Still at Tamala Station

 
Once we arrived at Tea tree campsite, it was fantastic to see flat calm blue/green water gently lapping on a isolated white sandy beach... With no one in sight for as far as you could see.
We set up camp overlooking the bay, lit a fire and virtually inhaled the first of a few very cold beers. We were looking forward to exploring this new found paradise. - Paul.
                             ......

Over the next 10 days, we've encountered many wildlife experiences...Click on the following link to hear Angie's comments on just one day of exploring in the dinghy.....
http://youtu.be/BZ3Ja3uxjqo







The fishing is amazing. Paul and Rosie have been out a couple of times together and both caught large Pink Snapper (returned to the sea), Yellow finned Bream (lovely to eat) Black Spotted Tusk fish and 1/2 dozen squid. We've seen dolphins, little sharks, turtles,  and sting-rays.

Angelina's angling skills are astonishing.  She's very capable of pulling in a nice size Pink Snapper  by herself. In fact 3 nights ago we were fishing with our neighbors  Robert and Maureen Skeet (camped 2kms away) at dusk on a ledge. Angie out fished the men by bringing in whopper Pink Snappers - The largest being 3 kilos.

We have also had success fishing from the beach right in front of our van. The girls run down to the shore when they hear the bells ring and wind the fish in. It's fantastic!

http://youtu.be/LFtOlTKIEfg


The water while crystal clear is just too cold for swimming and diving. However, Paul has taken us exploring in the dinghy onto near by islands where we've discovered rookeries of Black Crested Turns, Cormorants (their chicks were so cute and fluffy) ,thousands of butterflies and a massive unoccupied Sea Eagle's nests . The children named this island - "Bird Island".

We also came across a small Island 100's of metres off the coast with a resident goat - how strange... (and of course the girls named this one "Goat Island"). We've spotted other land animals during our exploring - emus, kangaroos, snakes (little), Wedge-tailed eagles and geckos.






















Paul says,

Even though there is "no where to go, no-one to meet and nothing to see", life on a deserted beach
is still full-on every day. The home schooling is going really well and while the children would rather do other things, they understand that schooling is part of this extended holiday.

Lucky for me, home economics is also on the curriculum. And Simi is the perfect tutor.
After a couple of hours of fishing its nice to come home to fresh damper, cupcakes, jelly and Anzac biscuits. Needless to say the kids love the whole process...