Cyclone Iggy in Exmouth

Much preparation goes into getting the holiday homes we have in Exmouth in readiness for a pending cyclone, this one being Iggy. Who calls a cyclone Iggy by the way?!

Once we know that evacuation is required, I do the ring around to our guests to inform them of the bad news that it would be wise to leave town. Not always that easy as our recent evacuees have discovered. Fires have cut of the North West Highway, so it has been a difficult decision. Stay or go?  Our Karratha guests held out as long as possible, thinking that a cyclone in Exmouth on holiday would be a hell of alot better than a cyclone in Karratha whilst working. But even they in the end couldn’t  take the risk of flooding.

Our caretakers then go around to all the houses, taking down shade sails, bringing in all the furniture, fastening the cyclone shutters and battening down the hatches.

We sincerely hope that Iggy is all POP and not too much BANG. Will keep you posted.



IGFA and Stanford University – Great Marlin Race

There is very exciting news this week for the Exmouth Game Fishing Club.
The annual Gamex tournament at Exmouth will this coming March 2012 be part of the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) Great Marlin Race. The Great Marlin Race is a partnership between IGFA and the USA’s Stanford University that pairs recreational anglers with cutting-edge science to learn more about the basic biology of marlin and how they utilise the open ocean habitat.   The goal of the program is to deploy 50 pop-up archival tags (PAT) in marlin at billfish tournaments around the world each year, and a limited number of these tags will be available to Gamex anglers, with the tournament running from March 9-17.   Gamex and Exmouth is the ONLY Australian Tournament and location that has been chosen for 2012. (We feel very privileged!!)  This effort will increase understanding of distribution, population structure and biology of marlin and engage anglers and the general public in the research process.

By increasing the understanding of where these animals go and how they use the pelagic ecosystem, it will provide valuable information to the resource managers and policy makers responsible for ensuring their long-term conservation.  One hundred and twenty days after each tag is deployed, it automatically releases itself from the fish and transmits information such as the fish’s path, depth profiles, and sea temperatures to earth-orbiting ARGOS satellites.  Tag sponsors, anglers and the general public will be able to view the migration routes of tagged marlin through Google Earth-enabled maps on the Great Marlin Race website where pop-up tag locations and animal tracks are displayed.

The subsidised cost of each tag is $4000.   The marlin, and sponsor, whose tag travels the farthest of all 50 tags will be recognised at the annual IGFA International Auction and Banquet in January 2013, while the angler who tags the winning fish in the Exmouth leg of the 2011/12 Great Marlin Race will receive a free five-year membership to EGFC and free entry to Gamex 2013.

The Exmouth Game Fishing Club believes it is fantastic opportunity to place Exmouth firmly on the international game fishing map and to support scientific research and marlin conservation.   To sponsor a tag email Exmouth Game Fishing Club at secretary@egfc.com.au, with tags sold on a first come, first served basis. For more information visit go to http://igmr.igfa.org .



Skywest Airlines – Learmonth – Paraburdoo Service

News just in.

Skywest Airlines will launch a new weekly service Learmonth – Paraburdoo commencing Monday 28th November 2011. This schedule will be extended to include additional Tuesday flights, effective 13 December 2011

Looks like they are departing Learmonth 8.35 am arriving Paraburdoo 9.35am and then returning Paraburdoo 10.15am arriving in Learmonth 11.15am.

Pricing starts from $159 one way. Bookings can be made on www.skywest.com.au or via phone 1300 66 00 88.

Great news for all our Paraburdoo holiday home guests wishing to get to Exmouth for a quick long weekend away. We would love to see you. We have holiday homes that accept 3,4 and 5 night stays, some even allow pets.



Accommodation for GAMEX and AIBT 2012

The Exmouth Game Fishing Club is getting itself organised for the 2012 season of GAMEX and AIBT. Last year we saw record numbers of boats and fishermen come into the town for this ever popular event. With accommodation at a premium I would like to urge you to book your holiday homes now. I still have some vacancy in some of our most popular homes.

A nice marlin caught off Exmouth

GAMEX dates- 10 March – 17 March

AIBT dates – 19 March – 25 March

Coral – sleeps 4 singles in two queen beds and two single beds. Tariff – $170 a night

Turtle – sleeps 2 singles in two queen beds. Tariff – $180 a night

Oyster – Sleeps 6 singles in two queen beds and 2×2 sets of bunks. Tariff – $180 a night

Tusk – only available from March 18 – 25. Sleeps up to 9 singles in one King bed, two queen beds, one single bed and 2×2 sets of bunks. Tariff – $230 – $320 a night

Mandu – ON THE CANALS and the closest holiday house to the Marina and the Exmouth Game Fishing Club. Why is this not booked!!?? Sleeps 6 singles in 3 King beds which unzip to make 6 King Singles. Tariff – $300 a night.

(Ningaloo Reef Holidays is a sponsor of GAMEX) See you all at the competition, make sure you introduce yourselves if I haven’t met you yet.

 



How to beat the heat in Exmouth.

Ok, so we are now in the swing of summer. Here are my tips for you.

  • make it part of your habit. Do not leave the house without a water bottle and sip water regularly all day. You will sweat much more than usual and wont even notice it.
  • It obvious, but put a hat on as soon as you walk out the door, apart from the obvious sun implications, you will dehydrate from your scalp and you need to keep this as cool as possible.
  • Ankles swelling? Raise them at night, eat less salty foods, drink less alcohol and go for a walk in the ocean.
  • Eat foods high in water content like watermelon and salads.
  • If it is very hot in town, it will be much cooler on the other side of the peninsula. Head out of town and hit the beach.
  • Get in the water and cool down. Pack water, pack a hat, pack sunscreen, put on a rashie, set up a sunshade, get into the water. Cool your body temperature down immediately.
  • All too hard? The town pool is always there for a quick dip. Or even getting wet at any one of the Gulf beaches will do the trick, the water is much warmer than the beaches on the other side, but you are at least wet!
  • Use your airconditioners wisely. They are very efficient and will cool down the house quickly. I beg you not to leave them on all day and go out. It’s a waste of power and money and completely unnecessary. All it will do is raise the tariffs for next time as the owners get their power bills.  Please consider this.


Christmas accommodation in Exmouth and cyclones

With all the talk of cyclone season in the North West approaching, I think it is a timely reminder of what we need to think ahead and be prepared. Last year after the Carnarvon Floods, we struggled to get our guests from the south, mostly Perth, into Exmouth. One brave soul, drove an extra 4 hours via Newman and Tom Price and came into town via the inland road!

In your accommodation you will find cyclone information, please read this booklet, be alerted to the radio broadcasts on the ABC North West, be mindful of the ‘alerts’ as colour coded at the Police Station on Maidstone Cres. Make yourself familiar with what is happening around you, and talk to the neighbours if in doubt. Or ring me.

Note that we do refund your accommodation funds should there be a cyclone and you are unable to drive or fly into Exmouth due to tropical storms. Should you just change your mind because the weather is a little stormy or the waters not a blue as usual, then unfortunately we dont deem that as a refundable cause. If the weather is dangerous, then we will refund. Please read your booking terms and conditions, it is fully explained.

Christmas in Exmouth is a warm time of year, we recommend that you are fully prepared for the above 40deg temperatures. It’s not a holiday when you are locked in your airconditioned accommodation.



Cyclone Vance 1999 Recovery Research

I thought this may be of interest to some of you who ‘were there’ during the cyclone in 1999.

UWA Long-term Recovery Research – Cyclone Vance 1999

We are team of researchers from the University of Western Australia that are conducting research into the various drivers, organisations and the total time it took regional Western Australian communities to recover from various natural disasters. The road to recovery after Cyclone Vance in March 1999 is of great interest to us. We are looking to interview any interested community members who are still in town and who were resident in Exmouth at the time of Cyclone Vance. We will be in town from the 26-28th September – so if you are available, please contact Helen Smith: helenwilsonsmith@gmail.com or 045 146 1202.

 



October School Holiday Accommodation Exmouth

Yes. We still have some very limited dates for this years October School Holiday break.

Frangipani – available  October 7th onwards. $150 a night minimum 7 night bookings

Jurabi – we had a cancellation so we have this home for both weeks. Families only. $200 a night minimum 7 night bookings

Christmas 2011 and New Year 2012 are heavily booked already. I have Frangipani available for a two week booking only over the break at $150 a night, Oyster is still available for all dates, Mandu for dates leading up to New Year, departing on the 27th December and two new houses which I will have to offer you in the coming months.

Be organised and book early is my suggestion. Avoid the last minute rush.

School holiday bookings for next year in April and Easter are nearly full already so if you are planning on coming you best make enquiries now.



Here come the Humpbacks

News is buzzing that the humpback whales are in abundance on the both sides of the peninsula.

Guests who have been out fishing in the gulf are telling of amazing stories of how they found themselves in such close proximity to these wonderful and often playful giants of the sea.

The humbacks are easily spotted from the town beaches and if you have binoculars even better. You can spot the gush of water that is spouted into the air when then dive and also the splash of water as their enormous tails hit the water.

So dont lament the end of Whaleshark season, embrace the start of Humpback season.



Family Accommodation for August

The best month of the year for fishing and holidaying in Exmouth and I still have vacancy in some of my holiday homes.

Marlin www.ningaloo.net/holiday-homes/marlin   has ALL dates still available. This three bedroom two bathroom home which sleeps 8 has had a cancellation and is not free for the entire month.

Marlin has new beds, a new Beefeater BBQ, all new linen, big Plasma TV, outdoor beer and bait fridge and has loads of parking for cars and boats.

Make the most of this opportunity and book now at a great rate of only $190 a night (based on a minimum 5 night stay) $200 a night for 3 or 4 night stays.

Ring Helen now on mob; 0400 933 338

Comfortable living at a great price