Exmouth and Cape Range National Park WA 

 Whale shark monument in the centre of Exmouth

Exmouths Pebble Beach

 Harold E. Holt Naval Communications Station

Vlaming Head Lighthouse near Exmouth

Tulki campsite.......where we camped...... in the Cape Range NP

Sunset over Tulki Campsite......

I manage beautiful sunsets not so many sunrises!

Beautiful Turquoise Bay Cape Range NP....great snorkling!

Getting ready for the Mandu Mandu Gorge walk

 Dry Creek bed in the Mandu Mandu Gorge

 Looking down into the gorge from the cliff face

 Our motorhome in the distance

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Yardie Creek Nature Trail and Gorge............. 

Wildflowers along the nature trail at Yardie Creek in the Cape Range NP

Animal life around Exmouth and Cape Range National Park

Animals around Exmouth and Cape Range NP Western Australia........ 

 Sea eagle.......near the port in Exmouth

 Emus.......on the plains in Cape Range NP

Rock Wallibies......in Mandu Mandu Gorge Cape Range NP

Kangaroos.....near our campsite at Tulki in the Cape Range NP

 SNAKE..... on the road in Cape Range NP

Two beautiful birds........ in Yardie Creek Gorge

Swimming with Whale Sharks and Humpback Whale with Calf

Dubbed the 'Gentle Giants' of the sea, whale sharks visit the waters of Ningaloo Marine Park on the Western Australia coast between March and July to feed on plankton.

The mass spawning of more than 200 species of coral in March and April each year is part of a chain of biological events that heralds the arrival of the world's fish, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) to Ningaloo Reef. These gentle giants cruise the world's oceans in search of concentrations of plankton. A fully grown whale shark can reach up to 18 metres in length, but more commonly, individuals encountered at Ningaloo Reef are between 4 and 12 metres long. A 12-metre whale shark may weigh as much as 11 tonnes and have a mouth more than a metre wide.

Occurrences of the whale shark are patch and unpredictable. Ningaloo Reef is one of only a few places in the world where they appear regularly in any numbers, in near-shore waters where they are easily accessible to observers.

Whale sharks have thousands of tiny teeth arranged in more than 300 rows, but they neither bite nor chew their food. They are filter feeder, either actively sucking water into their mouths or cruising along near the surface of the water with their large mouths agape.

Whale sharks are ovovivipararous, bearing live young which hatch from an eggcase while inside the mother's body before being expelled.

EXMOUTH WA

SWIMMING WITH WHALE SHARKS
and a BONUS.........HUMPBACK WHALE with CALF

Listening intently for the swimming instructions

Marea.....at back near the bar area having her goggles adjusted

Chris and I on the upper deck with the skipper Bill

Marea at the front on right getting ready to jump into the water! 

Magellan - The boat we went out on to swim with the whale sharks 

Yes.......I'm ready!

Yes that's me in the water 

Swimming back to the boat

 Swimming with a humpback whale and it's calf..........

look beyond the humback to the left to spot me in awe of this mighty big whale.........

how awesome is that!

Ready for another swim

Wow! what a day and adventure.......cruising back to the jetty

CORAL BAY - WA

Coral Bay..........what an amazing small, unspoilt settlement and beautiful holiday area with stunning white-sand beaches and transparent turquoise waters. Situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn Coral Bay is the southern gateway to Ningaloo Marine Park. Ningaloo Reef is not only Australia's longest continuous fringing reef but also the nearest to land – just 300m offshore at the closest point. There is any amount of water fun activities so you can enjoy yourself. It truly is a paradise for divers and snorkellers alike.
The day we arrived the local pub had happy hour from 5.30 to 6.30pm....we had a great time with other travelling folk, drinking and relaxing as the sun went over the ocean.
Next day, weather being warm around 26 – 28 degrees and ocean temperature around 24 degrees Chris and I, along with two other families, who we had previously met, ventured out on a Manta Interaction Cruise. We had a fabulous 6 hours snorkelling amongst beautiful coral gardens, observing the absolute amazing under water living paradise and swimming with the majestic Manta Rays..........these graceful sea animals were just so elegant and calm as we swam over and around them.........so exhilaratingly exciting! We also had the excitement of seeing 100m from the boat, another majestic sea animal, a mother Humpback Whale with its calf, as they made their way up the coast.
Next day......... Chris and I rested!!!
We did manage a stroll along the bay enjoying the relaxation of it all. At 3.30pm daily they have fish feeding along the water's edge. I fed the fish and a hundred or more large northern snapper weaved their way all around and through my legs.
Next stop Exmouth and Cape Range National Park.
     

CORAL BAY Western Australia

Coral Bay

 Coral Bay

 Boat ramp at Coral Bay

In our snorkelling attire - ready...set...go! 

 Yes - that is me on the left

and again

 and again

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The beautiful coral garden on the Ningaloo Reef at Coral Bay 



We swam with these majestic Manta Rays....

they glide along calmly and gracefully

Humpback Whales

Turtles on the Ningaloo Reef

at Coral Bay

 'The family' of snorkellers

Feeding time at Coral Bay........

Marea amongst the Northern Snappers

 Literally hundreds of Northern Snappers

arrived at feeding time

This Lion fish was close to the shore.......

beware this beautiful fish is highly poisonous