Perth & Western Adventures

Ok, so we missed another weekly blog, no excuse really other than been busy enjoying Australia, so this one covers two weeks

Monday (15 January) checked out of our hotel and spend most of the day wandering around Launceston, Tasmania we re-visited the city park and saw the macaque monkeys being fed.

We had a flight to Perth, thankfully a direct flight, Australia is such a massive country we have flown for 4hrs 40mins and not left the country, and Perth is 3 hrs behind Melbourne/Tasmania time.

Got an Uber from the airport to the Great Southern Hotel in central Perth, pleasantly surprised by the hotel, it was the cheapest ‘ok looking’ accommodation in Perth by a long way, however it is a good clean hotel.

Tuesday, after a good breakfast in the hotel, we walked to the Bell Tower at Elizabeth Quay, a very hot day at 40 c, so we headed back to the hotel over the hottest part the day!

Wednesday, walked around King’s Park, but by the time we had found the Botanical Garden section it was hot, and we’d had enough so headed back to the hotel.

Thursday, we went back to the Botanical Gardens, which includes a skywalk, a DNA tower which Rog climbed while Nic watched from the ground.

For dinner we went to the Western Australian Italian social club, which was just that, there was a large family party and a darts league match, which Rog ended up being the photographer for, also pool tables, it was all going on ! And good pizza too.

Friday, we had booked a group tour up the western Australian coast to Exmouth. Western Australia is vast, Exmouth is 1,250km north of Perth, so an early start as we had to walk to the collection point for the tour. We met our first fellow traveller at the pick up point, thankfully she had an Australian mobile and was able to receive the text letting us know the pick up was delayed slightly.

Our transport arrived, a 24 seater minibus with a trailer. Our first main stop was at the ‘Pinnacles’ strange stone ‘pinnacles’, then journeyed up the Indian Ocean Drive, stopping in Geraldton, the Pink lake (which was not actually that pink) and our accommodation (a hostel) in Kalbarri.

Saturday, an early start to drive into the Kalbarri National Park. An early start to get to Nature’s window as the sun was coming up. Then onto the Z bend trail, where some of our group abseiled down a cliff face, we watched and took photos for the group photo app. It was a bit of a scramble down, then back up the Murchison Gorge in very hot conditions, but well worth it! We were all glad to get back on the air conditioned bus to head to Monkey Mia. After we checked in we headed for a dip in the sea. The local dolphins came to see what we were doing, causing us great excitement.

Sunday, we went back to the beach to watch the official dolphin experience with the team of marine biologists, 2 of the ‘crooked fin’ family of dolphins are hand fed from the beach. The family consisted of the matriarch, her two daughters, one of which was pregnant and their young.

Then back on the bus to visit Eagle Bluff to see sharks from a distance, then Shell Beach, we were told it is one of only two beaches in the world made of only shells. Specifically the fragum cockle.

We then visited stromatolites, one of the oldest living organisms on earth (thousands of years old), but not very interesting to look at, they just look like rocks.

Back in the bus we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn.

Our accommodation was at Coral Bay, a very strange hostel, a nice place if a little rigid about its rules on what and where you could drink alcohol.

Monday (22 January), we had planned to snorkel with manta rays, unfortunately the wind was too strong for the boats to go out, so the snorkelling was cancelled. Instead we went to the Shark nursery, closer to the shore, saw sharks and rays.

As we got to our next accommodation in Exmouth early, we headed out in the evening looking for turtles at Mauritius Beach. We sat on the beach and waited, then slowly 12 turtles came out of the water and headed up the beach towards us to nest. The turtles got so close to us that we had to move out of their way. It was an amazing evening, even our guide said he had not seen that many turtles nesting. We also saw some baby turtles coming out of their nests and heading for the water, running the risk of being a meal for the local sea birds.

Tuesday We headed out to do a hike in Yardie creek to look for black faced rock wallabies. Fantastic views again.

This evening we headed to the Vlamingh head lighthouse for sunset, then back to the beach for another hour of turtle spotting. As we needed to get an early night we spent less time there, but still saw half a dozen turtles arrive to start digging their nests.

Wednesday we said goodbye to some of our group, who had opted to take a different onward journey. We then started the long drive back south, our driver/ guide did a great job at the wheel for 900km. Stopped in Geraldton tonight, and went out for a meal together for our last night.

Thursday Another long day in the bus, a couple of comfort stops for short walks and refreshments at 3 Bays and again in Lancelin.

Finishing our tour back in Perth! (3,000km /1,900 mile in a week) A really enjoyable week with a new group of friends.

Friday, was Australia Day, but we began the day with the glamour of the local laundrette, as we waited for the washing, one of our tour mates walked past, so we had a chat.

Heading out later in the day to soak up some of the atmosphere, we met up with another one of our friends from the tour. We started in the park with the Aboriginal/ indigenous stage with some modern and traditional performances. Then we moved on to Langley park to get a spot for the fireworks and drone show. An amazing show, it was the first time we have seen a drone show in person.

Saturday, we headed for some retail therapy, as it is still summer here, and we needed some summer gear for our next trip (watch this space), and the chances of getting summer gear in the UK in February are slim.

Despite googling ‘what’s on’ in Perth we did not find out that the World Rugby 7’s was on 10mins walk from our hotel, we turned up and managed to get some tickets. It was a very Aussie festival atmosphere, no body appear to be sitting in their ticketed seat, everyone just moved around ( mainly to dodge the full sun!). We enjoyed an afternoon of 8 games of rubgy 7s.

Sunday, an early start, we booked a ferry to Rottnest Island, an 1 1/2 hr cruise down the Swan river then out into the Indian Ocean to the island, a beautiful place with no cars, we got the hop on hop off bus around the island, we walked to the World War II gun emplacements, saw dolphins and Osprey, snorkelled at Little Parakeet Bay, saw a Quokka, had an ice cream, then caught the ferry back! A lovely day!