When you are offered an opportunity, just take it. Sometimes that opportunity might be a bit daunting or out of your usual comfort zone but from my experience it can also open up the wonderfully unexpected.
I was offered some volunteer work out on Christmas Island with the Tangaroa Blue Foundation and of course I jumped at the chance. I flippantly said well I may as well drive over to Western Australia and make it a bit of an adventure. After all I had recently bought a second hand Isuzu Dmax extra cab that I had meticulously rigged out for camping adventures, his name is Calvin. I told my friends and family what I was going to do so that I couldn’t back out, then my internal fears started to sneak into my thoughts. “Oh no, that means I have to drive all that way on my own!”
I was worried about driving so far (around 5500kms across the country) by myself. For some reason I had this fear of the nullarbor. I’m sure back in the day it was a nightmare to drive but I soon discovered, it’s just a road. There are loads of people driving both ways, and it wasn’t scary at all.
As it turned out, a few of my friends were keen to join me on sections of my road trip. So plain old Calvin became ‘FIFO Calvin’. My mate Stacca joined me for the first 9 days, we hiked in the flinders ranges, swam with sealions and camped beside a salt lake. Just so much adventure packed into a few days.

(I did drive the nullarbor by myself though)

Once in the West I discovered the wonderful beaches and National Parks around Esperance. Simply mind blowing beauty! Aqua coloured waters with powder white sand fringed by vegetation and huge granite bolders. The best part was, there was almost no one around.
I gained confidence and happily took roads I wasn’t sure where they would lead. I camped in out of the way places, had camp fires and explored all the way along the coast to Perth.

After my volunteer experience out on Christmas Island (that is a whole other simply wonderful experience and story)
I made my way north to Carnarvon where an old friend out of the blue offered a sailing trip on his boat. (Who says no to that?) Star gazing at sea was simply the best!

The next FIFO pick up was at Exmouth. Wendy joined me for all the wonders of the Ningaloo Reef. Yes we did swim with the truly spectacular whale sharks! Did you know that the collective noun for whale sharks is a constellation?

We made the long road trip out to Karajini for 4 days of exploring in the brilliant colours of the Pilbara. It’s a magical place, full of deep gorges with vibrant red walls and cool deep pools. With zero light pollution the night sky offers spectacular star gazing.

Once we were back on the coast we had time to slow our journey down a bit and make the most of all those iconic West Australian places you read about. Shark Bay with its turquoise waters and remote camps, Kalbarri and the Murchison River valleys and the other worldliness of the Pinnacles and Pink Lake.

I’ve now said goodbye to Wendy at Perth airport and Calvin and I have picked up our last FIFO adventure buddy, Anna.

It’s time to explore the giant forests, taste some Margaret River wine and run wild into the winter swells of the South West.

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