Day 97 28062011 Cape Range National Park – Yardie Creek & Turquoise Bay

Day 97 28062011 Cape Range National Park – Yardie Creek & Turquoise Bay

Today was our last day in this National Park so we decided to head back to Turquoise Bay to snorkel again and do the drift snorkel.  But before we could go anywhere I had decided that the kids could do a little school work, I found toady it was much easier to just let them choose what they wanted to do – a little like a Steiner classroom!! They worked away happily for about 1 hour and then Claudia and I decided to do a little Home Economics and we baked some Chocolate Muffins for recess!!.  Zac managed to slip in a fish before school started and returned to the van with a rather large and ugly looking cod.  Having no idea how to cook a cod I asked him to release it!! And I convinced him they were bad eating.  I have since found out they are quite good eating but I still have no idea about the best way to cook one.



A very ugly fish



Once we had completed the formal education we packed a picnic and headed off to Turquoise Bay, unbelievably the kids are feeling a little snorkelled out so only Pete and I suited for the drift snorkel.  This was a great snorkel and we drifted over beautiful coral and bommies teeming with marine life.  We saw fish species that we haven’t seen previously and also some regular favourites.  The only marine creature that we haven’t seen anywhere on the Ningaloo Reef are nudibrancs. I have looked really hard for them but they are either not here or they have alluded me. Selfishly it was great snorkelling child free as we were able to just float with the current without a worry.

Whilst we were snorkelling the kids entertained themselves by digging more big holes in the sand.  When we returned to the beach they then spent a long time playing in the water, trying to catch the dart fish that are in close to shore.  The dart fish are so used to snorkelers that it almost feels like you have to shoo them away from your legs when putting fins on!!

When we returned to the caravan the three kids headed off for a fish, Claudia caught and released a small cod but the boys were unsuccessful.  Claudia and Callum spent a large proportion of time hunting crabs.

At sunset we met with other campers to enjoy the sunset from a communal viewing point and in chatting with other campers we are a little worried about the weather that we are driving in to.  There has been lots of rain and seriously cold weather down the coast and we are not looking forward to rainy days….

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