Australia
April 20th 2023
This was a very memorable eclipse because it took us to the other side of the world. It was my second eclipse in Australia but on the complete other side of the country
DAY 1 - Perth
April 9th
Today we flew to Perth and spent a lazy afternoon and evening at Elizabeth Quay, a beautiful waterfront lined with buzzing little eateries and a charming carousel that my little brothers tremendously enjoyed.
DAY 2 - Rottnest Island
April 10th
We spent a wonderful day on Rottnest Island admiring the beautiful landscapes and meeting cute quokkas. Funnily, “Rottnest” means “rats nest” in Dutch as the Dutch explorer who discovered the island mistook the quokkas with giant rats!
DAY 3 - Pinnacles
April 11th
We had a special day for my dad’s birthday, sand surfing in Lancelin Sand Dunes and then picnicking in the Pinnacles Desert, which contains thousands of limestone pillars, ranging from a few centimetres to over five metres tall, creating a very distinctive landscape. We enjoyed stargazing in that unique beautiful place.
DAY 4 - Perth to Geraldton
April 12th
On the way to Geraldton we enjoyed visiting the Caversham Wildlife Park and meeting with the kangaroos and koalas. We had a feast at the iconic lobster shack in Cervantes. We also stopped at Lake Thetis, which is one of the few places on Earth where it is possible to admire living stromatolites, which are rare "living fossils" built by ancient microbes that helped oxygenate Earth's atmosphere.
DAY 5 - Geraldton to Kalbarri
April 13th
On our way to Kalbarri, we stopped at Hutt Lagoon Pink Lake, which really does look pink! In Kalbarri, we enjoyed taking the Kalbarri Skywalk, which features two dramatic cantilevered viewing platforms extending 25 and 18 metres beyond the edge of the Murchison River Gorge, suspended around 100 metres above the river within Kalbarri National Park, offering spectacular panoramic views over a landscape carved more than 400 million years ago. At the end we were glad to climb around Nature's Window, a naturally formed sandstone arch, sculpted by millions of years of wind and water erosion, framing spectacular views over the Murchison River and one of Western Australia's most iconic outback landscapes.
DAY 6 - Kalbarri & Wallaby Island
April 14th
Today we flew along Kalbarri's spectacular coastal cliffs before continuing to the Abrolhos Islands, where we spent the morning snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters of Turtle Bay on East Wallabi Island. We then enjoyed a guided nature walk, discovering the island's unique wildlife and fascinating limestone caves. On our return flight, we took in breathtaking aerial views of the Abrolhos coral reefs, the historic Batavia shipwreck site, and the vibrant pink waters of Hutt Lagoon before landing back in Kalbarri.
DAY 7 - Kalbarri to Monkey Mia
April 15th
We drove to Monkey Mia, stopping en route at Shell Beach, one of only a handful of beaches in the world made entirely of billions of tiny white cockle shells that stretch for around 70 km along the shores of Shark Bay. These shells have accumulated over thousands of years due to the bay's exceptionally salty waters. On arriving in Monkey Mia, we were welcomed by the spectacular sight of wild dolphins swimming and splashing just offshore.
Day 8 - Monkey Mia to Coral Bay
April 16th
After a great waffle breakfast, enjoying spotting the wild ostriches and pelicans roaming freely around, we drove to Ningaloo Coral Bay, our last stop before Exmouth.
DAY 9 - Ningaloo Coral Bay
April 17th
Today we enjoyed a snorkelling trip in the turquoise waters of Ningaloo Reef. Although we didn’t see any manta rays, we admired many other beautiful marine creatures, including turtles and sharks. We were also extremely lucky to encounter several dugongs, gentle and unique-looking marine mammals also known as “sea cows”.
Day 10 - Ningaloo Coral Bay & drive to Exmouth
April 18th
Swimming with the majestic whale sharks was undoubtedly one of the highlights of our trip. We were lucky as between March and July, the nutrient-rich waters of Exmouth attract the world's largest aggregation of whale sharks, the world's biggest fish, which can grow up to 12 metres long and are gentle filter feeders despite their enormous size.
DAY 11 - Exmouth
April 19th
Today was a relaxing day spent scouting our eclipse viewing spot on the beach along the central line. In the afternoon, we visited Turquoise Bay, with its crystal-clear turquoise water and powdery white sand. Widely regarded as Exmouth's most stunning beach, it was the perfect place to unwind before the big day.
Day 12 - Eclipse Day
April 20th
We had a wonderful eclipse day. The sky was crystal blue from start to finish. Worrying about cloud cover is always the worst part of eclipse day, so it was a relief not to have that concern. We enjoyed the eclipse from the beach, although it was very hot! In the afternoon, we returned to the most beautiful beach to relax before ending the perfect day with a spectacular drone light show celebrating the eclipse.
DAY 13 - Return Home
April 21st
With our heads filled with unforgettable adventures and memories of uniquely beautiful landscapes, we flew back to Perth with heavy hearts. We enjoyed one last meal at the beautiful marina, before flying back home via Singapore.