Cape Keraudren --- Karijini

Firstly we need to start with "Happy 5th Birthday Jack" Woo hoo!
Jack is very excited to be turning 5, he was lucky enough to open some presents thanks to Australia Post, Grandparents, Mum, Dad and Sophie and new travelling companions xx

We turned right from Broome and headed south down the WA coast to an over night camp at Cape Keraudren.  Very picturesque spot, where we could camp right on the oceans edge.  We have been very fortunate to meet and began travelling with the "Foots" (Emma, Adam, Anais, and Amelie).  The girls are the same age as Jack and Sophie and we seem to be heading the same way and just get along really well- So why not!

Our camp on the beach

Enjoying a refreshment before dinner

Collecting Shells

Sophie and Anais

http://www.eastpilbara.wa.gov.au/inter_site/php_scripts/see_ck.php

The only disappointing thing about this site was the long drop was pooey! (not long enough)

From Cape Kerauden we headed of south dropping into Port Hedland.  Port Hedland's is well known for it's Mining of Iron ore and Salt.  We felt very out of place as we were not wearing reflective work shirts and pants...

The whole of the Pilbara is Mining Mining some red dust and more Mining!

Big boat coming into Port Hedland

The kids having a well earned break from the car!

Heading East now we had a huge drive into Karijini National Park

http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Destinations/Australias_North_West/Karijini_National_Park/Pages/Karijini_National_Park.aspx

This place really was spectacular and we are so glad that we decided to drive east and have a look.  We stayed 2 nights and walked into Fortesque Falls, Circular Pool, and Fern Pool.  

Fortesque Falls

Top of Fortesque Falls. Kids walked all the way!

Fern Pool

Circular Pool 

Escarpments

Beginning of walk down to circular Pool

Circular Pool

The walk down to the falls was a bit harrowing particularly with small children who want to jump from rock to rock!  Sadly only a few days before we arrived a father lost his life trying to rescue his son who had fallen down the escarpment.  The son (aged 7) is in a critical but stable condition in a Perth hospital.  We could see how easy this could have happened, and we were watching the kids and ourselves like a hawk.  Such a terrible accident in an extremely remote spectacular location

We formed a relationship with the red dust!  It stuck to our clothes, skin and hair....  Oh and just as we were about to leave camp (all packed up) Sophie managed to fall flat faced into the dust! hmmmm. I have spent today soaking our clothes with napisan and then washing them today! I wait to see if the red dust comes out.  

From Karijini we began the trek back over to the west coast through Tom Price stopping at Coral Bay.

This place is spectacular and we will tell you all about it very soon.  We are staying in an unpowered site, the only ones available as it is WA school holidays.  We have decided to park here for the week while we wait out the school holiday crowd!