- Dream Job -

(Raft Point, picture taken on walk back from an aboriginal art site.)

I’ve just returned from the first 2 week trip of my new job and it was bloody Amazing!! I am now a deckhand for the Great Escape Charter Company. They run 2 boats that cruise to the Kimberley on 2 week adventure trips, running between Broome and Wyndam.

I was really lucky to have such a wonderful first group of guests on board… and a fantastic crew to work with. They taught me so much and already I was taking guests out in the dinghies on fishing trips etc during my first week. Sometimes we travel overnight and therefore I’m required to watch keep, usually for only 2 hours, depending on how far we have to go. Its fairly easy just monitoring the radar, making sure we stay on course and have no risk of collision. The days are quite long… beginning most by 5am and finishing around 10pm.

(At Twin Falls on the Berkley River)

I’ve always wanted to explore the Kimberley, mainly due to its remoteness, history and beautiful scenery. And I found it was all that and more! Fishing a plenty, waterfalls, fresh water swimming holes and numerous aboriginal rock art sites… Places we visit include the Berkley, Drysdale, Prince Regent Rivers, King Cascades, Ruby Falls, Montgomery Reef etc. All are rich in wildlife, history and paintings making each day very different to the next.

Towards the end of the year we then charter out to the Rowley Shoals on diving, fishing and snorkelling trips. I can’t wait!

(Enjoying a fresh water waterhole at the back of King Cascades)

- An Update...

I know its been a while since you've seen a new addition to my blog...

Things have been fairly busy settling into the unit, going for drinks at sunset on the beach, playing beach volleyball on wednesday nights and of course working.

Noddy is doing very well having been appointed fleet sales coordinator at Shinju Nissan!
I have scored a new job on a cruise boat called the Great Escape, which ventures up the coast through the kimberley on 2 week voyages! Unbelievable opportunity deck hand and tour guide in one. I head out this friday. 2 weeks on and 1 off. and later in the year we visit the rowley shoals! Cant wait!!

So all is well here. have my cousin coming out from England for a couple of months which is goping to be great.. will update with photo's shortly... just thought i'd fill you all in on my lunch break.

Hope you are well and hope to hear from you soon.

- Unit -

We’ve got a unit! 2 Bedroom,1 bathroom and undercover parking. It is ideal with only a 5 min walk out the back gate to the Cable Beach! Since arriving in Broome we’ve been busy working and hunting the local garage sales for bits and pieces for the unit!











Noddy is working at Nissan as the parts manager and i have been busy helping out at the local camping shop.

- New Adventure -

(Charles Knife Canyon....)

Noddy and I have moved to Broome. So we decided to drive up the coast taking a few days as Noddy hasn’t seen any of the county past Kalbarri!

After stopping in to see my good friend Mel in Geraldton, we headed north… chewing up the kilometres and stopping for our first night at Coral Bay! It was lovely, and much quieter than my previous visits as the tourist season begins in another month. The air was humid and a dip in the ocean was essential! The water was amazingly warm… around 30 degrees.
The next day we drove the remaining 150km into Exmouth, stopping at the Charles Knife Canyons on the way. After grabbing some supplies and feeling the need for a swim (it was 40 degrees +!) we drove around to the national park to find a camp along the Ningaloo reef. We found one that was fairly quiet and enjoyed a refreshing but warm swim and enjoyed the sunset. During dinner we had an encounter with a snake passing through our camp much to Noddy’s horror! Haha

(This is our basic camp tucked in behind the dunes in Cape Range NP near Exmouth)

We arose early the next morning to another windy day but insisted we explore more of the park. So we drove down to the famous Turquoise Bay to snorkel along the reef. Noddy was a bit apprehensive at first considering the strong current, possible sharks and his first time snorkelling in the open ocean! Once our first snorkel session was over… Noddy was that impressed he couldn’t wait to get back out there again!! We swam with schools of fish in an array of different sizes and colour, a stingray, colourful corals and best of all a turtle!!

(Noddy and I enjoying Turquiose Bay all to ourselves!)

The next morning we set off at 6am on a huge day of driving (1008kms!!) to get to Eighty Mile Beach which is 325km south of Broome. We set off charged up on coffee and 4 eager eyes on the look out for “wandering stock” and kangaroos! We fuelled up paying the most per litre for the entire trip a shocking $1.70 per litre!!! Ouch! In the middle of nowhere we came across a dust storm, more cattle, a few goats, emus and a bush turkey, much to the amazement of Noddy! After passing through cyclone ravaged Port Hedland we were well onto our last leg of the journey… arriving at Eighty Mile Beach around 5pm.

(Explians itself really...)

Eighty Mile was quiet and is a popular stop for fishing and shell collecting… which I managed to take full advantage of, collecting a shopping bag or two!! After cooking up a storm and Noddy contending with the bugs, two very tired travellers called it a night!

(Me collecting shells on Eighty Mile Beach.)

The next day was fairly uneventful, travelling the remaining 325km into a humid and stormy Broome. There wasn’t much chance of camping in a tent for the night so we checked into the local backpackers. Since arriving in Broome we have been looking for a place to stay and work for us both, I have been offered a job working on a game fishing boat and Noddy is working for Nissan.

- Aussie Aussie Aussie -

OI OI OI!!

Australia Day this year was fantastic! Noddy, Jules and I went out on our friend Duncan's boat to celebrate and see the fireworks on the Swan River. Apart from the day reaching over 40 C! It was awesome.

The Aussie spirit was so alive... there were flags, boxing kangaroos, water bombs, party boats, bbq's and plenty of beer! Fun was had by all, we had to jump into the river to cool off throughout the day.

(I cant believe this shot worked out....)

The city of perth put on a air show with old war planes doing acrobatics which was fantastic. Then the fireworks kicked off... spectacular!! It was amazing viewing it from the water (a first for me) and the soundtrack the local radio station put together was really good.

(One of many awesome explosions of colour above the river)

So to all Australians.... HAPPY AUSSIE DAY!!

(Noddy getting into the true Aussie spirit.)

(Jules enjoying a refreshing Aussie beer after a swim in the river.)

(Jules and I )

- Coxswain Ticket -

The past few weeks have been busy.... I've been studying at the Swan Maritime Institute for my coxswains ticket. The coxswains ticket allows me to drive a boat up to 12 meters in length and 15 nautical miles out to sea. Its been most about safety procedures, marine radio, and first aid. At the moment i'm learning about nautical knowledge and basic engineering... so its been great picking up extra information.

Hopefully with this ticket i'll be able to get a job on the boats at Cassini Island... one step at a time though...

- Photo's Published!?! -

(Cover of this months Scoop Traveller Magazine)

I received a phone call this morning from Steve Tucker, (The skipper of Waverider, the game fishing boat i went on in Broome) To my surprise he was ringing to let me know that some photo's i had taken have been used to advertise Cassini Island and the new game fishing adventure charter company that debuts there this year! A photo of me, catching a red emperor and several photos i took of sail fish have been used to promote island getaways in this months Scoop Traveller Magazine!! How awesome is that? I never thought those photos would end up there!

(Main artcle featuring some of my photos...)

(More information about Cassini Island.... see the sailfish photo?)

(Check it out... )