Perth, Margaret River & Albany

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Our time is almost up, so for our last 'big trip' in Australia we made it over to the West Coast for a last few days of sun, sand and sea before the Australian winter sets in - the frosty mornings have already started in Canberra!

We flew to Perth and explored the Margaret River region in the south-west corner of Australia - very pretty in an undramatic kind of way, with beautiful beaches, big surf and great wine and cheese (we tasted red wine infused with lavender which was...odd). We swam in the sea every day, and went to Cape Leuwin - where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean.

From Margaret River, we drove down through some impressive big tree forests of Karri (a type of eucalypt) and Tingle trees. In Pemberton we took a tram ride through the forest, and Simon climbed a giant tree, while Sandra stayed on the ground and contributed useful advice (like 'don't go any higher!'), before continuing south to Albany - with a big harbour and crashing Southern Ocean seas.

From Albany it was back to Perth and a few days in Freemantle - more great beaches and sunsets and a day trip to Rottnest Island - home of the Quokka (a small kangaroo-like animal which only lives in WA) for some cycling and snorkelling.

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Photos

On the way up
Simon climbing a giant Karri tree

Among the trees
On the treetop walkway

Busselton Pier
Simon on Busselton Pier - the longest wooden pier in the Southern hemisphere, apparently

Cape Leuwin
Where the Indian and Southern oceans meet

Porongurup national park
The Stirling Ranges - highest in Western Australia - visible through the branches

Torndirrup national park
a coastal national park just outside Albany

Rottnest Island
Beautiful beaches!