one. We were brought around the lobster factory. Grading and shipping of lobsters were explained and it sure was fascinating to know that lobsters hibernate in cold water and wake up when put in room temperature water. A good way to avoid motion-sickness during the transportation. The crowd was also given a chance to feel the lobsters. The children on the tour had a great time.

A family shot. Not everyone looked at the camera
but that was still a 50% success rate. Good enough, especially with kids.

We got a chance to feel the water in which the lobsters sleep and wake up in.



Kids loved the lobster. Can't say that about the lobster though.

The lobster pot was so heavy that no one on the tour could lift it.
Really admire those fishermen.

Gotta wear hair-net for the second part of the tour. The girls were very amused by them.

Next, we headed to the Western Australia Museum Geraldton where the town's rich maritime history was showcased. We figured it was the best place to soak up the history of the place before coming back again for more. The great thing about the museum was that they have a kids' corner within the building. There were a lot of activities to keep the girls occupied while we were there. Daddy took a tour around the place first while I stayed with the girls. We made puzzles, played with toy dinosaurs, studied fossils in rocks...in short, the kids were busy. This allowed Daddy and I to tour the museum in peace. It wasn't a big place but with its substantial display, we spent more than 3 hours there.

Lots to play with...



Made a dinosaur mask

Concentrated play

Beautiful view of the Marina

The coolest museum staff I have ever met - their skeleton staff.
Love how they took the term literally.
The skeleton staff was so cool that he even wore slippers to work!

By the time we reached Jurien Bay, it was almost evening. We stayed at Jurien Bay Tourist Park (http://www.jurienbaytouristpark.com.au/) which is located just beside the beach. Daddy took the girls to the beach while I got dinner ready. The tourist park has a huge jumping pillow and A, after being introduced to the trampoline at Carnarvon, had absolutely no qualms about doing more stunts on the huge pillow. K was too scared to even get near it. I wouldn't blame her. It was really huge, at least from her perspective.

Sisters forever

A on jumping pillow

We had to head back to Perth the next day so we spent the whole night playing silly games in the motorhome. Now that we were nearer the city, the temperature was getting lower. Just nice to stay in the warm motorhome and enjoy one another's company.

Roadtrip to Coral Coast, Western Australia Part 5 Carnarvon and Kalbarri

We set off for Carnarvon after a nice breakfast at the resort. Yes, we drove past the many termites nests again but this time, I saw something that made me stop the motorhome and got off without any hestitation. It was the sign, 'Tropic of Capricorn'. It is a plain sign and you might even miss it. After having taught Geography for years, it sure was a thrill to be able to 'touch' the imaginery Tropic of Capricorn. I took a photo with it and strangely, it made me feel powerful, like I have conqured the world...fine, just the Tropic of Capricorn.

I can't say much about Carnarvon as we had only one night there. Well, I suppose we did spend too much time in Exmouth. By the time we got there, it was already 2pm in the afternoon. It was a Sunday and a lot of the shops were closed. The supermarket would close in a few hours time so we hurried with our grocery shopping before checking in to Coral Coast Tourist Park (http://www.coralcoasttouristpark.com.au/) . I had wanted to visit Gascoyne Growers' Market but it only operates every Saturday morning from May to October. We had also wanted to visit The Coffee Pot Train, One Mile Jetty and other lovely spots but the girls were too tired from the long journey so we had no choice but to give them a miss. Of course, that also meant that we had the time to do our laundry which was piling up. The staff at Coral Coast Tourist Park were very friendly. They had two kids too and welcomed our kids to play with theirs. They had a trampoline within the park and A had a great time. She was a bit scared at first but once A got a hang of it, she was jumping non stop. The day ended early as the girls were too tired. Might as well as that gave Daddy and I more time to prepare for the drive to Kalbarri the next day.

Up, up but not away

Kalbarri is famous for a few highlights - their resident pelicans feed on the foreshore every morning, the beautifully sculpted coastal gorges and not forgetting, Kalbarri National Park. We stayed for 3 days at Murchison Caravan Park (http://www.murcp.com/) and simply loved how peaceful and beautiful the whole town was. I had wanted to visit Nature's Window within the Kalbarri National Park but motorhomes and caravans are not recommended in the park. The visitor center did provide day tour services to a few attraction spots within the national park but I could not make it on any of the dates. In fact, one just set off on the day we arrived. I had wanted to try my hand on canoeing along the Murchison River in the National Park but they needed a group of four. I was but one. Pelican feeding was also not available as the pelicians were off to Eyre Island for their nesting season. The girls were so disappointed. Thankfully, Kalbarri was a great place for easy walks with the children. The playground within the caravan park did great in keeping them happy too. We did spend half a day exploring the coastal gorges. There are simply beautiful. I couldn't help but asked, "God, did you make this?" everytime I stood on the viewing platforms of all the river gorges.

Natural Bridge

Eagle Gorge

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Minature watermelons by the road!

Play time while Mummy cooked dinner

Winding down time - Coloring

The stay at Kalbarri was peaceful. Just the way we liked it. We met another family travelling up to Coral Bay. Their daughter played with ours. He lamented how rushed it was and he had only 1 day to drive up to Coral Bay before reaching Perth 3 days later. He did not enjoy the trip as her daughter couldn't sit still. He was amazed at how calm we looked. We smiled. Response did not seem necessary at that time as it was clear that he just needed a listening ear.  Of course, we had our own fair share of difficulties. However, we were realistic in our planning. We gave ourselves more than enough time on the road so we could stop whenever we and the kids needed to. We gave ourselves extra days to unwind and enjoy the surroundings before heading off to the next destination. We expected little from the kids and were mentally prepared for the countless pit-stops on the way. We let the kids decide what they wanted to do whenever we got to any destination and we spent time just chatting and playing silly games. In short, we took it slow. Afterall, that was the whole reason why we go on family holidays. To get away from the rush and routine at home and take time to understand and appreciate one another. Let go and you would be amazed at what you get.

Beautiful sunset at Kalbarri

Road Trip to Coral Coast, Western Australia Part 4 Exmouth

We rose up very early, while the sky was still dark to get everyone ready for the long 9 hours trip up to Exmouth. The girls were tired out from the previous day so we could not bear to wake them up from their slumber. We picked them up and placed them in their car-seats, before folding up the beds and pillows. We drove carefully out of the caravan park and after a while on the road, the sun was seen spreading its light across the horizon. Yipee, a brand new day! As we approached Coral Bay, a very intriguing sight appeared. Thousands and thousands of small 'hills' stretched across the plains. What on earth was that? We got off the motorhome to examine these new specimens and it took us a while before we realized that they are termites nests. Oh my, they were taller than me! How many termites could there be on this land? We calculated the distance as we drove by and these termites nests spread over a distance of about 200km! And this does not even include the width of which they cover. That is a lot of termites. I felt dwarfed by these nests and suddenly, goosebumps started to appear on my arms. 200 km was sure a long distance to get out of termite land. Then again, we reckon it was still safe as we did see people taking photographs with them. We did not see any termites crawling around too. Maybe it was because I ran back to the motorhome too quickly. We checked with the locals and they seemed rather non-chalant about it so I suppose it is not that big a deal. Part of nature, maybe.

Sunrise while on way to Exmouth

One of the many, many, many termite nests.

The girls woke up in the late morning and we made a few pit stops for them to have their breakast, morning play and exercise. We had to stop by for diesel and that took up some time too. By the time we got to Exmouth, it was almost 3pm. We stocked up on our groceries, hooked up the motorhome to the power supply at Exmouth Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort (http://www.exmouthresort.com/), chatted with some motorhomers staying around us and were all ready for the next 6 days at Exmouth.

Exmouth is famous for Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Marine Park. Ningaloo Marine Park is home to many marine animals such as manta rays and humpback whales. The month of June happens to be the whale shark season and there was no way I was going to miss that. Not after driving so many hours up from Perth. I had made a reservation with a whale shark tour operation while in Singapore and my swim with the whale sharks was scheduled for the day after my arrival in Exmouth. When I reached the caravan park, I was in doubt. I had to make the rest of the payment the day before the tour and there I was, at Exmouth but I was having butterflies in my stomach. What on earth was I doing? Swimming with whale sharks?? I sure know how big these creatures are and I want to throw myself in their path??!! I mulled over it for the next 2 hours and finally figured that if I missed it, I would probably regret it more than if I had gone. Just do it! I would take whatever comes. I went to 3 Islands Whale Shark Dive company (http://www.whalesharkdive.com/) , which is located within Exmouth Ningaloo Caravan and Holiday Resort, made the payment and prepared myself mentally for the big day. I emailed a few whale shark dive tour operators while back in Singapore and decided on 3 Islands very quickly because the staff were very kind and pleasant over the emails. The prices for many of the operators are similar so cost was not one of the factors for the selection. Plus, this company was highly recommended by one of the Australian locals I met during the NATAS fair. She loves nature and hopped onto a dive tour with 3 Islands. She, too, was happy with their warm service. Now, it was up to me to experience it. I cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next day (boiled eggs, vegetables and meat) so the girls would not go hungry when I went away for the whole day. Had an early sleep and got myself ready for the 730am meet up.

I was the only Asian on the tour. Tourists from France, Italy and other parts of Australia filled up the rest of the group. We had a snorkelling refresher course on board and safety measures explained. We were to stay 3 metres away from the whale sharks on the side and 4 metres from the tail. They are very shy animals and we would not want to give them unnecessary stress. We had a morning snorkel to get our body warmed up before some snack. Spotters planes were out looking for the whale sharks and there were a lot of other tour boats around in the Ningaloo Marine Park area. On the way, we saw manta rays, dugongs and a mummy humpback whale guiding her baby humpback how to swim! Cool. Every moment on board was magical. I almost teared when I saw the humpback whales, twice! It was like a dream come true. Fine, for those of you who have seen humpback whales, you will probably think nothing of my sighting. Yet, for me, they were precious, especially when I see the bond between the baby and the mummy humpback whales. Oh, I missed my daughters already. Around 11am, we were all ready for the whale sharks. The first swim with the whale sharks was amazing. As the first one swam passed us, everyone just wanted to move forward to get a closer look at it. We had 3 different swims and the whale sharks just got bigger each time. There were so many whale sharks there that every tour operator just needed to focus on a few. We did not see the biggest recorded (they can grow up to 18 metres long) but the ones we swam with seemed big enough at 8 metres long. I was so so glad I went ahead with the tour, and I still am. No regrets. Yes, it is expensive at AUD$375 per person (includes morning snack and lunch) but for such an experience, it is all worth it. Plus, our group was really fortunate to have seen the Big Three of Ningaloo Marine Park - Humpback Whales, Manta Rays and Whale Sharks! Hmm, the only thing I wished was better was my tolerance to the wind. The water was warm but once I got out, I was shivering from the cold wind and had to wrap myself up in layers. The embarrassing thing was that I was the only one feeling that way. Everyone else was enjoying the 'breeze'. I attribute that to the fact that I was the only Asian on board and hence I am more used to heat than cold. Anyway, I went away with fond memories and a certificate to prove that I overcame my fear and swam with the big guys.

Perfect weather for a swim with the biggest fish in the world!

Morning snorkel

Morning snack after snorkel

Everyone is ready for the whale sharks

Whale Sharks!! And this is not even the largest we saw that day!

I returned to the motorhome to hear the girls' exciting happenings for the day. They built sandcastles and saw kangaroos hopping on the beach, played at the caravan park's playground and ran around the huge grass lawn just in front of our powered site. Sounded interesting. I was glad the girls had as much fun as I did.


Girls playing in the sun. Didn't matter who drove past. (saw the 4WD at the background?)
A kangeroo did hop by but he was too quick for any photo to be taken.

The two lovely sisters

Loving the wind in her face

No lack of shells wherever they go

Early morning sandplay at the playground within the caravan park

The little lion roars

The next day, we ventured out into Cape Range National Park (entry fee applies) where canyons were beautifully sculpted, beaches inviting and the seas, blue and alluring. We focused mainly on Turquoise Bay, Mangrove Bay and Oyster Bay. The waters were clear and just step into the shallow waters and the fishes would swim around your feet, welcoming you into their kingdom. One doesn't even need to snorkel far to see these amazing creatures and corals. Water is shallow so you need to be careful not to kick the corals. Needless to say, the trip out into the water was magical.

Oyster Bay

I thought it was a big fish but no, it was a giant clam!

Blue-Spotted Stingray

Octopus in hiding

Colorful Nudibranch

If you are not for snorkelling, you can explore other parts of Exmouth. Canyons within Cape Range National Park are also beautiful. We could not visit a lot of canyons because some of the roads are very steep and rocky, which is not very recommended for motorhomes and caravans. If you are keen to explore these canyons, do rent a 4WD instead. You can also drive up to the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse and look over Exmouth. Not enough? Head down to Jurabi Turtle Centre. It was a pity that our visit did not coincide with the nesting season of the marine turtles (November to April) otherwise it would be a real treat. The whole place is rather sparse and the centre looks like a tent. I attributed the lack of development to the fact that they need to keep the surrounding as natural as possible. Turtles are sensitive to light and noise during nesting and the locals need to ensure that the turtles would be undisturbed. There are also small information panels put up along the path towards the beach, educating the visitors how to help these turtles. There is a turtle display at the centre and the girls were very intrigued by it. Should you want to participate in the guided turtle tour during nesting season, you can always approach Exmouth Visitor Centre for more details.

Vlamingh Head Lighthouse

Jurabi Turtle Centre

Lots of Information panels along the way

More playtime at the playground in the caravan park

See how high they can go!

For our last day in Exmouth, we decided to give ourselves a treat and stay at Novotel Ningaloo Resort Exmouth for a night. Well, the stay was complimentary as we are Accor members and I must say it is one of the best deals simply because we did not have to pay AUD$320 for the room! The hotel has a nice and relaxing resort feel. Daddy dropped me and the girls at the hotel early so he could explore more great snorkelling places. We were too early for check in but the hotel lobby has a small children's play area so A was kept entertained for a long time while K had her morning nap. Hotel was beautiful. Pool was inviting but we were too scared of the cold. We were told that they have a heating system within the pool but we passed on it. Not with the kids at least since they are more senstive to temperature changes. The last thing I wanted was for them to fall ill on a trip. Room was fantasically spacious. Bathroom was equally spacious. Just the thing we needed when we had been crammed up in a motorhome for about 2 weeks. Of course, the kids loved it too. For once, they could run freely without worrying about banging into each other. I declared it a 'No Cooking Day' and we had our meals in the hotel's restaurant. It is a fine restaurant so it was a bit challenging with 2 young kids running around. We did our part to restrain and explain to the girls the appropriate behavior but of course, expecting them to sit through the whole dinner was a big challenge. Thankfully, the staff was kind and understanding enough. The night's rest was great, just the thing we needed before continuing our journey the next morning.

Playarea in Novotel Ningaloo Resort Exmouth

Hotel rooms from the lobby



Pool

View from our room

Our spacious room

She sure made the food look more yummy :p

Our stay in Exmouth was definitely the highlight for this roadtrip. It was worth all the long hours on the road.

3 Cheers for Exmouth!