After a wonderful time in Margaret River, we ventured inland to Collie, eager to discover its renowned blue lakes, natural pools, and vibrant town artwork. We parked in a free campsite alongside the Clarke family, whom we befriended in Margaret River. Their two children clicked instantly with Ollie and Lily, making for great companionship.

After leaving the cozy confines of our tiny house for the final time, we set off to explore a few remaining beaches in Albany that we hadn’t yet visited. Our first stop was Emu Point, followed by the scenic Middleton Beach. There, we paused for a coffee—milkshakes for the kids—while they enjoyed themselves on the playground. Our time in Albany was memorable.

After wrapping up our adventures at Cape Le Grand, our journey led us to Albany. We initially returned to Esperance to explore a few beaches we had missed, but the weather initially had other plans as we got caught in a torrential downpour. We patiently waited out the storm while replenishing our supplies and enjoying a leisurely lunch. By the time we reached the iconic Twilight Beach, the rain had cleared and we got some lovely sunshine. We spent a few hours there before heading off to find a place to park up for the night.

After our adventure across the Nullarbor, we made a stop in Esperance to replenish our supplies. Having crossed two state borders with strict quarantine rules, we found ourselves missing fresh fruit and vegetables. However, the steep prices—some as high as $12.99 per kilogram for bananas and apples—limited our choices. Despite these challenges, we did our best to restock before heading to our first caravan park, located an hour east of Esperance. Our main reason for visiting was to experience Wharton Beach, celebrated as one of Australia’s finest.

After a night spent in Hamley Bridge, we set off for the scenic Eyre Peninsula. Our first stop along the route was yet another dried-up Pink Lake—there are more of these than we ever imagined! But this one had its own unique twist: a Loch Ness Monster sculpture perched right in the middle. Though we hadn’t planned to stop, the kids were captivated, and it proved to be a worthwhile detour.

On Saturday morning, we wrapped up our packing, bid a heartfelt farewell to Renjo, and readied ourselves for our journey westward. It was wonderful to have friends and family drop by throughout the morning to say their goodbyes, with some even staying to wave us off as we set out.