No way was Linda going to the island.

Fishing, blokes and the outback, I think not!

I’d become enchanted by the place ever since I’d started helping Jim and Harry really put the island on the map. Not that they’d had any shortage of media coverage, quite the contrary. The Island had been featured on national TV on at least 3 high profile shows along with features in several major national publications. It’s just that they hadn’t harnessed the full exposure from that publicity.

Plus the marketing message had too much of the ‘bloke’ and ‘fishing’ factor. Although it does tout the best fishing and ocean eco systems on the planet it is so much more. Jim wanted to focus more on the private island getaway experience and that’s not hard to do when you’re here. So here we came.

Does it take you at least a few days to just unwind when you take a break?

I’d been told Wilderness is different. I’ve been working on Wilderness as project for a year and had never actually been there in person. I’d fallen in love with the whole culture simply from what I’d been told and heard…

My first task was to come up with a catch cry to capture the essence of Wilderness Island!

- “Where the world has paused” seemed to sum it up perfectly…

Day 1:

Came across the gulf with 2 locals, Steve and Rusty who run Exmouth Tackle and Camping. Nice smooth trip with a few whale sightings, great to see how they often run in groups. (Oh, got me a mighty fine rod from the lads too)

As we travelled across the gulf we could start to make out the shimmer of the island on the horizon. It sits proud as you come closer and the structures start to stand out, the main camp and the cabins.

Access to the island is through a creek that winds itself around the back. The tide was dropping as we navigated up the narrow creek and moored at the jetty. Our host Jim was there with the quad bike and trailer to take our luggage up to the camp.

With the sound of the ocean, some local insects and the warm sun on us the trail walk was the opening for the peace and tranquillity of the island. As we came up a rise the full expanse and beauty of Wilderness is revealed. The camp is set on a mound with open ocean views but nestled with a sand hill behind.

We sat in the main communal part of the camp while Jim set up our cabin. With an open plan design, a well set up kitchen, bar, lounge and dining areas the atmosphere from the get go is hard to beat. There’s a huge shaded deck with chairs, table and deck chairs all sitting high on the cliff edge with just the most magnificient open ocean views.

The afternoon was spent relaxing, chatting and simply unwinding. The safari cabin was clean and comfy, not huge but big enough. Only thing for us ‘older’ folk is the limited standing room but we got a preview of the new luxurious insulated larger cabins with ensuites, certainly looking forward to that.

Day 2:

Slept like a log with an unusual sleep in. Plus no get ups through the night like normal and refreshed as a new born.

The day started with a nice brew of stove top espresso coffee and cereal sitting on the deck looking back across the gulf with the silhouette of the mainland ranges sitting proud on the horizon. It was one of those ‘glass off’ ocean mornings.

The other guests slowly came over to the main camp and it was on for a big breakfast fry up. Jim and Kim being the outstanding hosts made sure we had our fill. You’re treated like royalty and handle the clean up so we could get on with the day’s activities.

One group was off kayaking heading south to Simpson Island and another off up north in their boat for a day’s fishing.

Amazing the people you meet at the island. Bret Ozanne, Matt and Leigh were there for the week and spent pretty well all day every day in their kayaks around the creeks and reefs.

We were going to do the tourist bit on Jim’s charter vessel. Around mid-morning we also headed to Simpson Island and moored out the back of the island and went off exploring.

The deep red rocks and cliffs were an amazing contrast against the brilliant white sand and mid-green hues of the spinifex.

The cliffs along the ocean side of the island varied in height with tall drop off areas and also low large flat rock areas with the waves lapping over.

The tide wasn’t high enough to see the blow holes in action but we could hear the low rumble of the tide swell moving under the entire rock platform, it was almost like thunder and quite eerie and enchanting.

In just a short while sitting on the south point of the island I saw a Manta Ray, a Turtle and quite a few species of fish and literally dozens of them go by. I managed to hook a GT and Mackerel, again a little small and back in they went.

The island has an incredible array of birds, insects and even resident kangaroos. The sea breeze was in now and a little blustery on the open ocean so we cruised back to the camp through the creeks behind the islands.

What an awesome eco tour in itself.

Back to camp and relax while we we fed, wined up and wound down. It’s a hard life!

Day 3:

Cereal for brekky. Big fry up for the others. The other guests are leaving this morning so final chin wag and group photo for posterity. Amazing how easy friendships are made and connections flow when you’re on holidays, especially when you’re in an atmosphere like on Wilderness.

Jim and Kim take the kayak team back across to the mainland. It’s time to get ready for me and wifey and fishing, not necessarily in that order.

We set up on the beach right down in front of the camp. There’s an incoming tide, a light breeze and I’m all set up to pull in the huge ones with my fluffy popper thingys on my brand new Diawa graphite rod and reel combo. I had an absolute ball but no big bites so we wandered up the beach to test new ground.

Up the north end of the island is a rocky outcrop and I just had to get to it but being the city dufous I left my shoes back at spot 1.

Hmm, dilemma, walk back for the shoes or forge on. Even with my soft as tissues feet the closeness of the rocky outcrop and the chance for a big catch was too much. With Linda sitting back on the sand laughing her head off I tip toed and pussy footed my way to the cliff edge. My feet felt like a pin cushion hammered with a nail gun, them rocks were sharp.

A stint on the rocks, a few bites and no catch I retraced my steps with arms extended like a tight rope walker and constant yelps, ouches and grimacing I made my way back to the soothing clean white sand.

One last round of casts from the beach stretch and lo and behold, I cast too much to the right and landed the lure straight on the rocks, omg. Another dilemma, get shoes or thrash my feet once again on the razor rocks – damn, just want to head back to camp now so it’s thrash the feet.

I had Linda come into the shallows and hold my rod. With gritted teeth and striving forward I did as fast a walk as the pain would allow. After unhooking my popper from the jagged rocks I looked back to the beach. Come back along the rocks? I think not, threw the popper in and swam back. Unbeknown to me at this point Linda had stubbed her toe so lots of love and sympathy were in order, just as well I did, it turns out shed actually broken her toe. Needless to say I earned some demerit points that arvo.

Shoulders slumped with wifey and rod in hand we meandered back up the beach.

Carrying on with the round of casts I managed to land some Giant Trevally’s but they were only juveniles so back in they went but it restored the hunger for the big one tomorrow.

Time to shower so with the bathroom right on the beach now was the time, how convenient! With an open front and full ocean views it’s a pretty hard bathroom to beat.

The evening wind down and meal was awesome as usual. A couple of ciders, a red wine and life is good.

Day 4:

Up at the crack of dawn after another wonderful deep sleep. Vivid dreams – so many and so clear. Off to the kitchen to prime the stovetop espresso for ‘she who must be obeyed’.

So nice to be up so early and ‘sit’ in the magnificence of this magical place. With all the other guests gone it was just us and our hosts Jim and Kim so even quieter than quiet.

Jim and Kim are up and off for their fitness bit. A nice coffee, a gentle breeze and time to update my journal. Linda kicking back reading as she does. Just absolutely loving being in the moment.

Spent the morning working with Jim and Kim on updating the website. Made good progress and a clear plan for the 2012 season. Jim has the new cabins all prefabricated, stacked on the island and ready to assemble. Already making plans for our next trip back with the new luxurious cabins.

We hear from Harry that he’s headed over to the island with 2 buddies and 2 10 year old boys. They arrive with a full bounty of food and fishing gear. The ocean is looking a little ‘messy’ with a roaring sea breeze so their journey was a bit of an adventure. After they get to camp the 2 boys are off investigating down the beach and hills.

Ben and Marcus, the 2 buddies are locals and way overstocked  for their 2 night stay so it’s a massive cook up for the evening meal. A BBQ with steak, chops , sweet potato and salads and all is well in the world and wilderness. We settled in around ‘Harry’s Bar’ for what was to become a memorable evening for all, so many laughs. We set the stage for some lifelong friendships that night.

Day 5:

Even with the biggest sleep in yet we were still up first. Apart from Marcus who we could see meandering far out on the reef. It was great to watch him stopping and peering into the rocks pools and reef edge checking out the awesome sights on the reef.

The sea breeze was still strong yet the ocean was flat and glassy for the whole morning. We were due to head back to the mainland today but the sea breeze picked up real strong and the ocean turned a little ugly so we decided to enjoy a lazy day sitting in the protection of the main camp, nice time out.

Later in the arvo we had some other guests join us on the island. Richard and Sonia with their 2 boys, Jack and Harry who were 7 and 8 with little 5 year old Nina were good friends of Jim. Richard had been to the island numerous times while it was Sonia’s second visit.

Both Jack and Harry were keen to go fishing so they were off with Richard down in the shallows in front of the camp. Not the best spot with the tide and the sea breeze at that time. Real late in the arvo it was still pretty blowy so Jim, Richard, Marcus, myself and the 4 boys jumped on the 4 wheeler bike and trailer and headed to a creek out the back of the island.

A fun ride along the tracks and along the beach we were in a great little protected creek, virtually no breeze it was such a tranquil little spot. Within minutes the fish were biting, woo woo! I had a decent size Mangrove Jack before long with a second one getting away. The full catch for the arvo were a few more Jacks, a few Malabar Groper (caught and released) along with some Perch.

Jim, Richard and Marcus had bailed out in favour of some ale back at camp so me and the 4 lads were in for a fair walk back to the camp, it was fun.

A serious cook up of Spaghetti Bolognaise and Beef stir fry and noodle, awesome. Team effort to clean up and kick back with a relaxing beverage. Early night for this kiddo.

Day 6:

Last day, we had to get back regardless of the weather. We were flying out back to Perth the following day but we wanted a day back in Exmouth with family and just to ‘hang out’ and see the sights.

We did a summary of the web work and marketing meets. I did a catch up with emails from the week and the rest was another lazy morning in this little piece of paradise.

We hitched a ride with Harry, Ben, Marcus and the 2 boys. The trip started out a little choppy but Harry’s a great skipper and kept the boat up on a nice smooth plane and by the time we were half way over the seas and breeze had dropped. The whales were out in force so it was a great way to cap off what was an extraordinary week.

It was quite sad to be leaving the island, hard to believe that 5 nights had gone already. You become a part of the whole culture and atmosphere of the place. There is some sort of emotional attachment that happens with Wilderness, quite difficult to articulate really.

This little piece of paradise they call Wilderness Island certainly met ALL of my expectations, and Linda’s to boot.

So much so we’re planning our next trip already, and for Linda to be up for that says a lot. Wilderness is certainly not just about fishing, blokes and the outback. With the promise of the new luxurious insulated larger cabins with ensuites we’ll be back up early next year.

Want to be able to instantly unwind when you take a break?

Wilderness Island will do that for you, the catch cry is so apt – ‘Where the World Has Paused’.