Advertisement
Published: October 27th 2012
Edit Blog Post
So the decision was made, after promising for 6 years, we would come and visit Perth and our good friends Lisa and Zippy. The first shock was the heat or lack of it. Well, not exactly as it was still in the mid 20's, but having come from 30+c and high humidity we were forced to go invest in a jumper or 2! Picked up from the airport and driven to Woodvale, north of Perth, it was an informative ride having met the new mini Zippy, Cameron. This 3 year old has a vocabulary of a 10 year old and knows everything about everything. We even had time to go through all the bones in our body prior to arriving home. Sleepy after a 5 hour delayed flight we had a warm welcome and a well needed cuppa tea ;-)
We were all officlally on holiday so the wine and beers started flowing and 6 years of missed chats soon caught up. It was like we had seen them last week. Gorgeous house and swimming pool and my how the girls had grown up. Beth (14) now towering over Lisa and 'little' Jess (11) showing a very mature nature with
Cameron. We planned our few weeks stay with a trip north to Jurien Bay on the coral coast and south to the Margaret River area mixed in with a wine tour and trips to the beach.
First came Jurien Bay, 3 hours north of Perth and somewhat isolated. The drive there was hot, hot, hot, going through bush for the most part and arriving at the coast to some stunning scenery and a beautiful turquoise sea. The villa was great, right on the beach with a sunset right in front out at sea. Perfect. Meat on the barbie and wine in hand, we enjoyed the mild night out on the balcony after walking up the pier watching the fisherman at work. The next day we headed to Cervantes, another seaside town close to Jurien where many come to camp and enjoy the sea. Lisa and I got coffee whilst the men took the 4 by 4 up the dunes to do some off roading. Both Beth and Jess got a go at driving around the dunes too! For sunset we headed off to the Pinnacles, a very strange place, even a little eerie where the sand has blown away
leaving stone formation shards sticking up through the ground. Certainly worth a visit and even saw our first Roo on the way.
Back to Perth after a relaxed few days and we started our day trips before heading south. Perth centre followed by Freemantle. WA in general, is in many ways the UK in the heat, but there is so much space, parks and lack of people that you instantly liked it. Everyone we met or heard though, did seem to be British! Perth was much smaller than anticipated but held pleasent walks, a bus tour and some good shopping. Obviously Mark was straight in Quicksilver, Hurley and any other surf shop he could find purchasing board shorts and t shirts etc. I on the other hand found the womens fashion somewhat wierd! Kings Park is a great place and boy I would like one of those apartments overlooking the lake! But unless I find a spare few million its not looking promising.
Freemantle was the old market town, a slightly hippie feel with indoor and outdoor markets and many eatries around the harbour. I recommend the giant lamb samosa from the indoor food market! Mark and the
girls took a trip on a speed boat that spun around the harbour. Drowned rats spring to mind when they returned.
After a few walks and bike rides, we went off to Dunsborough to our second villa in "wine country" Margaret River. This was my kinda place. Beautiful wineries surrounded you as you drove down the main road. Again, around 3 hours south of Perth. Trips to Bunker Bay and the lighthouse were hightlights, with Hump Back Whales migrating past the coast. There are some great walks up there for everyone from easy to more taxing.
A wine tour took up a day with a mini bus pick up, 4 wineries, a sheep sheering stop along with a ice crean and chocolate palour. Yum Yum Yum. House of Cards, Windows and the Amberley Estate and lunch at Leeuwin was divine. A platter for 2 included prawns, breads, anti pasti, chicken and more. Simmos for the kids, but also nice ice cream for the adults. A great day had by all.
Back to Woodvale for day trips, a sausage sizzle at Mulaloo, a walk around Hilary's Wharf and a Beach trip to Scarborough, Trig and Cottesloe for some
expensive but good fish and chips. Mark and I decided we could easily live in WA and now just needed to funds to stay. With the prices being at least double the UK that wasn't going to be so easy. The houses on the coast were stunning, a perfect white and glass box overlooking the sea caught our eye several times, shame the price tag was over a million.
Our time in OZ finished with an "adults only" meal at Mulaloo. Great night out and good food. I recommend the Risoto. Perth will be missed. A big thank you to the Zippies for there great and generous hospitality and even their bed!!!!!! Meet you in Thailand or Canada next year guys????????
Advertisement
Tot: 0.063s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 12; qc: 31; dbt: 0.0336s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb