Looking to get away from it all, to reconnect with nature, then the Ningaloo Region, Western Australia makes a perfect retreat. Like most travelers to the Ningaloo Region we discovered Coral Bay and Exmouth. This region is also home to the Ningaloo Marine Park and the Cape Range National Park, part of the larger Ningaloo Coastal Heritage Area. What makes the marine park so special is the Ningaloo Reef covering 300 kilometers. The reef extends from the Bundegi Reef near Exmouth to Red Bluff, 140 kilometers north of Carnarvon. The reef is accessible in many places from the shoreline making it popular with snorkelers. The Cape Range National Park is not only popular with snorkelers but also with hikers. After a hard day snorkeling and/or hiking you can just grab a bottle of wine, a picnic basket and watch the sunset.
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| Ningaloo Coastline © Spaswinefood |
The Ningaloo Region is part of Western Australia's Coral Coast, 1,100km of coastline, which includes white sandy beaches and a coral reef. Now a few highlights from Spaswinefood's explorations of nature's wonders within the Ningaloo Region:
Coral
Bay
We picked up supplies in Carnarvon, had lunch and then continued onto Coral Bay. Before arriving we crossed over the Tropic of Capricorn. Coral Bay, a maritime paradise located in the heart of the Ningaloo Marine Park, is a popular tourist attraction. We arrived late in the evening and stayed overnight at a caravan park.
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| Maud Sanctuary, Ningaloo Marine Park © Spaswinefood |
The night we dined at Bill's Restaurant.
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| Bills, Coral Bay © Spaswinefood |
From the wine list we decided on a sparking wine from Jacob's Creek.
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| Jacob's Creek, Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvée NV © Spaswinefood |
This was a pleasant sparkling wine. However, this was not the first Jacob's Creek wine that we encountered during our Australian travels #oz15. Fortunately, later during our second visit to the Barossa Valley we visited Jacob's Creek.
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| Jacob's Creek Winery, Barossa Valley © Spaswinefood |
There we tasted again their Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvée NV and a Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvée.
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| Jacob's Creek, Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvée NV © Spaswinefood |
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| Jacob's Creek, Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvée 2013 © Spaswinefood |
Jacob's Creek also makes an award winning Shiraz Rosé.
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| Jacob's Creek, Cool Harvest Shiraz Rosé 2012 © Spaswinefood |
No matter where your travels take you in Australia chances are there good wines available.
For dinner that evening at Bill's we ordered Fish and Chips and Vegetarian Pasta.
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| Fish and Chips, Bills © Spaswinefood |
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| Vegetarian Pasta, Bills © Spaswinefood |
Early next morning before the crowds invaded the beach we took a walk.
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| Early Morning, Coral Bay © Spaswinefood |
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| Coral Bay, Ningaloo Marine Park © Spaswinefood |
Many visitors like to explore the coral reef
area near Coral Bay where there is an abundance of colorful fish and other sea animals. We founded it too congested with tourists, many of which came primarily to dive with the whale sharks. Whale sharks can be seen in the area between April and July. We decided instead to drive onto Exmouth where we would have a more relaxing time exploring the Cape Range National Park. There we would immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of this region.
Exmouth and the Cape Range National Park
Beside the highway to Exmouth we passed many termite mounds. Throughout our Australia travels we saw many types of termite mounds. We were always delighted to view the ever changing termite mounds during our travels through Western Australia.
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| Termite Mound, Ningaloo Region © Spaswinefood |
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| Exmouth © Spaswinefood |
While in Exmouth we stopped by the visitors center which was very helpful. After a brief stay in Exmouth we moved onto the Cape Range National Park.
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| Coastline near Exmouth © Spaswinefood |
Within the park there are beautiful areas for snorkeling. One of those is Emerald Bay. Make sure you are well informed on the tides before going snorkeling.
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| Emerald Bay, Cape Range National Park © Spaswinefood |
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| Emerald Beach © Spaswinefood |
During our Cape Range National Park stay we saw
fruit bats, rock wallabies, euro and red kangaroos, emu, busters and
other birds, such as the crested doves and cockatoos.
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| Crested Dove, Ningaloo © Spaswinefood |
Throughout the park there are a number of hiking trails. During our Yardie Creek walk we not only enjoyed the walk but saw some animals along the route.
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| Walking Trail, Yardie Creek © Spaswinefood |
The Galas were busy vocalizing in the nearby trees as we began our walk. Although Galas are quite common throughout Australia I always enjoyed seeing them.
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| Galas, Yardie Creek © Spaswinefood |
Then later along we heard the fruit bats (flying foxes) before we saw them.
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| Fruit Bats, Yardie Creek © Spaswinefood |
Rock Wallabies are found in the area and we were fortunate enough to see one.
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| Rock Wallaby, Yardie Creek © Spaswinefood |
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| Rock Wallaby Checking Us Out © Spaswinefood |
The Yardie Creek gorge is the only one in the park that is permanently filled with water.
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| Gorge, Yardie Creek © Spaswinefood |
The gorge is navigable and in fact there are boats tours available.
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| Boat Ramp, Yardie Creek © Spaswinefood |
Within the park there are a number of camp grounds. We camped near the ocean where we observed beautiful sunsets.
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| Sunset, Cape Range National Park © Spaswinefood |
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| After Sunset, Cape Range National Park © Spaswinefood |
Yes, it was just perfect for enjoying a glass of wine while watching the sun set.
All to soon our nature retreat was over and we needed to continue our road trip. The morning we left the park we just happened to see three busters running by the side of the road.
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| Three Busters © Spaswinefood |
We also took the time to observe some of the unique vegetation found in the park.
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| Colorful Solanacea (Tomato Family) © Spaswinefood |
One of the trees found in the park is the baobab tree, commonly know as a baob tree.
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| Baobab Tree (Baob Tree) © Spaswinefood |
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| Baob Tree © Spaswinefood |
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| Baob Tree Closeup © Spaswinefood |
The Cape Range National Park is part of the Ningaloo Coastal Heritage Area that was declared in 2011.
After leaving the Cape Range National Park we passed through Exmouth once more as we journeyed back to Highway 1 then onto our next destination.
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| North West Coastal Highway, WA © Spaswinefood |
That day after a brief stop at Nanutarra Roadhouse it was onto a road rest at Homestead Creek on the Highway 36 to Tom Price, some 60 km
off Highway 1. There we spent a pleasant overnight at a roadside rest, with clean
toilets, camp fire, dinner and beautiful sunset. Next morning we returned 60 km back to Highway 1 where we continued on towards Dampier and Port Hedland. There is so much to do and see in
Western Australia. I invite you to join me in my travels in Western Australia and
elsewhere at Spaswinefood.
Sharon
May 2015
Western Australia
© Spaswinefood
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