Blogs from Oceania - page 8

There has been so much discussion about the route we should take between Hopetoun and Albany. The notes on our original itinerary stated: ‘Drive to Albany via (Bremer Bay +120km), Cape Riche, Cheyne Beach and Gull Rock NP’. However, the staff at the Visitor Centre in Esperance advised against this route taking the South Coast Highway declaring it boring and recommending the Chester Pass Road through Stirling NP. Then one of Cathy’s friends extolled the virtues of the Killer Whale experience out of Bremer Bay. We looked that up and baulked at the price … and the amount of time that we would be out on a boat in the Southern Ocean. OK, we don’t feel compelled to go that way just for the Orca spotting potential. Yesterday, we mentioned to our friendly Community Paramedic, Gareth, ... read more

This morning … we all had a hot shower to start our day! After eating breakfast and re-packing the vehicles our first stop today was at Aurelia’s Ice-creamery & Café to buy some rolls for lunch. The hot bread bakery is closed on Sundays, but we noted yesterday on our ice-cream run that they had a variety of filled rolls for sale at the ice-cream shop. Today’s itinerary was to drive 192 kilometres to Hopetoun via Stokes National Park and while in the park to attempt the 6.4-kilometre return Stokes Heritage Trail. However, on our ‘Esperance Wonders’ information sheet we had learnt about Lake Monjingup just 15 kilometres west of town. With the promise of a brand-new boardwalk trail and the opportunity to do some birdwatching, wildflower spotting and trail walking we decided we could spare ... read more

Oh, dear, another small drama at the house this morning – NO HOT WATER! The couple late to rise were cursing the early birds for using up all the hot water but discovered when they ventured downstairs that the couple out of bed first had not enjoyed showers with hot water either. So, we had another round of looking in fuse boxes and trying to resolve the problem ourselves before calling the owner. Bernie thought that he recalled the hot water switch in the fuse box being in the opposite position to the rest of the fuses in the box so switched it downwards. Tracey opted for a sponge bath and Bernie decided to brave a quick cold shower. We boiled a kettle to wash up the breakfast dishes but, after an hour and a half, ... read more

Just before Christmas I noticed an ad on Facebook for a cruise deal which seemed unbelievable. It offered flight to Perth, 3 nights there in a 5 star hotel then boarding a ship in Freo followed by a 63 day cruise which covered 5 continents eventually ending in London. Then 3 nights there and a flight home all for $8999. I showed it to Fletcher and after a couple of days thought we grabbed the opportunity. The firm is Cruise 1st and this was the second half of a round the world cruise by a UKshipping line called Ambassador. When I rang to book I found I could upgrade to an Ocean View room for an extra thousand, still making it very affordable. So here we are in Perth on the first leg of the journey. ... read more

There were no problems with the power this morning, but we may have all showered for too long too close together because the water was warm rather than hot for the last two showers. The information manual warns that it is only a 90-litre electric hot water tank, and it takes quite a while to reheat so showers should not be too long or better still staggered to give the tank time to reheat! After breakfast we drove into the Esperance French Hot Bread Shop to purchase rolls and cakes to take with us to Cape Le Grand National Park. From the bakery to the BP where Bernie was excited to be able to put Premium Diesel in the truck. It has been a while between tanks of the good stuff. Our next stop on the ... read more

I'm leaving Queenstown after three months. Three months.....somehow it feels like it has been both less and more than that. Time passed in the blink of an eye, makong it unbelieveble that it's actually been this long, nur there are so many memories packed into these three months that it feels like it has been much longer. Leaving Queenstown and the people I met behind is really wired, especially, because if I return in the future most of them will be gone aswell. That's the thing in a city full of travellers, there is always someone leaving and someone new arriving taking their place. I am now sitting in the bus to Dunedin and I am equally as sad about leaving this chapter behind as I am exited for the adventures ahead of me. I'll spent ... read more