Travel

Postcards from Western Australia, with Co-Founder Hayley Pannekoecke

Through the eyes of Co-Founder, Hayley Pannekoecke, join us as she takes us through her postcards from Western Australia. An adventure rich in wild landscapes and unforgettable moments.

Tell us everything- where and when?

We flew into Perth and embarked on a mini man trip with all the nephews and uncles: 4WDs, fishing rods, cricket sets, cards, and 2-minute noodles. The boys spent three days driving from Perth up to Exmouth to meet the rest of the group. Each time we do this trip, we try to experience a few new things, but you really can’t go wrong with the spectacular WA coastline. However, some planning is necessary. Our itinerary this time looked like this: we flew from Perth to Melbourne and picked up 4WDs from our favorite supplier, Allstar Campers. Owner Nick has a fantastic fleet of well-equipped 4WDs. He's both a mechanic and an avid WA traveler and fisherman, always offering great tips and happy to answer any questions. Though Nick is super laid back, his vehicles are serious, equipped with everything from fridges to rooftop tents, towels, and even walkie-talkies.

From Perth, our adventure began with quick stops along the way to tackle some hefty chunks of driving - 10 hours to Carnarvon and 13 to Exmouth, with numerous stops to admire the incredible coastline. This trip, however, focused on reaching an island off Onslow called Thevenard Island, unknown to us in the east, a remote and sustainable island located off Onslow. Our next stop was camping in Cape Range National Park near Exmouth, ending up at Warroora Station south of Coral Bay. Approximately 4-6 days at each spot worked well.

What was on the camping menu?

As seafood lovers, most nights included fresh fish or octopus. Luckily, the team brought fishing rods, spears, and snorkels, emphasizing responsible sourcing and gathering. In remote outback Australian locations, food, especially fresh produce, is expensive and often hard to find. Thus, a menu plan was crucial, requiring focus while navigating the aisles of Foodworks in Exmouth. Exmouth is ideal for stocking up before heading to one of the many amazing camp spots along Ningaloo. Other meals featured jacket potatoes cooked on the fire or in Nick’s supplied Weber BBQ, sweet potato red curry, salads with fish when available, and perennial favorites like spaghetti bolognese. The 4WD fridges are compact but sufficient for essentials like wine, milk, vacuum-sealed meat, butter, and fresh produce.

Dining out - where did you eat out?

Some of the best places to eat in outback WA are often at cattle stations that have embraced tourism, such as Bullara Station approximately 90km from Exmouth, where meals made with local seafood and beef are unforgettable. Aside from this, we found self-catering simpler, with one-pot wonders always a hit.

If you had to Narrow it down what were your favourite three experiences?

1. Waking each morning in a roof top ten looking out at the ocean. Our camp spot near Coral Bay was right on the beach and the kids even set up their swags on the sand. Give roof top tents a go- they are super quick to pop up and quick to pull down.

2. Swimming with the whale sharks off Exmouth. This is an absolute must do when in Exmouth. It’s worth every cent and such a phenomenal experience for all. A day in the sun spent observing and adoring these majestic creatures

3. Bullara station- this was a really fun and unique 24 hours spent enjoying Australian station life. Bullara is located 90km out of exmouth so a good spot to visit on your way in or out of Exmouth. Burger night is Friday nights and if you miss this then be sure to make a booking at the restaurant for a special dinner in the bush.