Day 25: Exmouth

Somehow our kids can't seem to get into vacation sleep mode. Even today, we woke up at 6:15 am. at home, Samuel and Maxima were up at 7:30 am and Elija usually woke up at 9 am. Michi takes the older ones to the playground while I make breakfast. After breakfast, Samuel and Maxima take a ride on the go-kart at the campsite. They really enjoy it.

We check out and visit the Visitor Center across from the campsite. Michi wants to swim with whales, so we get some information material or Michi will ask at the RAC campsite. They offer a tour there today and tomorrow.

We drive to the city center to refuel (the most expensive diesel so far) and stock up on groceries. The selection at IGA in Exmouth is smaller and a bit more expensive than at Coles or Woolworths. In hindsight, Karratha would have been the better option for grocery shopping. Maxima is completely exhausted and falls asleep while we're shopping.

We make some sandwiches and head to Ningaloo Lighthouse Holiday Park. This campground was recommended to us multiple times. It's located on the way from Exmouth to Cape Range National Park. When we arrive, we're a bit disappointed. We find the place a bit loveless. Unfortunately, our pitch is very close to the road or entrance/bar area. Since Michi wants to go on a whale tour, the campground is inconvenient for us as there is no pickup here and he would have to drive back to Exmouth himself. We will move back tomorrow.

Although the temperatures here are more moderate than in the far north, it's still quite warm in the midday sun, so we go swimming in the pool. I make a short detour to the beach across from the campground. It's nice, but nothing special.

In the late afternoon, we go on an excursion. We drive to the Jurabi Turtle Centre. Unfortunately, we don't see any turtles there, but we can watch whales from the beach. We continue driving south and make a stop at Jurabi Point. There are a lot of kite surfers and some windsurfers here - and whales in the distance again. The kids really like it here. We watch the surfers and the kids play on the beach. As we make our way back to the camper, a young man from Germany approaches us. He tells us that there are turtles on the beach at Jurabi Point. We should just walk a little further south. We do as he says and indeed we discover some turtles. They are really big as well. Samuel is very excited. We stay until sunset.

Back at the campground, we are pretty tired. We have rice pan with fish and vegetables for dinner.

6th October 2018

Accommodation: Ningaloo Lighthouse Holiday Park / Exmouth (1 night 51 AUD, smaller pitches, close to the road, near the ocean)

Weather: sunny, 28 degrees

45 kilometers driven today, total of 4,428 km