Dirk Hartog Island -an unexpected Gem

We are having a "gourmet" break from the camper and canvas. We are staying in a remote, picturesque and Historic Cat Stone homestead on Dirk Hartog island. For the non historians, Dirk Hartog was the first recorded European to land on Australia in1616.  Who said Cook got here first! Hartog  landed at Cape Inspiration at the top end of Dirk Hartog Island off the West Australian coast.

We Have Arrived

Yesterday we traded the 4wd for a buggie, took a packed lunch and headed down the station tracks exploring the island. Drove over the sandunes to see  blowholes where the Indian Ocean pounded up against the cliffs, then went round to Surf Point to watch the surf roll into Shark Bay. Just at our feet there were hundreds of reef sharks swimming  with metres of the shore.
After lunch we went swimming and snorkeling. There were a few colourful fish swimming through the coral and in the small caves.

Today (Sunday) we are stranded on the island (Not really a hardship) due to a storm that made a boat crossing  back to Denham dangerous and turned the runway into a slippery skating ring just as the light plane landed.. The pilot is stranded as well!  All part of the unexpected magic living in an isolated location.

Sandy Bay Dirk Hartog Island

The Beach Buggy

Louise & Will   Our Lnch Stop!

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Barn Hill Station

We had the most fantastic camp site on the cliffs overlooking the beach. Ed and I walked the whole length of the beach. The eroded sandstone was very colourful and spectacular at sunset.

We sat among the tall grass watching the sun go down with a beer and a scotch for our chef. 

In the morning we were greeted by a heavy dew that would have delighted the kangaroos who were chewing on the grass in the morning.

The name Barn Hill come from an unusual rock formation which is in the shape of an English/Canadian barn.

Up the Tanami Road

Folks
Our plan to post regular updates (Don Walsh like is not working out). Too much to see and do
For the moment the best part of this blog is the link to our snail trail showing our daily  movements.

Have a regular peak. We hear grandchildren are rolling it regularly!!

The sunset our very first night driving into Condobalin from Parkes was a colourful shilouette with the sliver of a new moon above.
Next morning the sunrise was equally colourful. We we up early to catch up to Malcolm and Kathy.

Then the weather in the morning and evening turned bitter cold. Not too worry we crossed the tropic of Capricorn yesterday.. Shorts weather, one blanket off the bed.
Now for a photography day in the Bungle Bungles

Louise,  Will and Brother Ed

Where are we now ? Our Trail

As a safety precaution we are travelling with a SPOT GPS device. If misfortune strikes and siyuation is life threatening then the SPOT has a "SOS" button which initiates search and rescuee from Canberra.

One of the side benefits is the SPOT also creates a log of our movements. To see current position / movement click on the ECOTrack link

Click here to link Louise and Will's Snail trail

or here
http://www.exploroz.com/EOTrackMe/Default.aspx#tab=0&d=0pKHx0HBXNigjlbCcZNFLJeBFireILc8i

Our camping trailer

For this trip we purchased a 2nd hand Kimberley Kamper in January. It folds out backwards pulling up the canvas top  over a queen bed and providing a room at the back with a hard floor.The kitchen, ie Sink, stove & fridge pulls out from the side. We have a fridge in both the 4WD which we will run as a freezer provided the battery can keep up to the tropical heat!
There is lots of canvas; eg awning to keep the sun and rain off plus a zip on bedroom for grandchildren. Not shown.

Preparation

We are down to the final stages of preparation. Packing lists, warm clothes and more warm clothes.