Coral Bay

We have been to Coral Bay several times over the last 5-6 years – it’s expensive, crowded and often windy – and we love it.

yep - coats on

Pristine white beaches, cobalt blue water, warm weather, snorkeling, lots of 4WD tracks, swimming and fishing. Add two pubs, 3-4 dining places, IGA, newsagent, bakery, IGA and a hairdresser and massage parlor and you get the picture.

sunset with friends

Highlights of our visit this time round were:

·         A full day out fishing in a friend’s 7 meter fishing boat.  Fishing 45 kilometers out in 240 meters of water with electric reels was a new experience for me. First drop - a double hook-up, second drop -  a single hook-up and downhill from there. Lots of hook-ups but losing a lot of fish half way up. Lost one two a shark just meters from the boat (bugger). A brilliant day out with some great reef fish in our freezer and memories of whales cruising/jumping everywhere.

·        

the one and only spanglie

Caught a few spangled emperor from my little tinny inside the reef – unfortunately only one was legal size.

·         We snorkeled several times in the coral filled bay which is a quick walk from the park – lots of beautiful coloured and inquisitive fish and the coral is definitely on the way back with lots of new growth and colour.

·         We caught up with old friends from previous visits and made new friends and had many memorable nights feasting on fish, roasts and meals out at the pub with a great group of people.

·        

another visit to the bakery

Went for a 4WD drive up to Nine Mile/Bruboodjoo Point Campsite about 19 kilometers north of Coral Bay.  Nice spot in a sheltered bay – at $60/week we might give it a go for a week or two when we come north again.

Down sides

·         After 3 lovely quiet days at our caravan site we had a bunch of young campers with lots of preschool kids move into the 3 camps behind us. Must be getting old and cranky but the constant sound of yelling/screaming/crying kids for 8 nights nearly drove us crazy. We must be too old to understand the “new age” parenting methods where it’s OK for your child to yell loudly all day, scream at each other, whine most of the time and throw temper tantrums whenever they like and most importantly the word “no” is to never be used.

·         The wind blew for half the time we were their – so for a lot of days there was no fishing, swimming, snorkeling.

·         Towards the end of our stay Linda got really ill with a severe chest infection – not much fun for her lucky we got to Carnarvon quickly after Coral Bay else she may have had the pleasure of a Royal Flying Doctor Flight.

Linda and the "girls" at the roast cook-up night

We will defiantly be back but might spend a week or two at Nine Mile first.