Our Way Around… the Ningaloo Reef
Photo Album
We arrived a few days earlier than anticipated to avoid road closures from forecasted rain, so spent two lovely and dry nights at 14 mile & Elle’s campground.
Had a week at Steven’s campground, which was unreal. We took the boat out from Sandy Point one day and otherwise just snorkelled from Steven’s Beach. After a few weeks of unsuccessful fishing, Adam finally caught some chinaman cod and speared a painted sweet lip, both were delicious on fish burgers. We also randomly caught an octopus with octopus bait.
Did a day trip up to Coral Bay, we went into the bakery and got a scroll each and loaf of bread, which was surprisingly cheap considering the caravan park is $100 a night or something ridiculous.
We then went for a snorkel at Five Fingers Reef, I was so excited when we saw a turtle which I followed around the reef for ages. Definitely a highlight of the trip for me.
Had a couple nights at Waroora Station Homestead, was good to have a shower but the bore water’s pretty rusty & salty.
We stayed at Point Billie twice, located between North & South Lefroy. I definitely preferred our camp sites on the second visit more (sites 36/37). It was perfect to put the boat in and in case you didn’t know already, we caught some big fish, a 1.35m wahoo & two 1m+ Spanish mackerel. We also lost a yellow fin tuna and another wahoo at the boat.
Other campgrounds multiple people recommended were Winderabandi & Boat Harbour but we couldn’t get in there.
Spent two nights at Bullara Station with Harry & Elizabeth. Hayley & Liam also happened to be there with some friends on the Friday night, which is the infamous burger night. We took the boat out in the Exmouth Gulf on Saturday for a couple hours which was pretty cool. I’d thought the showers at Bullara would be overrated because everyone always posts photos in them but it was hands down best shower I’ve had in my life, perfect water temp, pressure, weather, vibes. Worth all the hype, carry on influencers.
The whale shark tour was a bucket list item on the trip for me, it was harder to convince Adam to spend the $550 but was worth it in the end. It felt a bit like a school excursion when we boarded the bus at the caravan park and I was very nervous about the weather as there had been rain the night before and that they wouldn’t find a shark for us to swim with. But we ended up being very lucky and got to swim with one for an hour! The guides told us often they swim deep after 10mins and you don’t see them again. You swim in two groups of 10 but Adam and I’s group dwindled down to just 3 in the end as everyone dropped off with sea sickness, was honestly so funny when we got back in the boat all pumped and then seeing people were just passed out all over the place, how I imaged it looked after Tanya killed the gays on White Lotus.
A humpback whale and calf came up very close behind the boat on our way back, gave me a heart attack but everyone else was very excited.
Can’t say we were big fans of Exmouth as far as towns go, we were happy to just stay the three nights. Had a great time at Whalebone Brewing on our last night, where we ran into the two couples we were camped next to at Point Billie. Got some pizza’s for dinner which were delicious (and huge) and we definitely drunk more than anticipated with the unexpected company.
We loved our time on the Ningaloo Reef but I don’t think I’d recommend it as a holiday destination to anyone who doesn’t have a 4WD or boat.
Cookbook
We have obviously been consuming an obscene amount of fish. Fish with salad, fish on wraps, fish on burgers, fish tacos, crumbed fish, battered fish, grilled fish, seasoned fish, but it has tasted best cooked in thai fish curry.
The wahoo is a slightly softer meat than the spanish mackerel, otherwise they taste similar. Was pretty cool but weird eating some fish straight off the bone as sashimi.
I’ve wanted to try a fish laksa and fish congee but we don’t have the ingredients, lucky we still have about 5kgs of fish in the freezer!
Couscous salad has been the perfect, quick and easy side to have with the fish. It has garlic, onion, zucchini/ broccoli/ beans, vegetable stock & couscous, all of which have stored well frozen or in the pantry.
Bookshelf
Broken Country - Clare Leslie Hall
Wowee what a book, the most gripping and heartbreaking story I’ve read in a long time. I feel like I’m in shock about everything that happened and don’t quite know what to say or think about the ending but would definitely recommend this to get out of a reading rut.
The Ledge - Christian White
This story unfolded with time jumps similar-ish to that of Broken Country, which I quite like. I listened to the audiobook which was really well narrated by Nic English. I haven’t read many mystery/thriller books to compare but this has possibly the biggest twist I’ve read in a book and kept me gripped the whole 8 hours.
The Thursday Murder Club Series - Richard Osman
In need of a more friendly murder mystery after two intense reads I decided to start reading the infamous Thursday Murder Club series. Such an entertaining read, in love with all the characters, the humour, and the mysteries.
Playlist
Nice to Each Other - Olivia Dean
People Watching - Sam Fender
Take me back - HAIM
Moody - Royel Otis
Don’t Stop… - Oasis
Shark Fin Blues - Missy Higgins
And honorary mention to the Proud Mary cover performed by travelling husband and wife duo at Waroora Station, I have not been able to get Tina Turner out of my head since.
Wardrobe
Bought this long sleeve swimsuit for $10 from a clothes market at Bawley Point one long weekend. The swimsuit is perfect to wear snorkelling in the warm Ningaloo waters. Though I am waiting to go to the beach one day and there’s a 2 year old in the same thing.
Fishing shirt was also an obvious wardrobe essential.
