Day 61-63 Lucky Bay - Cape Le Grand National Park

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  Cape Le Grand National Park, Western Australia, Australia
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Day 61-63 Cape Le Grand National Park - Lucky Bay                                         Friday Jan 30th 2009
At Grass Patch there was a horrendous smell near our bed in the van. Upon further investigation Greg found the tackle box still had cockles left in it from Smoky Bay!! Perhaps the zap at Ceduna had fried his short term memory?? But alas that's just how Greg is - It was way worse when he was working full-time, forever losing or forgetting where he had put things!
Greg used the free washing machine to his advantage at Grass Patch taking the opportunity to wash the contents of the laundry bag, his runners and I am sure if he could have fit the tackle box in, that would have been done too. The jury is still out as to what smelt worse, Greg's runners or the tackle box...
We drove into Esperance late as there was no hurry to leave without a check-out time at Grass Patch. Once in Esperance we sat around the lawns at the foreshore whilst the kids played on the equipment near the mini railway and enjoyed a real coffee at Taylor St Café beside the Yacht club. Maegs was keen to go to the $2 shop - we hadn't seen "shops" per say since Streaky Bay! We delayed any shopping til after our next camping stay in Cape Le Grand for when back here on a longer stay.
Then we visited the info centre to buy our W.A National Parks pass. The system in W.A is different to S.A; you cannot buy a pass that includes overnight camping fees for a definitive period. The pass only covers entry to as many parks that you can visit in one year. We quickly stocked up with fresh fruit n veg etc for our stay at the non-powered and no drinking water site in Cape Le Grand National Park.
We didn't arrive at the Lucky Bay campground til later that afternoon, lucky really as the place was pretty full and given there isn't a check-out time, 2-3pm is the best time to arrive to ensure a site. We ran into a family we had met way back at Port Elliot - Vicki, Tim and their kids Georgina, Harrison and Charlotte from QLD. Charlotte (5yrs old) and Maegan got along extremely well back in Port Elliot. You should have seen their greeting, running into each others arms like long lost loves!
We didn't see much of Maegs during the day over the next few days here. Max and Greg were fishing a little and it wasn't overly hot so long days spent on the beach swimming in the pristine waters would have to wait til our next visit. We took the opportunity to check out the area to determine the best spot to come back to with my folks when they arrived later in the week.
The other campground was not as communal as Lucky Bay. It had secluded sites jutting off a circular drive; Lucky Bay has three platforms of varying heights that house 8 sites each. Meeting others and interacting with all those camping here is much easier.
The beach at Lucky Bay boasts the whitest sand in Australia; it is a truly beautiful place. Regardless of the weather and whether or not you can swim here it is visually stunning. Kangaroos laze beside you in the campground and also lie happily on the beach soaking up whatever sun they can get! A large goanna lay under a tree beside the van as we set up camp. The kids were beside themselves with excitement.
There are plenty of other beaches and bays within the National Park to explore, our favourite is Hellfire Bay where the beach is again pristine with there is also regular sets of waves for body surfing and boogie boarding. It also has a ripper of a BBQ area (free) that we earmark for lunch with Mum and Dad on our return.
We drove to Duke of Orleans, it's 60km's further west of the National Park with a caravan park (over priced) and Wharton beach beside it which is sensational. We have a swim here but forget the boards to enjoy the surf. Further inland from "The Duke" we find the Condingup Tavern and Store with a brilliant beer garden, bistro and serves real coffee! We enjoy a refreshment and coffee outside while the kids have races on the lawn and practice their cartwheels.
Back at the campsite we meet our neighbours opposite; two couples that had met originally on the road in Alice Springs, they had remained travelling together since. Jason and Lara are in a touring bus with their 3 yr old daughter, they're from Mirboo Nth in Victoria. The other couple Simone and Luke are from Heyfield with two boys Riley 10 and Darcy 7. Max and Darcy hung out on their bikes and Riley was happy chatting with Greg a lot of the time.
Lara and Jason were directly affected by the bushfires. In the early stages of reports via the radio on the Sunday morn it was their area that lost 30 houses. Jason's folks were housing all their gear as they travelled.

We took both Riley and Darcy up the Frenchman's Peak hike on our last Day - Sunday. The kids have a ball climbing the mountain and Greg leads them astray by getting them to all shed their shirts and sing songs on the way down about me being a witch and smelling like poo! Had to laugh though, because to save face they then starting with what a great person I am, how much they love me as they wanted me to make them a Milo milkshake when they got back...
Late Sunday afternoon we returned to Esperance to clean up and get ready for Mum and Dad to arrive. We are staying put in a normal site (with electricity, running water and toilets/showers) for a week in a large town - Am looking forward to a few luxuries and time to relax.

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rocks at luckybay	anytime is swim time!!	First level of camping - our site	Hellfire bay   Comments!
whislting rock at thistle cove	Max at wharton beach	Friendly locals at campsite	Post Frenchmans Peak walk
Greg, Max, Darcy, Riley and Maegs half way!!

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