mants
X-TRAIL ENTHUSIAST
Date Registered: 01-2013
Location: Perth, WA
TOTAL POSTS: 297
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Easter Trip to Denham - Monkey Mia
Last weekend in March, the Easter long weekend.
There couldn’t be a better way to spend it than to head off on a road trip.
Straight after work on Thursday evening we hit the road stopping in Jurien Bay (220km north of Perth along the Indian Ocean Road) for some food . We then aimed for our overnight camp ground just north of Geraldton (430km north of Perth this is a large city in the middle of no were with a population of almost 27,000 people. It was a strange sight after driving for 4.5 hours with very little either side of the bitumen).
View from the camp ground:
X-Trail packed and ready to hit the road for Denham:
On route to Denham we decided to call in at the multiple viewing spots along the road, these are fantastic and there is alot of wildlife to be seen.
Turning off the Northwest Coastal Highway you drive along the World Heritage Drive that leads you along the peninsula towards Denham.
We stopped off and viewed the Stormatolites, Hamelin Pool, Nanga, Shell Beach, Eagles Bluff before arriving at our destination at the northern end of Denham.
Stormatolites:
Shell Beach:
Eagles Bluff:
You wouldn’t want to fall into the water here:
The camp ground was called Denham Seaside Tourist Village, this is a great camp site, with great facilities for cooking and shower block. The only bad part i would say is the ground is rock solid meaning putting a tent up was extremely difficult.
Thankfully they can lend you a hammerdrill to allow the tent pegs to go into the ground.
The view from our site:
Denham Mainstreet:
Next day it was off to Monkey Mia to see the dolphins and also to go out on one of the boat cruises.
Seeing the dolphins up close was fantastic and I’m sure for the younger kids out there it would be even better. I would recommend getting there to the early viewing at 7.45am.
The cruise was great and being Easter the company were being generous and giving a free sunset cruise with any other cruise purchased.
Not only were there dolphins to be seen but Emu and Pelicans on the beach front.
The following day we were up early and off to the Francois Peron National Park and Homestead.
6km off the Monkey Mia Road you drive along a bitumen / sand track to get to the homestead, this is as far as you can get with you only have a 2wd vehicle.
We stopped at the homestead and read up on the area, out the back they have a hot tub (Artesian Bore) pumping out 40 degree water, with it being 35 degree air temperature getting into the tub was abit warm, but when in it was great, very relaxing and no better place to be.
Francois Peron Homestead:
We spent around an hour there before jumping back into the x-trail and heading off further into the park.
When entering they have kindly supplied tyre inflation units either side of the track allowing all visitors to air down before entering the park and therefore not cutting up the track. The going is mainly singletrack with deep sand in areas before opening up when you reach the Birridas (super flat and smooth plains)
Tracks out to Skipjack Point (43km from the Peron Homestead):
View from Skipjack Point (bring fly nets for your head):
On the way back we stopped off at Big Lagoon for a swim with the sun on its way down:
And before leaving the park we again called in at the Homestead for a final dip in the tub, the sun and clouds together in this photo to me is excellent:
Sunset on leaving:
Our trip was coming to an end, we drove back to Geraldton and camped there for the night before heading for Perth the next day, we visited the HMS Sydney memorial up on top of the hill overlooking Geraldon.
On route to Perth the next day we stopped off at Wedge Island along the Indian Ocean Road as I had been told previously it was a nice place, and with the day being bright and warm we decided to have a look, white sands and crystal clear waters, such a fantastic place not far from home.
Entering Wedge Island Beach:
--- 2012 Nissan X-Trail ST
Precision Grey - Petrol - Manual - 4wd
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5/Apr/2013, 6:03 pm
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cooch t31
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 06-2008
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 5966
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Re:
Wow some great looking pics there.
Could just imagine what it actually looked like, you Westeners have real nice scenery and beaches over there.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us, it certainly looked like you couldn't really fit anything more into the back of your Xy.
Cheers.
Last edited by cooch t31, 5/Apr/2013, 6:30 pm
--- Tony X-891c
HERE is my D22 Navara
HERE is my old 2008 T31, ST Series1
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5/Apr/2013, 6:29 pm
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Revhead Kev
Date Registered: 10-2006
Location: Mona Vale, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
TOTAL POSTS: 6355
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Re: Easter Trip to Denham - Monkey Mia
What a great Easter getaway Jonathan.
I still want to do a trip over there some school holidays...some great places to see.
--- Kev X450(c) T30 Guru
03 Titanium Ti T30 Series 1 **MODIFIED**
My Blog
My CarPC Worklog
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5/Apr/2013, 8:20 pm
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Toddyh03
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 08-2011
Location: Lalor Park, NSW
TOTAL POSTS: 1663
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Re: Easter Trip to Denham - Monkey Mia
Looks like an amazing trip. Very jealous of the amount of sand you guys have over there.
--- Toddyh X-2048 (c)
New: Challenger
Old: 2010 T31 Diesel modified
My XTrail
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5/Apr/2013, 9:02 pm
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nananut
X-TRAIL FANATIC
Date Registered: 12-2011
Location: Kalgoorlie, WA
TOTAL POSTS: 366
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Re:
Excellent! I am planning to head off in that direction during one of the school holidays. I was going to do it in this April school hols but July might be the go. Cheers
--- x-2202 (c)
New: 2014 Ranger PX XLS 3.2 Mods
Old: 2011 X-trail T31 TS Series 4 Mods
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7/Apr/2013, 6:45 pm
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