Day 72 Ayr Sailean
Up to discover Walpole and surrounds. We headed to check out the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. And it’s sprinkling!!!!! The first day of the trip where it has rained. Luckily it wasn’t much and it cleared up pretty quickly. Tree Top Walk was great. They have a great detective activity for the kids to do while they are on the walk, albeit it was to fill out answers to questions on a piece of paper and it was raining…. so you can imagine how that went down. Anyway, they had fun regardless. The Tingle Trees here are incredible!
Next stop was the Giant Tingle Tree, it is HUGE! These trees are just gorgeous, and the native bush is spectacular.
After lunch we went out to have a look at Conspicuous Cliffs, it was still drizzling and very cold so it was just a quick look, then back to Ayr Sailean for a campfire and to get warm.
Liam and Scotty went Orchid hunting when we got back to camp and they found some spider orchids.
Day 73 Ayr Sailean to Albany
Another moving day. We spent the morning exploring Green Pool and Elephant Rocks. Wow! These places are amazing. The water colour is spectacular! I can just imagine how popular these little spots are in summer!!! It’s on my bucket list to come back here when it’s warmer and go snorkelling! Quiet afternoon once we arrive in Albany.
Day 74 Albany
Out to explore Albany and surrounds. We made our way to Natures Bridge and The Gap and we saw some Humpback Whales making their yearly migration south. They are so playful. The sound they make when they hit their dorsal fin on the water is so loud, it’s like an incredible slapping noise.
Next stop is the very informative but slightly grotesque Whaling Museum. I really enjoyed learning about the whales and what they used to do, but it was very sad at the same time. They used to catch Humpback and Sperm Whales here in Albany up until it became financially unviable to continue in 1978. Apparently the smell whilst the Whaling Station was operational was disgusting, but tourists used to come and watch. Can you imagine??? Oh and what’s worse, they used to take school kids there for excursions, right up on the whaling deck, beside the dead whale… I think I would have been traumatised for life, if it had been me. It was really hard for the kids to understand why people would do that to the whales. They have done a great job with the museum and the guided tour was fabulous to give us an insight into how the process used to run. They had an amazing shell collection there as well.
We stayed at the Big 4 Holiday Park in Emu Point, it has just been redeveloped and it is great! It even has a Mini Golf course, where Scotty had to wipe the floor with the kids ;)
Day 75 Albany
The weather was looking like it was going to not cooperate with us, so we have decided to stay an extra day in Albany We headed North to do the Granite Skywalk at Porongurup National Park. Thankfully the rain held off and we had just sprinkles. Pretty challenging walk, basically all up hill for 2km, then climbing and pulling yourself up and over big boulders once you get to the top. It was very, very windy at the top on the Skywalk but completely breathtaking.
We made it home just in time before the rain cam bucketing down.
Day 76 Albany to 50km west of Esperence
Plan was to drive to Bremer Bay and stay there the night, but the weather was terrible! So windy, raining and FREEZING!!!! Apparent temperature of 1 degree!!!!
Pushed through to Ravensthorpe where we visited the Ravensthorpe Flower Show, it was lovely. And it was so great because we had already found a large quantity of the flowers on show in the wild! Kids were on a mission to find some more. We drove on further and Scotty spotted some a magnificent eucalyptus, he thinks it’s a four sided nut eucalyptus. It’s just gorgeous. We also found some really pretty grevillias on the side of the road. Pulled up at a great little free camp and settled in before the rain came again. Liam and Scotty went for an explore and found an amazing little spider orchid ❤️❤️❤️❤️ so gorgeous. Dinner then games night. So cold once the kids went to bed, we sealed up the vent above Brig’s bed because the cold air was just streaming in!!! Raining, windy and cold over night.
Day 77 50km west of Esperence to Lucky Bay
Lovely little sleep in considering how cold it was over night. Quick stop in Esperance on our way through to Lucky Bay to stock up on supplies ready for 5 days of free camping. Arrived in Lucky Bay and we got an amazing little spot overlooking the beautiful Lucky Bay! This place is amazing!!! White sand, crystal clear blue water and Kangaroos right there on the water.