A message from Carlee

Hi travelling families,

I am writing to you from northern Western Australia. My family and I have just wrapped up a wonderful month on the Coral Coast, followed by some time exploring Karijini National Park.

We absolutely loved our time at Ningaloo. We enjoyed some incredible days out on the boat, with dolphins, turtles and sharks spotted not far from shore, while the turquoise water and coral reef put on a spectacular show.

My 11-year-old daughter, Josie, really came into her own during our coastal stay, embracing everything that was on offer. Her fishing skills improved enormously, and she caught and released several sharks, which certainly put up a fight! Although she was a little disappointed to discover she wasn't actually feeding the family once she realised what she'd caught, she loved every minute of it. She also landed golden trevally and plenty of cod along the way.

As for Jaxon, he would now like to be known as the Squid King. On the days when the fish weren't biting, he always came through with some enormous squid. Over the past month we've enjoyed calamari, salt and pepper squid, and just about every squid recipe you could imagine!

I was a little uncertain about swimming with the whale sharks. You see, my mind immediately jumps to risk assessments, and voluntarily jumping off the back of a boat into deep, dark water beyond the reef break sounded a little outside my comfort zone. But sometimes you have to take the leap, embrace the adventure and make the memory. This was one of those moments.

Probably right at the edge of my adventure threshold, I booked two tickets and Josie and I spent an unforgettable day out on the water. I am so grateful that I took the plunge. It is an experience I will treasure forever, and even more special because I got to share it with my daughter. I recently shared a video on Instagram if you'd like to see what it was like.

The snorkelling at Ningaloo was equally incredible. We were lucky enough to secure a few nights at Osprey Bay, where the reef is right on your doorstep. We also made the drive to Oyster Stacks, which was another standout experience. Oyster Stacks is sheltered and relatively shallow, making it a fantastic spot for families, provided you time your visit around the tides.

We also stayed at the iconic Bullara Station, and what a fantastic place it is! Friday night's burger night had everyone dusting off their dancing boots. The food was delicious, the live music created an amazing atmosphere, and after an extended period off grid, a hot shower and a few loads of washing were very welcome. The famous scones absolutely live up to the hype. If you're staying at Bullara, be sure to check out their beef products, but get in early. The fridge is restocked around 8.30 am and popular items often sell out quickly.

We hadn't planned much beyond Ningaloo, so we arrived at Karijini National Park with very few expectations. What can I say? It completely exceeded them.

We spent a couple of nights at Buddha's Camp, a free camp near Hamersley Gorge, where the sunsets were simply spectacular. The water in the gorges is icy, so I'd definitely recommend bringing a wetsuit if you have one. We picked ours up second-hand from op shops in Carnarvon and Perth, which saved us quite a bit of money.

The Spa Pool, Fern Pool and Hancock Gorge were definite highlights. Hancock Gorge is an adventure in itself. You'll climb down ladders into the gorge, wade through water, hold onto chains fixed to the rock walls while making your through narrow sections, before reaching a stunning natural amphitheatre with trickling waterfalls and Kermit's Pool, where the kids loved having a swim.

A few tips if you're planning to visit:

• Pack a lightweight backpack and a change of clothes if you intend to swim, as you'll need both hands free in parts of the gorge.
• It can become quite cold inside the gorge, even on warm days.
• Aim to start your walk well before sunset. Around the middle of the day, when the sun is higher overhead, provides the best light in many sections.

Next up for us is the Gibb River Road, and we cannot wait for this next chapter of our adventure.

When we set off on our lap of Australia, we always knew it wouldn't last forever. Since leaving our hometown of Maryborough on Queensland's Fraser Coast, we've travelled inland via Toowoomba before following the coast from Port Macquarie south to Melbourne, then over to Tasmania, where we spent three incredible months. From there we explored the Great Ocean Road, crossed southern Australia, travelled through Central Australia to Darwin, returned across to north Queensland, then headed south again through Bathurst and Orange, onto the Barossa Valley, across the Nullarbor, and all the way up the stunning west coast of Western Australia. We've now made our way inland via Karijini to Port Hedland.

Our plan is to spend some more time exploring the Northern Territory before resettling ahead of Josie starting high school in 2027.

Travelling Australia has been one of the greatest experiences of our lives. Like all good things, it eventually comes to an end, and while it's certainly bittersweet knowing our lap is entering its final chapter, we're equally excited about what comes next.

Resettling will also allow me to dedicate more time to Caravan Classroom and continue supporting families like ours who have chosen to step outside mainstream schooling to travel Australia while home schooling their school-aged children.

Finally, I just want to say thank you.

We recently celebrated 12 months since launching Caravan Classroom, and it has been an absolute privilege to support so many travelling families to home school with confidence while exploring Australia.

Whether you've purchased one of our education plans, shared our business with a friend, followed along on social media, or simply cheered us on from afar, thank you. Your support truly means the world to our family, and I'm incredibly grateful to be part of your travelling journey.

Happy travels,

Carlee