Day 31: Cape Range National Park (Osprey Bay, Yardie Creek Walk, Oyster Stacks, Turquoise Bay, Tulki Beach)

Our kids remain true to their early riser mode: 6 am wake-up call! We have breakfast, Michi goes on a snorkeling tour (reef rather unspectacular, but a stingray was there) and we get ready to leave. Unfortunately, this was our last night in Osprey Bay.

We drive south to Yardie Creek and hike the 3.5 km long trail there. With a snack break, it takes us about 2 hours. The first part of the path is an easy sandy track, then it continues on rock slabs and the last part goes up and down through small side arms of the gorge. During the hike, there are beautiful views of the creek. We see some birds, including eagles. After the snack, we go back the same way. Samuel walks almost the entire distance. Maxima sleeps on the way back in the carrier.

We drive to the Oyster Stacks again. Michi goes snorkeling, the kids play with Tip toi, and I cook kangaroo meat patties with mashed potatoes. Michi is not so thrilled with the snorkeling spot, so we drive back to Turquoise Bay after dinner. The drift snorkel spot is simply the best for us and we are not disappointed today either. The later the hour, the more fish there are at the reef. We see many sharks during our 5 snorkeling sessions (I even spot 4, Michi sees 10 on one of his tours, which no one has been able to match in his almost 300 dives), huge schools, a grouper, and a turtle. Today, the current is not very strong and you can also linger. I have the opportunity to take a video of the turtle and the kids are thrilled. The drift loop at Turkquoise Bay is a great snorkeling spot! Highly recommended!

The kids don't go into the water today. They play in the sand and with the washed-up corals. We stay until sunset. The wind is blowing strong again and it's chilly tonight. Then we go to Tulki Beach, our overnight spot. It's a smaller camp. Unfortunately, we don't see much because it's already dark. Tonight, we have pancakes. The kids are totally exhausted and fall into bed.

12.10.2018

Overnight stay: Tulki Beach / Cape Range National Park (1 night 22 AUD, site with 10 parking spaces, no ocean view)

Weather: sunny & windy, 27 degrees Celsius

48 kilometers today, total of 4,733 km