Middle Lagoon

After breakfast at a nice little cafe in Derby and a quick trip to Woolworths to stock up on more ice, water and essentials we were ready to hit the road again. As we were packing the last of the shopping away into the trailer a local stopped to chat with us. We mentioned that we were heading to Middle Lagoon down the Cape Leveque Rd and he asked if we were going to take the shortcut?!!... “What shortcut? There’s a shortcut?!!... Yes, provided the road is open and not washed out! He suggested we check at the local Information Centre so we hot-footed it across town to the Info Centre! Yes, the road was open but they couldn’t tell us the condition of it as Broome has had some unseasonal heavy rain over the last month. We decided we would risk it because it cuts out all of the corrugation along the Cape Leveque Rd (if anyone has driven along this then you know why we are keen to cut it out!) It also cuts about 120km off our trip!

The back road was not signposted so you have to know exactly where to turn off (directions given to us courtesy of the friendly local!) What a find! The road was excellent! It cut through someone’s property and apart from the 4 gates which we had to jump out to open and close, the rest of it was plain sailing! Fairly sandy 4wd track and a bit of cow-dodging but we sat on around 70kph all the way until it spat us back out onto the Cape Leveque Rd directly opposite the entrance to Beagle Bay!

We got into Middle Lagoon around 5.30pm and had to set up camp just as it was getting dark. Because we got in so late in the afternoon we had a really bad campsite! Right in the middle of the park and right next to the main thoroughfare. Had to take what we could get so did a basic set-up and then went for a walk around to find a better spot for tomorrow. We walked up onto the ridge where there are 12 campsites perched right up on top of the ridge overlooking the ocean. Everyone up here were busy sitting watching the sunset and sipping their wine! We noticed that site no.8 was empty!...

7.30am next morning we were sitting outside the office waiting for it to open at 8am, making sure we were first in line! Turned out to be available so we packed up and shifted camp.

This is a magical spot! If you ever come to Middle Lagoon you have to try and get up on the ridge. It is the prized position! It is so nice we have decided to stay here a little longer. We wake up each morning, walk down our own little access track and straight onto the beach for a swim. We can sit up on the ridge and safely watch the kids splashing about while watching the whales doing the same in the background! Evenings are spent lighting a campfire and watching the sunset over the ocean. If you don’t see us again for a while it is possible that we are still here!...

Took a drive out to Beagle Bay this morning and visited the famous little Catholic church. The altar is made out of shells which apparently took the priest, together with the indigenous locals, over 1 year to complete! On the way back we noticed a small sign on on a track to the Whale Song Cafe. Here we are, sitting on the verandah, eating home made olive, feta, cherry tomato, prosciutto and rocket pizzas and drinking smoothies overlooking another beautiful little bay!...

Unfortunately it is time to head back to our campsite and get some fishing gear ready for this evening! Kim, if you are reading this, Alex is absolutely spewing he didn’t take you up on the offer of the boat!!!...

Time to load up some more photos and get out of here!... Heading to Broome on Monday for a few days, or until our tyre arrives (hopefully on Wednesday!)