Back in Mandurah

Well I have not written my account of our holiday in France/Italy (Sep/Oct 2010) but will do so after this more recent escapade.

It is summer here in Perth WA and it seems most of the population has gone to Mandurah after the finish of the Christmas extravaganza to relax and get away from it all!! However this is very difficult as the crowds in the shops are huge, the traffic jams are long, the parking is non existent and the coffee is not great! However the weather has been terrific.

We arrived on Tuesday, checked into our hotel and went to drive to Preston beach, but did not realise it was most of the way to Bunbury so never actually got there (I did not want to spend the few days here driving!), so turned around and had a nanny-sleep at our hotel instead.

In the evening we did the passagero or at least the Mandurah version of it, bought some fish and chips (plus 4 steamed dim sims, yummy) on the way back and had dinner on our balcony with a bottle of Lambrusco overlooking the Estuary, very nice.

This morning was spent at Samphire Cove Wetlands and boardwalk studying the birdlife and later catching up with some friends, who have a house here, over coffee.

Subway for lunch, in the park, then a couple of hours on the beach before returning to the hotel, our son is dropping by this afternoon, so will continue this tomorrow!

Setting Off again!

Well Rose and I are off to France and Italy on Thursday morning (our excuse is we are catching up with a bunch of friends who are also travelling Europe and we will all come together in Fanjeaux, France to celebrate a very important birthday for one of the party). But the truth is we just wanted an excuse to fly to Europe!

First stop is Paris and after that? (well you can check out the attached itinerary).

And I will keep updating this Blog whenever I can with pithy comments and spectacular photos!

Cheers

Am sitting at Melbourne Airport waiting for my flight back to Perth after spending the weekend with my father (who is getting on a bit).

It has been a while since visiting Melbourne and I remember that people used to say that if you were not wearing black, you must be  a tourist! It has not changed!

The food is still excellent and the service what it ought to be in other parts. The weather was overcast but not really cold, wet at times (but then it is May) cant expect beach weather (at least it did not rain whilst out and about.)

Tuesday 13th April 2010 - Rottnest Island

It is Tuesday here on Rottnest Island WA and it is blowing a gale! The weather bureau has posted a severe weather warning and we hope that it eases by Thursday morning because that is the day we are taking the ferry back to Perth (or at least it is taking us). It has been getting progressively more windy in the past two days, but this afternoon it really blew in - so we are having to stay in and work through our supplies of chardonney and nibbly things (cannot be bad!) so we will not have to carry too much back to the mainland.

Sunday was a good day, sussed out the museum in the morning (and if this weather clears up will make our way back to there again). Our youngest son came over from the mainland and seeing as he arrived at lunchtime first thing to do was lunch at the Pub. Beautiful sunny weather again and sitting in the beer garden overlooking Thomson Bay with some fish and chips and a couple of beers is a terrific way to spend a couple of hours.

I am writing this post at the window of our chalet overlooking the beach and there is blue sky so tomorrow may be better.

Monday we spent on the bus around the island and went up the Wadjemup Lighthouse. It was constructed in 1851 and there are 155 steps to climb to get to the top. The lighthouse is only 30m high but when you are at the top it feels a lot higher (probably because of the spectacular views and its height above sea level).

Our son left on the 4pm ferry and after the boat pulled out we walked to Bathurst Lighthouse (which is not open to the public and is much smaller).

This morning was a bit of a disappointment, we headed off to Kingston Barracks on the 11.25am Shuttle as per the guide book, for a tour of the complex and gun emplacements, but on arrival the place was deserted! Wandered around a bit and got the next Shuttle back to Thomson bay, apparantley that tour is no longer operating and should have been removed from the guide book, oh well it was a nice ride out there anyway!.

And this afternoon the storm settled in.

Tomorrow (weather permitting!) we are off to Guns and Tunnels at Oliver Hill and will be taking the train (tram?) there. Also tomorrow evening (again weather permitting) we will be heading out to West End with a bottle of wine and some nibblies to watch the sun set over the ocean (West End is the furthest point from the settlement) Hope the weather improves!

I have almost forgotten to mention why Rottnest Island is called Rottnest Island. Basically, the early Dutch explorer de Vlamingh arrived here in the early 1600's and noted that the island appeared to be infested with a form of large rat, hence the name Rottnest (nest of rats) what he actually saw was the Quokka (which is not a rat but a small marsupial).



- and they are very cute.


de Vlamingh also visited the mainland but apparentley did not praise it very highly! (obviously did not sit on the beach at Cotteloe on a Summer evening with a picnic, some wine and a few friends!)

Saturday 10th April 2010 - Rottnest Island WA

Well the scenery here may be spectacular, but the coffee is not!! will try somewhere else tomorrow - and hope it improves!

Walked to the Settlement from Geordie Bay this morning, had coffee (ugh!) and explored the area, lunch at the pub (used to be the Governors residence in days gone by, but put to a much better purpose now), great, could have stayed all day but probably would have gotten  drunk and had to sleep on the beach, so instead went on the Heritage tour. These tours are great, run by volunteers and free and last approx 1 to 1 1/2hrs (so not too long).

Back at Geordie Bay for evening drinks and Sunset and basically that is how Rottnest days go, laid back and relaxing, food and walks on the beach, it is a little cool for swimming at this time of year, but the weather is fantastic for walking and exploring the island.


Sleeping again to the sound of breaking waves on the beach, wonderful.

Friday 9th April 2010 - Rottnest Island WA

Set off today for a week on Rottnest Island ( rottnestisland.com.au ), approx a 25min ferry trip from Fremantle. Did not start off too well, the taxi got lost but when he realised his mistake graciously offered to turn off the meter till we found our destination (there are still nice people around!).
The trip over was uneventful except that there was a strong sea breeze blowing and it was rough!.

Rottnest is very relaxed and we got into the mood straight away, purchased the dip and wine so that we could appreciate the sunset over the beach sitting on our balcony properly (sunsets over the water must be seen through a glass of chardonney.



Early night and a restful sleep.

Albany, WA

Albany has a reputation for being a cold and rainy place, but everytime I have been there the weather is generally fine and sunny, perhaps not 35 degree hot, but I prefer weather where you can do things without sweating your life away, so the cooler weather suits me.
Anyway while we were in Albany (we went for lunch - more about that later) the weather was fine and sunny!

Made a stop at Princess Royal Fortress at Mt Adelaide. See brochure below.

The Fortress is now a museum and contains many fine mementos from different eras of Australias military. There is the HMAS Perth Interpretive Centre, The Barracks, Military Heritage Centre, Australian Light Horse Museum and much more, go I you are in Albany, there is also a cafe so coffee is available!

Stopped at Emu Point for lunch, cannot remember the name of the cafe, but it was at the end of the road and practically on the beach, great location and the salt and pepper squid I had was excellent, highly recommended, even just for the location.

We headed back to Perth on the Thursday prior to Easter (another good decision because there was very little traffic heading to Perth even though traffic out was very heavy). Strange thing, it would appear nearly 85% of the traffic heading down south were 4WD's (How much offroading is being done down there over easter?) must make a hell of a mess of the bush if they all went offroad! or the beaches must be like car parks.

Stopped in Kojunup for lunch on the way home. Stopped at the Visitors centre (Australian Rose Maze - The Kodja Place). Worthwhile visiting to break your journey to Perth.

So we are again back in Perth, but only for Easter and are off to Rottnest Island on Friday for a few days.

Mark Webber places second in Malaysia

Sunday 4th April
Go Mark!!

Karrilup Cottage, Denmark WA

It is Easter Monday, and am only now getting around to updating re Denmark WA, Easter is always very busy!.

We left Perth the Monday before Easter and drove to Denmark via Mount Barker (best time to go - minimum traffic) and turned up at the cottage about 5pm, and what a beautiful location. Set in a lovely rural setting approx. 12km west of Denmark. The cottage itself is the old Telegraph Cottage and it has been beautifully fitted out and has a lovely verandah for watching the sunset through the trees and the antics of the dozens of Blue Wrens which come and feed on your front doorstep. The sheep and donkey also come and visit.

Tuesday went into Denmark for coffee and visited the Visitors centre (as you do) and when we came out there were three Hot Rods in the carpark towing caravans of all things, apparantley on their way to Bunbury for a get together (these guys were from NSW - so one hell of a drive!) Over the next few days we saw a number of Hot Rods passing through from Victoria and even Tasmania, obviously all heading for Bunbury.

The Visitors centre has a claim to fame in that it houses the worlds largest water barometer (The Bert Bolle Barometer - see photo) It is recorded in the Guiness Book of Records
Another place of ineterest is the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk just out of Walpole - it is a very easy walk and you are in the treetops without climbing a step, great. The highest point is 40m above ground.
The Denmark area is a lot more laid back than other areas of the South West and better for it. The wines are excellent the food is good and not expensive, it is a very relaxing and beautiful area of our state.

Heading Home

Am sitting in the departure lounge at Sydney Airport waiting to head back to Perth for a couple of days before heading to Denmark ( Denmark in the South West of Western Australia that is).

Have spent 4 great days on the Hawkesbury River, in particular Dangar Island just off Brooklyn.

On Wednesday caught up with some friends we met while they were "in residence" at the Katherine Sussanah Pritchard writers centre in Perth. They came down from Lake Maquarie and we spent the day with them, there is a great little fish & chips shop in Brooklyn, so with a bottle of wine and some salad we had lunch in the park, accompanied by the bush turkey, carrawongs and noisy miners (oh, and a couple of small humans also).

Yesterday got up early and again took the ferry (The Sun) to Brooklyn and boarded the Hawkesbury River Explorer, which is the last remaining River Postman in Australia, for a 31/2 hr trip up the river dropping off mail and goods to the various communities along the river.

But am afraid that is all over now and this morning  Rose and I had to pack up, leave our cosy little cottage and verandah overlooking the river and head off to the airport. Caught the train out of Hawkesbury but stopped off in Sydney, but would you know it, ther are no luggage lockers at the Rail Station! so we were stuck with our lugagge, however found a nice little cafe close by (at the Youth Hostel actually!) and had a lunch of Teryaki Chicken with drink for $9.98!.

So here we now are at the airport waiting for our flight. Next week we head off to Denmark, so will write again then.

Dangar Island, Hawkesbury River, NSW

Well Hullo from Dangar Island!

This is a beautifull and thoroughly relaxing place and only one hour by train from Sydney, perfect.
Although we had to be up at 4.00am in the morning to get ready and catch a flight from Perth in Western Australia to Sydney and THEN the train, arriving at Dangar island about 6.00pm EST (including daylight saving) - so it was a looong day! but certainly worth it.

The Island itself is very small and very lush, we thought we had accidentally arrived in Queenslands far North, the vegetation is so green.

The house we have rented is directly on the beach with kayaks for exploring and very comfortably furnished, even the TV is located in the second bedroom so you are not tempted to switch it on except for important news items, which is a great idea.

There are no cars on the island so almost every house has a wheelbarrow for carting the shopping etc from the ferry to the house - very unique and rather cool!

Have spent today exploring the island, and the first thing we found was the Island store so we dropped in for a caffeine fix and contemplation of the river (I think we may do a lot of that - its that type of place and the river is so beautifull).

Luckily we brought with us some emergency supplies (Rissotto, some greens, breakfast cereal etc) because the supplies on the island are minimal and we have no transport except the ferry to Brooklyn about every hour, so you cannot just pop out and buy something, and the cafe is closed for evening meals.

Tomorrow some friends who live at Lake Maquarie are coming to visit and we will meet them at Brooklyn for lunch and they are going to take us for a tour of the surrounding area, looking forward to that.

On Thursday we will take the River Postman for a morning trip (with Buffet lunch) up the Hawkesbury and hopefully we will be able to see some of the oyster farms which are located on the river.

Will report on this in a later issue, Cheers for now.