QUOBBA BLOWHOLES

SATURDAY 17TH AUGUST   -   We got up early and went to the weekly markets at the Civic Centre in Carnarvon.  The fruit and vegetables there were so cheap and fresh, so we stocked up big, to keep us fed whilst we were at Quobba Blowholes, a bush camp right on the beach, 75 kilometres north from Carnarvon.  I bought a huge bag of really tasty grape tomatoes for $2 amongst many other bargains.  We also did a massive Woolworths shop, beer and wine as we were staying 8 days at Quobba and heading up to Exmouth for 2 weeks from there.  The fridge was bursting with food and all the cupboards and food storage areas choc-a-block.  I reckon we had enough supplies to survive for a month without ever visiting a shop again!!

It took ages to unpack the shopping and find a home for it all.  By 10 o’clock we were on the road for our next destination Quobba Blowholes.  It was a beautiful sunny day and took us an hour to get to Quobba.  On the road down to the camping area, we had to stop for 3 scatty emus dashing across the road.  They just don’t look but charge about wherever they want.  At least cattle, goats and sheep look at you and usually wait for you to pass or stop for them to cross the road.  Emus are really dumb.

At the end of the road there was a big wooden sign “King Waves Kill” (Quobba is well known for its king waves and many people have been swept off the rocks by a king wave whilst fishing).  Turning right from this sign you head towards Quobba Station where you can also camp, but it was quite expensive and there was also 1080 poison everywhere to kill foxes and feral cats, as it’s a working station.  I certainly didn’t want to take Sally there.

Turning left from the sign we came past the blowhole car park which was crowded with tourists. It was fairly windy and the blowhole was gushing quite high.  We stopped to have a look and a walk around before heading down to the camping area.  Another attraction of the car park is the “My Way Highway Food” truck that parks there from early morning until after lunch time each day.  He sold really good hamburgers, chicken burgers, hot drinks, squid and chips and was always busy.

We carried on along the road into the camping area and found a suitable spot at the end of where camping is permitted.  We quickly set up and went for a two minute stroll from our van over the dunes to the beach.  It was a beautiful beach spread out for miles and miles. The camp was fairly busy and was a popular fishing, snorkelling and tourist spot at weekends.  The only drawback was we didn’t have phone or internet access, unless we went back to the blowholes or drove up the steep (and full of deep pot holes) rough road to the Lighthouse. Late every afternoon, there were herds of wild goats and cattle scattered over the dunes and hills.  We sat on the beach with our wine and beer watching yet another fabulous sunset.  It was so dark and quiet at night.

The fees for staying at Quobba Blowholes were $5.50 per car (i.e. $2.75 each per night) – or the costly sum of $38.50 per week.  We were told if there were more than 28 days in a month, the Ranger didn’t charge you any extra.  The camp area officially closes end of September, which means you can still stay there but don’t get charged.  How good is that!!!!

We bumped into Bob and Bev and their gorgeous Jack Russell dog Jacky -  a couple we’d met in Whyalla in April.  They had been at Quobba almost 4 months and had come across from South Australia direct to Quobba.  They were heading home to Mildura in a few weeks.  It was great to catch up with them again.  Bob gave us some beautiful parrot fish fillets for tea one evening and we thoroughly enjoyed them.  Richard tried his hand at beach fishing a few times.  He got a few bites, but never anything substantial enough to bring home for dinner that night.   I think he was saving himself for a “fishing overload” at Exmouth the following 2 weeks with Daniel and Bob his Brother.

There were lots of lovely coastal walks and the scenery around was just beautiful.  We had to laugh as all the cans were collected in a sack with proceeds being donated to The Royal Flying Doctors.  Richard used to announce every night “I’m only drinking for The Flying Doctors”.  There was also “The Very Mobile Hairdresser” who also did massage in a caravan nearby.  It was quite a little community as many people were there long-term.  Everyone was really friendly.  We met an elderly couple travelling with their daughter whose Border Collie dog had 2 pups on the way up. 

SATURDAY 24TH AUGUST   -   Daniel and Bob left Perth with the boat at 7am and drove up to stay overnight with us at Quobba.   They arrived at 6pm, pretty tired and hungry.  I’d made butter chicken for dinner.  It was so good to see them both again.  Bob slept under our awning on his camp bed and swag and Daniel slept on an airbed on the floor inside the caravan.

We really enjoyed our stay at Quobba and will definitely add it to our “favourites” list.  We’ll also stay here on the way back to Perth later in the year.

Quobba is a fish habitat protection area so that future generations can also enjoy the beauty of the place, with special rules in place for fishing and water activities.   Spearfishing and fishing are both banned.  The coastline has 10 metre high rugged sandstone cliffs in places and the dunes stretch south from Point Quobba into Shark Bay.

NEXT WEEK:  We’ll be going to Exmouth with Daniel and Bob and his boat for 2 weeks of extreme fishing to look forward to.