Lucky Bay, W.A

Labour Day Long weekend 2015. Yep another perfect chance to get away for 4 days with the family.
We packed up the #Camprite TX6 the #Navara and started our #Lucky Bay trip off by heading north from Geraldton to Northampton, where we turned left to make our way towards Kalbarri via the Coast road. 63km later you arrive at an unsignposted gravel road on the left were it pays to air down. I dropped the Navara tires to 20psi and also the Camprite TX6 tyres to about 25psi. Follow the road till you come to the Lucky bay Shacks and continue past them heading north into the sand dunes. Then pick a camp site.
Our second attempt at finding a camp ended up being our perfect spot to spend the next 4 days.

Just getting here was a great learning experience, as I had never towed a fully loaded Camper on such soft beach sand before but another notch to the belt. With beach right at the back door and small dunes for the boys to entertain themselves, and a good area for cricket and football, this was us !

After breaky on the first day we went exploring the beach and the dune areas early as it was forecasted to be in the high 30's. On our way back to camp we found these huge dunes and the boys were keen to give them a go on their boards. Even i gave it a go :) 

We spent most of the weekend swimming, body boarding, walking & playing with the boys around the camp. The boys found some cuttlefish and decided to make our mark and leave a little shrine for the next visitors. We also managed to slip a few beverages in too :) it's hard work but i suppose someone has to do it .

This is the life !

After Lunch on the second day we headed north a bit to actual Little Bay itself. What a fantastic spot this is. We watched a couple fishing boats come back in & clean their catch. With a natural harbour to retrieve the boats & an awesome spot to swim in the crystal clear water we decided to pull up and pitch the umbrella and spend the rest of the day here. What a cracking spot.

On the last morning we go a few spots of rain. The weather Gods were looking after us at Lucky Bay as when we got home to Geraldton later that arvo they had been a 75mm down-pour. We enjoyed pancakes for breaky then cleaned up (thanks boys) and packed up :( ready for the trip home. Remember to take out all your rubbish with you ...

We all had so much fun here and hope to get back some day.

Till our next adventure.  BOWEN05

Little Bay, Horrocks W.A.

Australia Day long weekend 2015. Sounds like no better opportunity to head up the coast for a break. With the #TX6 Camprite & the #Navara all packed  family buckled in we headed north from Geraldton to the old Tin mining town of Northampton, where we turned left and headed towards Horrocks. Arriving in Horrocks we noticed how it had developed from the laid back little cray fishing village to a green well groomed small town with Big new houses every where. We slowly crept past the already full Caravan park heading North past the golf course towards our destination # Little Bay.

Little Bay is a camp ground run by the Northampton Shire and managed by the Shire Rangers. It has 4 pit toilets and the ranger collects any rubbish daily. As we drove over the last sand dune down to the water we were expecting the place to be packed to the fence line but to our surprise we had the pick of the sites.
There are Three camp sites the first can cater for several big camps or groups the middle one that we ended up at is also suitable for a small group or just by your self if you have a bigger setup and the most northern camp ground also has room for a few camps. All the camps have shade and are close the beach. $15 per vehicle per night, pretty good value if you ask me.

"Our Camp" Middle camp site Little Bay

With such a perfect spot and this awesome bit of W.A coast at our door step (literally) we spent the next 4 days swimming, trying our luck fishing (we failed) climbing the sand dunes, relaxing with a beverage or two and enjoying some Quality Family time. I even got Cathy in the Drivers seat and we went 4WDing up the beach. The boys looked a bit nervous but it was all good for her first 4WD experience. With my first time towing a camper up the beach so I also gain some valuable experience. I left the tyres on the TX6 at 40psi and dropped the Navara tyres to around 20psi and we had no problems at all getting in or back out again.

On our departure we rolled back into Horrocks where there is a great little shop with free Air to inflate your rubber again ready for the black top. We decided to buy a round of ice creams from the same little shop that had supplied us with the fee air and then made our way down the the great foreshore area they have and enjoy the view once more before heading home. 

Sandy Cape W.A

Friday 16th May 2014. 

Started early with a 4am start. We were making the 500km trip to Perth so William could see a specialist & what better excuse to hook up our Tx6 Camprite Camper to the Navara. In the true spirit of not wasting an opportunity to get out there & explore somewhere new we were off.  We didn't arrive back into Sandy Cape till after dark which was a little test for us but I think we did pretty well for first time setting up in the dark.

After a chilly start to our Saturday morning we were off exploring the sand dunes, beaches, cliffs & other camp sites around Sandy Cape returning back to camp for a cuppa & some morning tea. 

After morning tea we made a picnic lunch, packed the fridge, jumped into the Navara & headed off on a bit of an adventure the First stop over was the Stock Yard Gully Caves. After turning off the black top onto the gravel we pulled over to air down our tyres as we had been told by locals that it was a 4WD only access. Travelling along the gravel road I was thinking where is the 4WDing to start & this was all too easy . Ah then there it was, a soft sandy track followed by a rugged, short, narrow 4WD track that had the boys all excited. Once there it is only a short few steps from the car park to the information bay, picnic tables & the start of the walking paths. Equipped with head lamps, torches & plenty of water we headed straight into the Stockyard Gully on our way for the cave.    

The East Entrance to Stockyard Gully Caves

Pays to have good torches 

Boys having a blast running climbing & exploring inside the cave

Stockyard Gully Cave West Entrance

Bee Hive at west entrance.

Too risky for us as Cathy is allergic to bees but we didn't disturb them & they we fine. After a few photos & a couple of minutes admiring this beautiful place, we decided to head back through the cave (much to the delight of our boys) to the information bay where we would have our lunch. We were blessed with the best weather to enjoy a packed lunch in the bush & there was not another sole in sight. What more could you want.

Beer with lunch. Y not

Lunch wahoo..

Rare moment. :)

After lunch it was 4WDing again to get out as we headed south back towards the Lesueuer National Park for a bit of a look around. Great spot but it is a true shame there is no camp ground in the park as it would of been a great place to pull up for a few days. The afternoon was spent with the boys playing with other kids around the camp ground at Sandy Cape while we relaxed and enjoyed a beverage or two.

The next morning we were up early again as I wanted to explore the coastline a bit more south of sandy cape as my uncle used to spend a bit of time there when he was a young bloke & I had heard stories of some old WWII Ammunition Shelters. The boys were excited as we were off road 4WDing again along narrow rocky & sometimes sandy boggy tracks. On our way we marked our MUDMAP with some weigh-points of some absolute cracking camp sites that we will be back to camp in the future.

It's a Shame this one was locked up.

Ammunition Shelter with a view

With reinforced walls of concrete a foot thick I think we'll be safe :)

Memorial for a young shark attack victim at North Head.

After exploring these historic treasures from our past, finding some great campsites to come back to & having some 4WD fun in doing so we headed back to camp as the Tx6 Camprite camper should have dried out by now which meant we were packing up to start our short journey home & this little adventure was nearly over : ( 

Sandy Cape Campground W.A