Another magnificent sunrise at Cleaverville this morning, the sky shifting through those incredible bands of colour – deep purples giving way to fiery oranges before the sun finally broke free of the horizon. There's something about these northern sunrises that never gets old, no matter how many we've witnessed on our travels.
We've settled into Cleaverville for a few days now, and I have to say, this place has completely captured us. We're perched on the headland with volcanic rock formations all around and native grasses catching the golden light. The Ram and van look pretty good up here, I must say. It's a ripper spot with enough space that everyone has their own slice of this magnificent coastline.
After a leisurely breakfast, Lisa and I set off for the headland, keen to explore the rock formations we'd spotted on our first day. The walk wasn't long, but every step revealed something new about this remarkable landscape.
The geology here is absolutely fascinating. These aren't your typical coastal rocks – they're ancient sedimentary formations that tell a story spanning millions of years. The cliff faces display distinct bands of rust-red, ochre, and cream-coloured layers, each stripe representing a different period when sediments were deposited on ancient sea floors. You can see where the layers have been twisted and folded by tectonic forces, creating these dramatic swirling patterns that look almost like modern art.
What really struck me was the sheer variety of rock types all jumbled together. There are sections where iron-rich minerals have stained the stone in deep reds and oranges, while other areas show grey and cream limestone formations. The weathering has carved intricate patterns into the rock platforms at the water's edge, revealing the internal structure of these ancient stones. Down at the water's edge, we spent an hour just examining the intricate layering and folding patterns—nature's artwork on a grand scale. The tidal pools were catching the late afternoon sun, turning the whole shoreline into a palette of golds and ambers.
Lisa was in her element, of course, adding to her ever-growing collection of coastal treasures. She found some beautiful specimens today – fossilised shells that once belonged to creatures living in warm, shallow seas, pieces of coral, and stones with the most incredible mineral patterns running through them. It's hard to believe that this now-arid coastline was once teeming with marine life.
The headland itself offers stunning views back along the coast, and I spent a good while just photographing the way the rock layers stack up against each other, each one a page in the earth's history book. These formations are a geologist's dream – and even for us amateur observers, they're absolutely captivating.
The sunsets here just don't quit. Every evening brings something different—the light, the clouds, the way the colours spill across those ancient rocks. Lisa reckons I take too many sunset photos, but I can't help myself. Each one feels like the first. This evening we took a walk up to the lookout above our camp. It's only a short climb, but the reward is worth every step. From up there, you can see the whole sweep of coastline—the turquoise water pushing against those incredible layered rock formations. The storm clouds building to the south just add to the drama, though we're hoping they stay on the horizon for now.
What strikes me most about Cleaverville is the sense of space and solitude, the red earth beaches, the endless ocean views, the raw beauty of it all—this is exactly why we do what we do.
We're staying put another night. There's still more to explore here, and honestly, we're in no hurry to leave. Lisa's calling me for sundowners now. Another evening watching the light show over the Indian Ocean. I never get weary of this. Not even close.
