Exmouth WA. June 3 2018

On our way from Carnarvon to Exmouth, we took a short detour into Coral Bay, where we spend a very pleasant few days, 16 years ago. The first thing that hits you is that the place, which is virtually one street that goes down to the water, is absolutely heaving with people. Last time we were here it was us and a stray dog. Even allowing for it being a long-weekend in WA, it doesn't really account for the hordes, which includes heaps of children. The place itself has a few new buildings but is basically the same, except bigger and full of people and has two new (from when were there last) huge caravan parks. We only went for a look, and having done a u-turn at the edge of the water, headed back to the main Exmouth road.

We made it into Exmouth in a reasonable time, although it seemed like days. You find yourself driving for hours through a sandy dessert, and then you get to the dull grey flat plains.

Surprisingly, to us at least, is that the caravan park is packed, just like Coral Bay. It's warm up here, 32º or so and it's straight into swimmers for everyone. We took a five minute drive around the settlement ('town' seems too grand a word), the highlight is the Town Beach and the marina, which appears to be new, complete with canals and luxury houses.

Town Beach. Exmouth WA

Town Beach. Exmouth WA

Marina. Exmouth WA

Marina. Exmouth WA

from marina back across to Town Beach.  Exmouth WA

Just down the road is the Naval Communications Station Harold E Holt (NAVCOMMSTA), which was established in 1963 and led to the town being built. It was originally a US Navy establishment, then a joint base and now its entirely under RAN command. It appears that its purpose in life is to talk to submarines in the Indian and West Pacific oceans.

Submarine front end. I'd guess the blob on the front would be full of comms. gear.
Harold E Holt Naval Communications Base. Exmouth WA

Harold E Holt Naval Communications Base. Exmouth WA

Aerials all over the place at the Harold E Holt Naval Communications Base. Exmouth WA

 This page should have been covered in pictures of whale sharks, but as the operators are claiming that the weather will be dreadful tomorrow, they have cancelled our tour / cruise / swim, and as there is nothing else to do here, we will push off in the morning.