Road Trip (Part 2)

We have recently returned from a road trip.

We drove from Perth to Exmouth and back in eight days.

Northern WA is a beautiful and amazing place - 

teeming with wildlife (both on land and in the ocean)

and picturesque landscapes, it's a trip we will always remember!

At Coral Bay

up with the sun

we came across a roo

and in her pouch, 

nose sticking out

a joey – peek-a-boo!

We walked along

the wall of sand

right up to Skeleton Bay

Shallow crystal waters

where reef sharks love to play

Back down again

bay’s southern end

brimming with fish of colours

Large emperor fish

swam up to greet

while wading in the shallows

Fins and snorkels donned by all

we weaved among the coral

‘til afternoon crept warmly in

and it was time to travel

Further north we drove along

land flat with heated red

Splashing through the floodways

rich brown muddy beds

And finally we reached it

twelve hundred k’s away

This little place called Exmouth

in far north WA

Sun beating through the dust

wild emus roaming free

The Ningaloo’s famous whale sharks-

that’s what we came to see!

PS. Swimming with the whale sharks in the Ningaloo was an awesome experience! 

A separate poem about the whale shark can be found here.

The Whale Shark

Swimming with a whale shark is just one amazing adventure 

that can be had at the Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.
We did this as a family on our recent trip to Exmouth, far north WA,
and it's an experience that my kids will always remember!

Deep out in the ocean

in waters clear and warm

swims a gentle giant

large and grey in form

Bigger than a bus

w i d e r  than a whale

three ridges on his side

lead to a pointed tail

Moving oh so smoothly

mouth open wide to feed

he swims about the water

gathering plankton that he needs

Rows and rows of tiny teeth

fill up his gaping smile

but they’re not used for eating-

just elements of style

Filter feeding on small things-

krill and red crab larvae

tummy full, he turns and winks

Would you like to play now?

I’ll lead you through the water

Swim with me in the sea

The vast blue of the ocean

is where I love to be!

I smile because I’m happy

I swim because I’m free

People come a long, long way

to snorkel next to me

And so I swim beside him

admiring all his spots

arranged in special patterns-

a giant dot-to-dot

His size makes me feel tiny

His girth makes me feel small

This friendly gentle giant

The most magnificent fish of all!

PS. While on our whale shark dive, we were lucky enough to meet Jana, 
one of the founders of the Hearts for Sharks foundation 
that aims to raise awareness of the true nature of sharks and their conservation. 
Click here to read all about this awesome cause.