Tag Archives: Perth

Magnificent Kings Park in the Centre of Perth

05 Tuesday May 2020

Posted by in Kings Park and Botanical Gardens, Perth. WA, Western Australia

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Kings Park is one of the world’s largest and most beautiful inner city parks. Kings Park was even better than I expected. The views are stunning and the vibe is awesome – you could easily spend days there.

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Kings Park is a beautiful oasis in the centre of the city, with cafes, playgrounds, nature walks, botanic gardens, treetop walks, bbqs, monuments, art galleries, statues, memorials and just a wonderful place to visit.

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On my first visit to Kings Park I was blown away by its beauty and size. I met up with friends for a day at the park, and a picnic lunch in a large rotunda which is situated in one of the best locations in the park. This rotunda comes with sensational views overlooking the city and the Swan River and the war memorial with its dedicated gardens.  From this location we spent the entire day coming and going while exploring many different parts of the park including the wonderful Aspects of Kings Park gallery shop. There were many guided walks, usually run by the parks volunteers. There were short and long walks through this exceptional park which is right next to the city

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Fashion using local wild flowers

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Kings Park is home to the spectacular Western Australian Botanic Garden, which displays over 3,000 species of the State’s unique flora. Two thirds of the 400 hectare park is protected as bush land and provides a haven for native biological diversity. The total area of Kings Park is 400.6 hectares and features both cultivated gardens and untamed bush land.

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One day at the park was not nearly enough for me, so I spent another day there on my own. I took the train in to the city and then took the free #935 bus on the short drive up to the park, from the city. Once again I was stunned by the sensational views over the city and Swan River and Elizabeth Quay, where we took the cruise boat to go to Fremantle.

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I stopped for coffee at the outdoors café before making my own way around the parks many hundreds of lovely gardens. I explored fantastic and varied gardens, a tree walkway, war memorial, play areas for children, cafes, restaurants, extensive bush trails and picnic places which come with free bbq’s.

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These Botanical Gardens, with so many spectacular W.A wild flowers and other flora are organised into so many different ecosystems. To see all these plants in their native areas would require travelling thousands of km- and they are all here in one place. In fact, we covered thousands of kilometers  when we travelled for a week up the Coral Coast of WA to view the thousands of wildflowers.

So, if you want to see the Western Australia wildflowers and your time is limited, they are all here in the one place.

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Kings Park and Botanical Gardens – Magnificent.

Out and about Exploring the Margaret River Region

18 Wednesday Mar 2020

Posted by in Leeuwin Lighthouse and Flinders Bay

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On our 2nd day in Margaret River, after breakfast, we headed down to Augusta with our first stop at Flinders Bay. This beautiful beach in Augusta which has a bit of everything is located to the north east of Cape Leeuwin, and to the south of the township. The white sandy beach has granite rock outcrops at the water’s edge, reef and boulders about 50 meters offshore, and a clear sandy bottom in between. There are two small jetties. The foreshore has grass, huge shady trees, picnic tables, a free gas barbecue, a fine children’s playground, outdoor showers and toilets.

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From Flinders Bay we drove to the Leeuwin Point lookout to spend time at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse which is the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia, standing 39 meters tall. This historic lighthouse is situated at the most south-westerly point of Australia, at the tip of a spectacular peninsula – where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet.

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We took a trip through maritime history and learnt how this famous landmark was constructed from local limestone in 1895, and is still a vital working lighthouse for vessels navigating the treacherous cape. It’s also one of the best land-based vantage points for spotting whales from May – September.

We visited the new Interpretive Centre, housed within one of the original lighthouses keepers’ cottages, which is an outstanding interactive experience that celebrates the history and lives of the numerous lighthouse keepers who were custodians of this rugged coastline.

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It was an incredibly windy and rainy day making it very difficult for us to even walk on the headland so we were all quick to return to the lighthouse café for hot coffees and delicious scones with cream and jam.

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Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is a must see. It has 176 steps but there are two rests on the way up. The base of the lighthouse is 2meters thick tapering up to 1 meter at the top. The history behind it is fascinating and although we did not actually climb the stairs I believe that the view from the top is amazing.

I could clearly see why the lighthouse is a necessity.   Certainly a great experience and well worth a look.

My Visit to the Ultimate Margaret River Region WA

09 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in Margaret River, Western Australia

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We set off from Perth driving south towards Margaret River where we spent 4 wonderful days staying at the Margaret River motel in the heart of Margaret River. On the way, our first stop was Busselton for lunch and where we spent time at the Busselton historic jetty including a ride on the train to the end of the jetty to visit the underwater observatory.

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Busselton

Margaret River and its premium wine region is the place for indulging many passions. Situated at the tip of southern Western Australia, the Margaret River Region offers some of the best South West sights, attractions and experiences in one convenient location. From Perth, it’s an easy 2.5-hour drive to the region, which stretches from Busselton down to Augusta. The density of this part of the South West allows you to hop from award-winning wineries and bespoke art galleries, to stunning beaches, tall-timber forests, flowing rivers, world-class surf breaks and ancient caves – all in a single day

When we arrived at our accommodation we were all thrilled as the location was perfect, the rooms huge and the restaurant very suitable for all our needs. Although the weather was cooler than up north with some light showers it really was perfect for tripping around and exploring.

From our base in Margaret River we journeyed daily to see some remarkable sights including the Canal Rocks and Flinders Bay, Augusta and Cape Leeuwin lighthouse which is the most south-westerly point of mainland Australia.

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Point Leeuwin Lighthouse

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Point Leeuwin

We visited several wineries including Happs Winery which is a family run winey and then Zanadu winery where we enjoyed tastings of some delectable wines.

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Happs Winery

We spent a few hours in the delightful Cowaramup Village or affectionately known as Cow Town, with its distinct village atmosphere and very unique Cow theme showcasing statues of cows around every bend. The shopping here for local artisan products was outstanding with many of us finding some fab stuff to take home

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Cowaramup Village

Lunch one day was at the Margaret River brewery which has a fabulous atmosphere, great good and wonderful local beer samples.

We visited and explored the magical Prevelly Beach with its walking trails along the sand dunes, and spent time exploring Boranup Forest where we explored many of the trails and took dozens of photos of the stunning wildflowers.

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Prevelly Beach

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Boranup Forest

On our trip back to Perth travelling on the Bussell Highway we stopped for lunch at the Bunbury Dolphin discovery Centre and enjoyed a great lunch at the café/restaurant in the centre before spending a couple of hours in the discovery centre which was outstanding.

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Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre

Then we were back on to our coach for the easy 3 hour trip back to Perth, arriving early evening with plenty of time to get ready to go out to dinner.

Beauty and History – Busselton Jetty

26 Wednesday Feb 2020

Posted by in Busselton Jetty, Western Australia

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Enroute from Perth to Margaret River we stopped at the famous Busselton Jetty.

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The city of Busselton is about 200 kilometres South of Perth on the southwest tip of Western Australia.  It is known for its sheltered beach where we visited the 19th-century Busselton Jetty. This wood pier stretches nearly 2km to the Underwater Observatory, where life in a coral reef is on view. This is the longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. It was built in 1864 and modified over the years and is constructed of wooden piles. The jetty has a rail line  with an electric train that took us out to the observatory.

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We settled in to the Stocker Preston Express for a very pleasant 15 minute ride along the jetty, including narration about the history of the jetty.  This electric jetty train which is powered by solar panels travels across the Indian Ocean to the Underwater Observatory, located at the end of the Jetty, where we were greeted by friendly volunteers. This Underwater Observatory is one of only 6 natural underwater aquariums in the world.

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There are six flights of ten stairs within the Observatory however there is a lift which allows access if the stairs are not for you. I was very happy to take the stairs as we stopped at every level to listen to our guide’s explanations and see through the large glass windows. We descended 8-metres below the ocean’s surface marveling at the natural wonders that lie beneath the Jetty where we viewed the awe-inspiring forest of vividly-coloured tropical and sub-tropical corals, sponges, fish and invertebrates.

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From the base of the observatory, the corals on the jetty pylons are gorgeous, and there are plenty of interesting fish to see – both small and large. I think one of the nicest aspects to this observatory is that the fish are ‘free’ – this is not an aquarium with captive fish. This is open sea and the fish are free to come and go as they please. I was fascinated watching a cute little seal frolicking and performing for us,  with a big smile on his face.

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This fantastic open sea observatory was a memorable experience. The guides/volunteers were knowledgeable and enthusiastic and so friendly.  I was so thrilled to see the abundance of sea life.

You can take the little train back however we opted to walk the jetty. It was a very easy walk with seats along the way and it only took about 15 minutes at a casual stroll.

 

Sightseeing Cruise – Perth to Fremantle for the Day

16 Sunday Feb 2020

Posted by in Perth to Fremantle Cruise, WA, Western Australia

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We boarded the cruiser at Elizabeth Quay in the city of Perth for our leisurely cruise down the Swan River to Fremantle

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We glided along the river, admiring the waterfront scenery of Perth’s downtown skyline, upscale suburbs with their very large mansions and yacht clubs. We saw all sorts of water craft from the tiny to the very opulent, including folks taking sailing lessons at the sailing clubs along the way.

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This picturesque cruise came with some very lively and interesting commentary for most of the cruise.  The cruise, which took about an hour and 20 mins from Perth to Fremantle was really excellent with so many beautiful sights. There was inside and outside seating but I chose to stay outside for the entire trip. It was so fun and relaxing and the weather was perfect.

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After an hour and 20 mins we arrived at Fremantle

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Fremantle is a lively port city southwest of Perth in Western Australia, where the Swan River meets the Indian Ocean. On the edge of the Indian Ocean, Fremantle has great ocean and river beaches to enjoy.

This pedestrian-friendly city with unique winding streets offers you a glimpse of a colonial and Gold Rush past in balance with a modern and vibrant present

I stopped for coffee at a café near the cruise terminal before boarding one of the many local red CAT buses to take a tour around the city. As lunch time was approaching my stomach reminded me that it was time to meet up with my friends at Joes Fish Shack at South Beach. Gosh, what a fun lively area South Beach is. It certainly is worthy of a full day. Next time!

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This well known tourist attraction of Fremantle, Joe’s Fish Shack has been a part of the shore front for many years. The inside has lots of fishing and ocean related decor as well as the front and back of an old VW kombi van which looked fabulous. The restaurant is right on the water at Fremantle wharf area with scenic views of the water through the many large windows. Joe’s offers full service dining in comfortable and quirky surroundings. It was bubbling with happy people, great atmosphere and good simple food. This was such a fantastic fun experience.
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After lunch, from the restaurant I took the blue bus back to the train station which is in the centre of town and hopped in a train to travel back to Perth city. It was all so so easy. Public transport in Perth and Fremantle is outstanding.

Fremantle is a city rich with history and alive with modern culture.

I really  enjoyed Fremantle and hope to return again soon.

 

 

Delightful Denham, on the Coral Coast of Western Australia

08 Saturday Feb 2020

Posted by in Delightful Denham, on the Coral Coast of Western Australia

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Just 10 hours drive, Denham is 837 kilometres northwest of Perth. Denham is part of the Shark Bay World Heritage area and lies on the western side of the Peron Peninsula.

We checked in to the Heritage Resort which is right in the centre of town. My front room with balcony overlooked the beautiful beach and Shark Bay

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Gorgeous and relaxing, with beautiful beaches and clear blue waters, Denham is a great gateway for exploring the beautiful and fascinating Shark Bay World Heritage Area.

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From Denham we visited some of Australia’s most amazing natural wonders, including WA’s famous  Monkey Mia dolphins, Hamelin Pool stromatolites, Eagle Bluff and Shell Beach.

Monkey Mia

Just a short 30 minutes drive from Denham lies Monkey Mia, best known for the bottlenose dolphins. This is where we experienced dolphins swimming close to shore and also enjoyed our cruise on the magnificent Artistocat catamaran.

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Hamlin Pool

Is home to the most diverse and abundant examples of stromatolites in the world. While they may look like ordinary rocks, stromatolites are considered ‘living fossils’.  They are in fact microbial reefs formed by cyanobacteria. We walked along the 200m boardwalk that provided us with  excellent views of the stromatolites.

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Shell Beach

Most beaches in the world are full of sand, but Shell Beach is made up of millions and millions of shells.  These shells come from the abundance of cockle in Shark Bay, making this very interesting beach unique and rare. The water around the beach is much saltier than usual and crystal clear.

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 Eagle Bluff

Just 15 mins from Denham, Eagle Bluff is a high cliff overlooking the ocean and surrounding area. The water here which was just so so clear houses the largest sea grass mass in the world which feeds the Dugong living in the area. These Dugong each eat about 70 kilos of sea grass per day. We took a leisurely walk along the boardwalk where the ocean views from this vantage point were breathtaking, and we saw turtles, rays and large fish in the shallow waters below.

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At the end of each fabulous day we met up on the Resort lounge balcony to enjoy a cold glass of champagne while we relished the extraordinary experience of a Western Australian sunset.

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Another simply stunning experience during my time in Western Australia