Day 23: Eigthy Mile Beach - Port Hedland - Karratha

Today we have to say goodbye to Eigthy Mile Beach. We're heading to Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth/Cape Range/Coral Bay). Since it's over 1,000 km to get there, we've decided to break up the journey in Karratha and spend a night there.

After breakfast, we fill up our water tank and start driving. The first 10 km are off-road again and then we drive back to Port Hedland. We have lunch at the playground at the harbor. Michi goes fishing with Samuel (to Samuel's disappointment, unfortunately without success again, let's see how long the enthusiasm lasts). I go fishing with Maxima and Elija in Wedge Street. Luckily, we're a bit more successful and have secured lunch. I get us Fish & Chips at the Hedland Cafe, which we enjoy together at the picnic tables in the playground. We're not the only ones hungry. You have to be careful because the seagulls are like vultures.

In the cafe, I also found a plant-based mosquito repellent for babies. So we bought it right away. I read in the travel guide that sand flies are very annoying in Exmouth. We still remember those pests from our trip to New Zealand. They really ruined our beach stay in Abel Tasman National Park. We met some people in Karijini who had completely bitten legs. It looked really bad. I hope we don't get bitten this time.

In the afternoon, we head west from Port Hedland. All three kids take an afternoon nap - at the same time! That means Stewardess Mom also gets an hour break. It's pretty hot. Unfortunately, the air conditioning of our Maui keeps failing and we all sweat a lot.

We're all relieved when we arrive at the campsite shortly before 6 pm. The kids are still playing at the playground. Since it's too dark for the pool, we cool off in the shower. Tonight, we're having kangaroo for dinner again. Exhausted from the long drive and the heat, we all go to bed at 9 pm.

4th October 2018

Accommodation: Discovery Park Karratha / Karratha (1 night, 48 AUD, place is okay for a stopover)

Weather: sunny & cloudy, 39 degrees Celsius

509 kilometers driven today, total of 3,843 km