Broome and Starting the Kimberley

For the last three weeks we have been in some quite remote areas of Australia, so here's a bit of catch-up.

After leaving the Pilbara, we headed north for Broome and the Kimberley.

After chatting with a truckie on the radio, he offered the kids a ride in a road train. We had 200km of relative peace while  E and F rode up front.

Broome has a 'clothing optional' beach. When in Rome..........

Anyone might think from this photo that sunset on Cable Beach is a solitary affair...

But everyone else has the same idea.

We spent six days in Broome doing nothing much more than beachgoing and fishing (you may note the lack of a photo of that big salmon - it got away!). Then we packed up and headed for the Kimberley region.

Little and Big F rise early for a climb on the Devonian Reef at our camp.

Tunnel Creek, where a creek flows through a 1km cave.

Freshwater croc at Windjina Gorge.

The Red Dirt, Long Roads and Pristine Coast of WA

From Cervantes to Tom Price, the path up the west coast has been well beaten by many travellers before us, but that hasn't made it any less amazing.

At The Pinnacles, we were treated to the most amazing sunset and afternoon storm.

Geraldton's "Leaning Tree", a river gum, has been formed this way by the howling winds that seem to dog a  lot of WA. Unfortunately, these winds never seem to be at our backs.

We must have been part of the 0.02% of visitors to Monkey Mia that don't get to see a dolphin, let alone feed one. And we went two days straight! So the kids made one instead.

Kalbarri National Park

The evolution of snorkelling - why get wet and do all that physical exertion?

Cape Range National Park - Exmouth. A rare week long stop for us, and the sun only peeped out for a few hours. So we took advantage.

Turquoise Bay

Leaving Exmouth

On the road to the Pilbara - time to stretch the legs.

Dales Gorge, Karajini National Park - Pilbara.

E braves the cool Circular Pool.

The gorge walk had some challenging steps for a little fella.

Hamersley Gorge

Best swimming hole yet in Hamersley Gorge.

Heading home after a long day trip.

Turning the corner

In the last two weeks we have turned the corner at the bottom of WA, faced some ferocious storms, had a great time on some farms, ridden the big wave and are now on the long journey north.

At the Valley of the Giants, we walked through the treetops.

Stormy skies around Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse at the very southwest corner of Australia where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean.

E and Little F after tackling the lighthouse stairs.

Margaret River turned on some wild weather for us.

At Hyden, Big F took on the big wave.

J opted for a more original wave rock stance!

Nearby rock art.

After heading into the country, Little F enjoyed the Wagin  Historic Museum.

We then moved on to a friends farm near Narrogin, where Little F didn't think much of the pigs.....

But the lambs were a hit.

The boys.....off for a haircut.

...and yesterday at the Pinnacles. In typical fashion, it rained in the desert.

The Deep South of the Far West

We have spent the last three weeks poking around Esperance, Albany and all in between. While this is some of the most beautiful country we have seen so far, the abundance of fishing trips and the rainy weather has meant that the camera has stayed in the bag more than usual. But here is a collection of some of the finer moments, and a glimpse of the beaches from those moments when we saw the sun.

Lucky Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches that we have seen.

Cape Le Grande National Park

Interesting rock formations everywhere

Climbing Frenchman's Peak

Frenchman's Peak from 50km away.

Stayed with some old friends in Esperance and enjoyed some creature comforts and great hospitality.

Esperance

Stokes Inlet, west of Esperance, where we caught plenty of big bream.

In the spinning egg, Albany.

Aboard the Brig Amity.

Escaping the rain today at the Earl and Spencer Inn, Albany.

Afternoon coldie.