The plan for the day was to explore Coffin Bay National Park and its famous beautiful beaches. After doing some research it was determined that we would head straight for Sensation Beach as it was very remote and required a specific time frame due to the beach drive that was impassable at high tide. We set out early to ensure we had enough time to get to the beach and have about an hour there for lunch before driving back – high tide was at 345pm, and we needed to get back over the beach well before then.

Most of the drive was 4WD only, over very rocky and sandy tracks and a long beach drive along the full length of 7-mile beach. The distance was not that great, but the drive time was estimated at about 2hr one way…

Entering the National Park we drove at the speed limit 40km per hour which also slowed the journey and arrived at Yangie Campground – the end of the tar – and stopped to let down the tyre pressure on our vehicles.

Once sorted, we started out and realised straight away that the track was indeed pretty challenging – but a great 4WD!

The track became very sandy so we stopped to drop the tyre pressures further….

Not too far into the journey we rounded a corner and stopped for a 4WD coming in the opposite direction. They had stopped too, but after we indicated for them to go ahead they didn’t move – it was then that I realised there was no one in the driver’s seat. We assumed they were taking a toilet stop, but after several more minutes and no movement, I got out of the car and went up to the passengers’ side and spoke to the woman sitting there – she apologised for not getting out as she was holding her young baby. It turned out that the car behind them (which had her parents in it) was bogged and they were trying to get them out – she reassured me they would be out in about 5 mins, so I went back to the Ranger and relayed the message back to the others. We waited a bit then Trev got out to go and lend a hand…. It turned out to be more difficult than expected – the extraction finally worked when the guy winched them out…. They were eventually on their way after spending about another 10 mins trying to find the MaxxTraxx which had been buried deep in the sand.

This delayed us about 45 mins, so we were a little concerned with the time of the tide but continued on….

We finally arrived at 7-mile beach and got onto the sand – the beach was beautiful – white sand and the bay waters were turquoise – no swell as it was part of Coffin Bay – but gorgeous, nevertheless.

We drove along 7-mile beach – it was deserted – a huge whale skull was washed up on the sand…

About 2/3 the way along we came upon the dune area where the sand dune comes sheer down to the beach close to the water – at high tide this section is impassable as the seawater meets the steep face of the dune…. We got passed it with a metre to spare but the tide was now coming back in so we knew we would only have time to have a quick look at Sensation Beach before having to turn around and come back.

So, we decided to risk it and pushed on over the cross-country track to the other side of the peninsula. The drive was certainly worth it – Sensation Beach was breathtaking – huge white sandhills and sparkling blue waters – do remote and deserted – we were the only ones there.

After some pics and a few bush toilet visits we started back along the track, reached the beach and flew along it as we could see the tide coming in.

As we rounded a curve in the beach the huge dune came in site and the water was almost up to it. We raced along the beach and just made it past – partially having to drive through the water – but made it!!

At the end of 7-mile beach we stopped for lunch and a swim….as Dave pulled up he was not happy as the Pearl had gone over a bump at one point, setting off an alarm in the car – the crash avoidance system was alarming and telling him to go to the nearest dealer…. Sometimes cars can have too many fancy techno systems that drive you nuts!!!! Anyway, after much googling, reading of manuals and disconnecting the battery nothing solved the issue. Even Branch checked the sensor but to no avail!! The car was perfectly drivable – and probably just needed a computer reset.

Gordie found an “old mate” to talk to while we all ate lunch…

Everyone enjoyed the time on the beach – the day was warm and the water lovely and clear for a swim….

Gordie got out his portable shower and had a rinse off after the swim….Klaus assisting to a certain point with Gordie finishing off the job…

We started back, hoping that no one got bogged where we had stopped as the sand was pretty soft… despite the sign, we had no issues and Dave did not need to engage the famous “Crawl”.

The drive back along the rocky, sandy track was still over an hour in length so I did a bit of driving for Trev – great fun over the rocks, holes, and sand…. It was a tight squeeze for the Titan in some bushy areas… resulting in a few scratches…

When we reached the spot that the people had been bogged in Trev stopped to have a go at finding the MaxxTraxx that had been buried – the others went on back to the caravan park. Trev actually found one of the 2 MaxxTraxx buried deeply, and we brought it with us planning to give it back to the people if they were in the same campground as us.

Once we reached the tar, we decided to go on to Golden Island Lookout and Almonta Beach which were the last stops planned for the day – the delay earlier in the day had put us behind schedule somewhat and the others were happy to go home.

The drive to the lookout was only 20 mins on tar and we were so glad we made the effort – the views were amazing over to Golden Island and the cliffs and rocky outcrops were spectacular. Another wild and captivating vista!

We drove the 500m dirt track to Almonta Beach which was as beautiful as Sensation Beach!! The huge sandhills surrounding it were pristine and glittered in the afternoon sunlight. We walked over the dune and down onto the beach – the surf was great, and, in the waves, we could see huge schools of large fish!

After taking some pics we walked back to the car, and I stubbed my little toe a beauty on a piece of limestone jutting out from under a bush in the sand – ouch – no blood but it really hurt!!

Arriving back at camp we found Rose scrubbing the Pearl clean after her dusty trip…. Dave then appeared a bit later to take the blower to the inside and blow the sandy dust all around the inside and outside of the car…. The Pearl gets treated like a Queen (or should that be Princess??)

I iced my toe which was looking pretty swollen and feeling sore…

That night we had our service at the Hunters as it was Sunday and did the 4^th sermon on Titus Ch 2 11-15 – God calls us all to follow Him – and He gives us the grace to do so – we cannot do it ourselves…