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.