23rd - 24th February 2016

We're stoked about Stokes, actually, we were not even considering coming here, we were heading to Quagi Beach but since Stokes Inlet is only a 7klm detour so why not a quick visit especially as our casual travelling companions talked about it. Just as we came to the turnoff we received a text from Ian and Chris saying that the camp was A1 and there were some large enclosed sites available. Stokes Inlet is part of Stokes NP, and the camp is about 4klm from the ocean but sits beside a very large and picturesque Stokes Inlet, renowned for Black Bream. We stopped by the Camp Hosts site, Rod and Wendy, who gave us the good tips about which site would be best for us.
 
The campsites all sit off the right side a circular drive about 400 metres around. Each site is cut into the forest and no site is in view of another, all are shady and wind protected, we loved it. The center of the circle hold 2 amenities blocks and a camp kitchen, and a second camp kitchen sits between sites with a great view over the inlet. Soon after we have made camp Ben and Jan arrive and take the camp next to us, close but out of sight. For touring couples this place is a dream.

The day was quite chilly now, and overcast. No swimming, wanted to save the walk for next day so lunch became the focus of the day, and what better than a couple of pizzas. Pita Bread, ham, salami, anchovies, chilli, garlic, olives, mushrooms, mozzarella, Parmesan....into the Weber for a few minutes, bottle of red, truly a pleasant afternoon....by the way, what day is it?
 
The inlet is quite shallow and is very infrequently open to the ocean, so it becomes quite salty, which the Black Bream love...apparently. The NP maps talk of a 3.5klm walk to "The Point" which we figure must be on the beachfront. This makes for a great morning walk, so, hydration backpack filled and shouldered we are off. The NP boys have provided a gravel path through the bush and it is truly like a walk through a Botanical Garden. In places the bush was head high, thick and trimmed like a hedge allowing you to walk maze like in this wonderland. Birds, and reptiles, are plentiful as are amazing old palms and bottlebrush of differing colours. The Point is really a sand-spit that protrudes well into the inlet and from here we can see the sand dune across the inlet mouth, still over a kilometre distant and unreachable through an impenetrable wall of foliage, but a great walk anyway.
 
An afternoon fishing party was organised by Roscoe to take a 4klm 4WD track to Young River, one of the two rivers feeding Stokes Inlet. Roscoe was told of a few spots along the river suitable for several people to fish, and it was a good way to spend an afternoon. Soon we were lined up along the sloping rock bank, Ian, Chris, Evi, Roscoe, Ben and Jan. The first to land a fish was Jan, she who had never fished, and we lent her a small telescopic rod...beginners luck. For the next hour we were all catching Black Bream, but none over 25cm, the legal length. Tiring of this spot we all moved off, however, we decided to try one more place about 400 metres away and here Evi caught a legal (barely) Black Bream on her first cast. Well done girl. Once we returned to camp we joined Ian who had returned to fish his favoured spot below the campground, and her Roscoe caught a lovely 28cm Black Bream thus providing our dinner.
 
Another couple had rejoined this afternoon, Richard and Liz, who had stayed at another beach camp after 4 Mile. Happy Hour was a raucous event of banter and laughter as we sat in the camp kitchen with a view and enjoyed the day's end, wind dropping, colours softening and the thermometer plummeting. Next morning we were all heading in different directions until we thought we shall meet up in Esperance within a week.