Day 38 Exmouth - 6/4/11

Population of Exmouth is 2,400.  It was established in 1967 on the North West Cape as a support town for the Harold E Holt Naval Communication Station which is a joint venture between Australian and the USA Governments.  It is located near the Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Marine Park. 

You can just see the radio towers at the Naval Communications Centre 

Exmouth was hard hit by Cyclone Vance in 1999.  It also holds the record for wind gust speed for the Australian mainland with 267km per hour winds recorded at the Learmonth Meteorological Office.  Exmouth doesn't have a wet season.

Each year from April to July following the mass spawning of coral, the world's biggest species of fish, the whale shark, congregates at the Ningaloo Marine Park.  I had wanted to do the swim with the whale sharks but after being sick on the Rottnest Ferry and the coral viewing boat, the thought of being on a boat for the whole day and the cost of $399 was just too much.

Our fist stop today was at Bundegi Beach which is the start of the Ningaloo Marine Park.  It is opposite the Naval Communication Station and is good for swimming, snorkelling and fishing.  Then we went to Lighthouse Bay and saw the wreck of the SS Mildura which was a cattle ship that had left the Kimberley and was lost during a cyclone in 1907.  All the crew were saved but over 450 bullocks perished.  The hull sat on the reef undisturbed until World War II when allied planes used it for boming practice.  You can still see bits of the wreck from the beach.

Bundegi Beach 

The wreck at Lighthouse Bay 

Another view of Lighthouse Bay

Around the corner we went up to the lookout at Vlaming Head Lighthouse.  Here you have panoramic 360 degree views.  We were able to see the off shore oil and gas rigs and with the binoculars you can even see the gas burning.

Vlaming Head Lighthouse 

One of the panoramic views - Lighthouse Bay

Just down the road is the Jurabi Turtle Centre which provides information about Ningaloo Marine Turtles.  There is a pictorial turtle display and you can walk down to where the turtles nest on the beach.

Jurabi Turtle Centre

Then we drove into Cape Range National Park and stopped at the Milyering Vistor Centre.  There is a range of models, videos and graphic displays.  We also watched a video of the underwater life at Ningaloo Marine Park and it was really interesting with amazing photography.

We stopped at Turquoise Bay and had lunch.  This is a beautiful beach with white sandy shores and clear waters.  The reef starts just metres from the shore and there is a snorkal drift.  You jump in at the south end of the beach and the current takes you over the reef for a fantastic snorkeling experience.  All the tourist information warned of dangerous currents in this area so I wasn't game to do any snorkelling here, particularly as I would have been in the water on my own.

Turquoise Bay

Fabulous shelters at Turquoise Bay

A short stop next at Mandu Mandu Gorge and then back to Exmouth.

Wild Hibiscus at the gorge

Unfortunately the pool at the caravan park was not open during our stay due to abnormally high chlorine levels so I was a bit disappointed about that.  It was very hot so a dip would have been just the thing.

Tomorrow we are off to Onslow.

cheers

Pete and Roz