Trip Plans to Coral Bay

Going paintballing in a few hours but thought I would tell you all about this trip I just planned! Later in October I will be going to Coral Bay with a big group of friends and renting a house. It ends up being around 17 AUD a night which is cheaper than if we all stayed in a single room backpackers hostel ($28 per person)! The house is a 5 minute walk from the beach and has a patio and area for BBQ's. I had contacted a travel agent about some things to do around Coral Bay and here are some excerpts!

“Once you're in Coral Bay you don't need transport at all and the reef is only just off shore - you can snorkel straight off the beach and see the most amazing wildlife and coral formations. It really is beautiful! I would recommend doing at least one boat trip whilst you're there though, if you are all relatively strong swimmers and can snorkel then you can't go past the manta ray interaction tour. I worked as a snorkel guide on these tours for about 3 years and still got excited every time I saw a manta ray, it's a must do! [Yes, please! Also, from March to June you can go snorkeling with the Whale Sharks (which are harmless) that migrate there, but unfortunately it's too late.] Anyway, I could go on and on!! Please let me know if I can provide you with any more information… [asked for things to do around there]”

“Yep that is a really good spot [Where the rental house is]. All the houses are fairly similar and, to be honest, your'e just going to need somewhere to crash coz you won't stop whilst you're there! There is a heap of stuff to do in the bay itself and I am a big fan of just cruising around snorkelling for as long as my legs will allow it! [Me too!] Although if you can get out on qaud bike tour up to the Lagoon and Oyster Bridge it's beautiful up there too…

On your way to/from Exmouth you should definitely stop in at Charles Knife Gorge and go for a walk up there, it's breathtaking. Around the point from Exmouth is Turquoise Bay, it's a bit of a drive but really worth it. Leave early and get back to Coral Bay just before dark. DON'T drive up there at night, the roads are really dangerous with Kanagroos and cattle and sheep all over the place - not worth it! [Attack of the Kangaroos! Ahhhh]

Happy hour at the Coral Bay pub is always fun (if you like a drink or two!) and is on Tuesdays and Fridays. Drinks are really cheap during happy hour and it's always busy. Sometimes they'll have a band up there which is fun too. [Cheap drinks in Australia … ? Never … Can’t remember if I mentioned this but things are really expensive in Australia … especially the drinks. Talking about 10 dollars for a pint of beer.]

Otherwise just snorkel, snorkel, snorkel. You won't be able to get enough! And don't be nervous, the reef is just under 2km off-shore and everything between the beach and the reef is pretty safe. Just be aware of the current (south to North in most cases) and if you're a little way off shore keep an eye on where it's taking you. A good way to judge the current is to hover over a patch of coral, with your head in the water, and see how quickly you move from where you started. There are sometime ittle reef sharks in the shallows, nothing to worry about - they're 90% of the time more scared of you than you are of them! [Err . . . What bout the other 10%?] The rest of the time they'll pay you little to no interest. [Oh. Comforting . . . ] Just something very cool to see. Otherwsie there's nothing to worry about. [Phew!] Just don't touch anything and you'll be safe. You can VERY easily damage the coral so be wary of where your hands and feet are and otherwise ENJOY! 

I'm jeaouls, I may have to go for a visit very soon! Enjoy yourselves and take care.”

Just thought those excerpts sort of captured the friendly and laid back attitude that exists throughout Australia. Everyone I have emailed asking for information about a trip or a specific spot has written back these long and thought out replies (like I said those were only excerpts!) 

Finally, Elizabeth, you had asked how to pronounce border ... hard to type out how it would sound but I'll give it a shot... start to say born slowly and right before you get to the "r" part of it say a “duh” type noise. Or start to say boy and before the "oy" part put in the duh noise. 

Just found this website:

Australian Pronunciation of Border 

Just move the mouse over the highlighted word “border” after clicking the link and it will pronounce it. Think I did an all right job of spelling it out! (Again, you have to click the link first. Oh and right click on the link and open in a new tab, otherwise it will leave the blog page.)

Here are links for “Perform” and “Certain” the other two words I talked about last time. That's all for now!