Emu Park has some beautiful beaches... some white sand, some with pebbles, and some of the most amazing rocky outcrops that you can imagine. This time we stopped near the little jetty. On one side of the stone structure you'll find a calm sandy little beach, perfect for taking the kids for a dip. It's a little inlet that rarely has what I'd call waves... you could only describe them as ripples. It's also quite shallow, and when the tide goes out it goes out a long way.





This makes for good opportunities to interest the kids with stories of birdlife, fish and soldier crabs. My kids have always loved the sight of little sand balls on the beach... and many an hour has been spent (by one or another of them), catching the little crabs, playing with them and begging for a new 'pet'. Oh, by the way... did you know that baby seagulls have a mottled back, similar to a kookaburra?





The other side of the jetty is just rock.





These rocks stop the waves from reaching the little inlet on the other side of the jetty. You'll need to be wearing good shoes when you walk out here. The rock is volcanic and chock-filled with fossilised shells and other sea-type creatures from ancient times. It also supports many species of little shells, barnacles, etc. The birds love them too, so you can always be assured to find some there.
 




This shag?? was sunning himself on the rocks.





If nothing else, it provides some wonderful photo opportunities. There's nothing quite like splashing water...





But spilling water is pretty cool too...





And we found this little guy in one of the rockpools. Now, I'm no fish expert, but I think this is some kind of puffer fish. They have big teeth, if I recall correctly and I think they are at least mildly poisonous. This shot was taken just moments after this conversation with my 15 year old son...
15- 'If I find a fish, do you want me to catch it and bring it to you to take photos of?'
Me- 'Only if it's not poisonous.'
15- 'So which ones are poisonous?'
Me- 'Most of the ones you'll find in rockpools.'
15- 'Oh.'
He didn't try to touch any of them.