Yardie Homestead

Day 118 - Yardie Homestead

Yardie Homestead

Thursday, 16 May 2013
Woke up early, had a cuppa, took Tuka for a walk, had breakfast and did some cleaning. At 8.15 Fabien, a Swiss backpacker and resident dog-minder arrived to look after Tuka. I gave her dog food and her details about Tuka and off they went.

I drove to Cape Range National Park, paid the $5 entry fee (concession) and went to Mangrove Bay to see a small group of mangroves. Next called into the Milering Visitor Centre and looked at the dsplays.

Drove onto Lakeside, one of four designated snorkelling areas. There were fish everywhere - on the top, on the bottom and in between. There were hundreds of fish and many species, abundant coral and one ray. Lovely spot for snorkelling.

Next was the Drift Snorkel Area at Turquoise Bay. So called because you drift with the current parallel to the beach. The only drawback is that if you drift too far you end up in a rip that takes you out through the gap in the reef and out to sea! Not as many fish but I did manage to see a Black-tipped Reef Shark.

As a change I decided togo for a walk in Mandu Mandu Gorge. I walked along the gorge rim which gave me views over Ningaloo Reef and the surrounding country. Then down into the gorge where the trailnwinds its way along the rocky creek bed. Creek bed was dry and full of white/creamy coloured rocks. It would be great to see it in the wet season.

The next snorkel site, Oyster Stacks can only be swum at mid to high tide so I arrived just after high tide. Plenty of small jellyfish in the water. Last site was the Bay Snorkel Area on the eastern side of Turquuoise Bay. Not many fish but nice coral but lots of sediment in the water.

Back at the camp Tuka was pleased to see me (he started barking as soon as I drove in to the park). He had a good time with Fabien and met a couple of other campers during the day.

	Large fish at Lakeside [Map]		Colourful fish at Lakeside [Map]
	Ray hiding from me [Map]		Close-up of the ray [Map]
	Black-tipped reef shark [Map]		Mandu Mandu Gorge, river bed and Ningaloo Reef [Map]
	Mandu Mandu Gorge wall [Map]		Fish harassing a jellyfish [Map]
	Underneath the jellyfish [Map]		Spotted sea slug [Map]

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