DiNo's Travels Around Australia - 2014/2015/16/17: Day 112

383km today from Exmouth to Carnarvon. The countryside for the first 150km was a repeat of the spinifex covered sand dunes we covered a few days ago, including many termite mounds but thereafter it was less interesting.

270714 Company we had at morning tea

Short acacia bushes of car height along the roadside meant we did not see a lot of the more distant countryside but it was obvious the same trees extended as far as the eye could see, across undulating plains. The land was in poor condition and this may be due in part to the presence of wild goats. The story goes that the pastoralists make more money out of the wild goats they capture than they do from their sheep and cattle. The goats are slaughtered Halal style and the meat is exported to Muslim countries.

Much to our surprise things changed as we approached the Gascoyne River nearer to Carnarvon. We came across banana plantations, cornfields, vineyards, vegetable gardens etc. This apparently is an strong agricultural area. We can now say we have left the Pilbara and have entered what the West Australians call "The Gascoyne".

We should not forget that we deviated 12km from the main road and looked into the famous Coral Bay. It is a delightful bay with white sand beaches washed by the inevitable turquoise blue of the Indian Ocean, under the protection of the Ningaloo Reef, a short distance offshore. It is heavily commercialised and the two caravan parks looked to be rather full. Nonetheless it would be a wonderful spot for families with young children. We saw it at its best with the sun shining and a gentle breeze ruffling the water as it caressed the sand.