JellyfishKing Travel

Hot Augusta Night(s)

Published on January 1, 2022January 2, 2022 by JellyfishKingLeave a comment

No, this post is not about the 1972 Neil Diamond album.

Boxing day is usually a lazy day for me spent on the couch watching the cricket, eating left over Christmas food and having a few coldies.

This year however, I found myself driving down south to spend four days in Augusta with our friends Mary Ann and Alex and Steve and Annabelle. With Perth weather hovering around the 40 degree mark it was probably a good idea to escape to Western Australia’s South West. We had been to Augusta the year previously. It’s one of Ann and Alex’s favourite spots and they have booked the Boxing Day period for the past 5 years.

Mary Ann and Alex and their 6yo son, Marcus, are mad campers. We have been away with them several times before (Denmark and Kalbarri). They, of course wanted us to stay at the caravan park with them, but I’m sick of camping and opted for the luxury of AirBnB accommodation. I found a nice place near in town that slept six. Steve and Annabelle joined us there.

Day 1 – Boxing Day

I awoke early and managed to savour an hour or so of the cricket. Australia were 2-0 in the series and only had to draw this match to retain the Ashes, the most coveted trophy in Australian sport. We were on the road around 9.30am for the 4 hour drive to Augusta.

We made good time and arrived around 1pm, one hour before the official check-in time. Andrea, our host, graciously allowed us the check in early. We unpacked and watched the cricket waiting for Steve and Annabelle to arrive. It was a hot day – 40+ degrees in Perth. Augusta is usually a lot cooler than Perth, but the temp was pushing up to 36 degrees. Steve and Annabelle were not far behind us and arrived soon after. The AirBnB unit had air-conditioning, which was going to get a serious workout over the next few days.

Mary Ann and Alex arrived earlier than us and had their caravan set up. They joined us at our unit for a Barbecue. We had a nice meal and a few drinks and retired early after a tiring day.

Day 2 – Stingrays

We woke late and had a relaxing breakfast of bacon and eggs thanks to Annabelle.

We drove to the caravan park and walked along the river to relax by the river mouth. We had a pizza from the Colour Patch Cafe.

We decided to visit Hamelin Bay for the sunset. I have been to Hamelin Bay before, but I was disappointed to not see any of the famous stingrays that cruise up and down the beach.

This time I was in luck! There were numerous rays close to the shore. I got the drone out and was amazed to see how many there were. Black Stingrays, Eagle Rays and Smooth Rays seem to enjoy the human interaction , but I’m sure they’re simply looking for food handouts. I didn’t see anyone actually feeding them though. The sunset was gorgeous and there was quite a few interesting subjects in the foreground and background for photography.

After sunset we all went back to the AirBnB unit for dinner and drinks. Mary Ann made a mountain of delicious spaghetti and meatballs. Lots of drinks and laughs were had and went all retired about 1am drunk and happy. Mary Ann, Alex and Marcus stayed the night in the unit.

Day 3 – Ashes retained – Cape Leeuwin – Cosy Corner

I awoke early with anticipation that Australia will win the third test and retain the Ashes. I didn’t have to wait long as debutant Scott Boland ripped through the English order taking an incredible 6/7. Australia took a 3-0 lead and retained the Ashes. A wonderful and historic moment in Australian sport, partly ruined by the uneducated, ignorant, impertinent and irrelevant comments from my travel mate sitting on the couch with me (not you Alex). It would have been nice to hear the captain’s interviews but they were drowned out by boorish and uninformed commentary from an Augusta couch. I took some deep breaths and focused on the plan for the rest of the day.

Mary Ann and Alex went back to their caravan and we agreed to meet at the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse for some drone flying. We discovered that the lighthouse itself was surrounded scaffolding undergoing renovation. Not to worry, Alex and I both got our drones up and took some shots around the coastline.

We then travelled to Cosy Corner, a lovely little bay with white sands and crystal clear water. The carpark was full, but surprisingly the beach wasn’t too crowded. We selected a nice spot near the rocks and quickly jumped in the water to cool down. The water was cold, but very refreshing. I flew my drone and tried to get some top-down photos of Jane. Unfortunately they didn’t turn out so well. We all had a great time in the water, until it was time to head home.

We went back to Turner Caravan Park for a barbecue. There was a good variety of wildlife around the caravan park, so I took my big lens. There were lots of Corellas flying around, Pelicans and Stingrays in the river.

The barbecue was nice. We went back to the unit quite early after a full day.

Day 4 – Kayaking and Lunch

The girls were keen on taking kayaks out on the Blackwood river. After breakfast we made our way to Ellis Jetty to organise the kayaks and stand up paddle boards (SUP). When the lady asked if they could swim, Jane and Mary Ann said “no” and we’re immediately told they were ineligible to hire the kayak and SUP. Annabelle said she could swim and got the kayak. Alex and Marcus shared another kayak. I was on drone duties.

I had organised lunch at Black Brewing Co to celebrate Jane’s (upcoming) birthday. Steve drove the 50 minute drive up the Bussell highway and Caves road to the spectacular grounds of the Brewery. They also distilled Gins there and Jane tried their Blueberry and Sage gin drink. I settled for their Lager.

Lunch was nice and we had some photos in the surrounding gardens.

Steve drove back to Augusta through the Boranup Karri Forest which as recently gutted by a big bush fire. It was sad to see this magnificent forest black and bare. It will quickly regenerate itself however. We learned later that the fire was deliberately lit.

Dinner was a casual picnic by the river mouth. Steve was charged with buying the fish and chips, but left it too late to order. Instead he bought a couple of cooked chickens from IGA to share. Alex tried his hand at fishing. He caught a tiny bream (I think it was) but it was too small to keep so he kissed it an threw it back promising to come back next year and catch it when it’s grown up.

Back to the unit and early to bed as we had a long drive home in the morning.

It was a nice few days with plenty to see and do. Travelling with Mary Ann and Alex is always fun. I don’t think I’d like to go away on boxing day again though. I believe the better option is to sit on the couch watching the cricket, eating left over Christmas food and having a few coldies …that’s just me though.

Going “one up” in Brisbane

Published on December 14, 2021 by JellyfishKingLeave a comment

Another bucket list item of mine is to see cricket in all major stadiums in Australia.

I have been the MCG (Boxing day v Pakistan 2009), SCG (Ashes 2011), Adelaide Oval (Day/night Test Aus v NZ 2015) and of course numerous visits to the WACA and Optus stadiums here in Perth.

That only leaves Bellerive Oval in Hobart and the famous Gabba ground in Brisbane. This year, due to our State Government’s tough border controls, there is no test match in Perth, so we headed to Brisbane to see the 1st Ashes test. For the cricket uninitiated the “Ashes” are the Cricket Test Matches played between bitter rivals Australia and England. The story of the Ashes is here.

The match, unusually started on a Wednesday, so we bought tickets for day 3 and made a weekend out of it. Jane and I were joined by our good friend and cricket nut Sally. We booked the flights in July knowing the risks of unpredictable Covid-19 virus outbreaks. Travelling interstate is a gamble these days. We were prepared for the worst, but thankfully WA-QLD route was open. We knew things could change quickly – and indeed they did. More on that later.

Day 1 – Flying

Riding on an aeroplane – how exciting! We haven’t travelled on a plane in over two years. We flew Perth to Brisbane on Virgin Australia 10.30am – arriving Brisbane 5.10pm. There’s a two hour time difference between WA and Queensland. We arrived on time and caught an Uber to our hotel, The Inchcolm in Spring Hill, a short walk from Brisbane’s CBD. The vacation was booked through Luxury Escapes. We have used LE many times, but this is the first time we used them for the accommodation and the flights. They have some quite good deals and they are reliable and easy to deal with.

We checked in and immediately set out to explore the city and find somewhere to eat. Sally was staying in a different hotel, so I messaged her to meet in South Bank. As we approached the river it was suddenly apparent a big thunderstorm was approaching from the south. The sky was black and there was flashes of lightning. Sally pulled the pin and decided to stay in the hotel. Jane and I pushed on with the lightning becoming more frequent and the rain starting. As the rain intensified we settled on the Plough Inn for dinner. We shared a double pepperoni pizza which was delicious. We caught an Uber back to the hotel, otherwise we would have been drenched. We had a shower, intending to go down the the lobby bar to cash in our drink vouchers. The hotel bar boasted several signature Martinis. After the shower we decided we were too bushed for cocktails and called it a night.

Day 2 – Cricket

With all the thunder, lightning and rain the night before we were worried that the cricket will be affected. We didn’t want to come all this way and sit and drink our beer in the rain watching the grass grow. We were not disappointed, as we awoke to bright sunshine.

Breakfast at the hotel was ala carte with a small selection. Strangely no bacon on the menu to be seen. I ordered the standard breakfast with poached eggs. The meal was ok, but the eggs were over cooked and dry making it difficult to eat.

After a shower, we made our way to the Gabba. We took the bus and were at the ground 20 minutes later. Sally was already there at our seats on Level 4. The view was great and we enjoyed the whole day in shade.

I won’t bore you too much with the details, but here’s a quick summary: Australia were 7/343 at the start of play with Travis Head 112 no. We arrived in time to see Head’s 150. After that the Aussies went for quick runs and were eventually dismissed for 425 with a lead of 278. The England innings started shakily with both openers falling cheaply at 2/61. Captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan came to the rescue and batted the rest of the day finishing on 86 and 80 respectively. England healthier, but not out of the woods at 2/220.

Watching Joe Root bat nearly all day for 86 runs wasn’t my ideal day at the cricket, but we all agreed it was a wonderful experience.

We caught the bus back to the city and hopped off in South Bank. We had a beer at the Fox before wandering up the road to checkout the West End. We settled on Fry Days Bar and Kitchen for dinner (and another beer). We ordered their signature fried chicken, arancini and pork belly. It was very good. After dinner the girls were hankering for ice cream. They had spotted Messina on the way and made a mental note. When we got there, there was a line out the door. The lure of the cold creamy goodness was too much and we joined the queue. Both Jane and Sally emerged from the shop with the same flavour believe it or not: Super Dulce De Leche. I must admit it was damn good.

Sally caught the bus back to her hotel and Jane and I walked back to ours, fully intending to have the famous Martinis. But the events of the fun filled day took their toll on our tired old bodies and we hit the sack martini-less again.

Day 3 – Tourists

We awoke to another sunny day, had breakfast. Jane asked for the poached eggs to be runny this time – no luck – ok, sunny side up tomorrow! We watched some of Day 4 on the TV in the room and as predicted (as hoped) England did capitulate. It was only a matter of time before the Aussies took a 1-0 lead in the series. We made our way to the Queen St Mall for some shopping compensation for Jane. I had a beer at Jimmy’s on the Mall and watched the demise of English hopes and dreams. So satisfying!

I joined Jane for some shopping before we met Sally for lunch at the Treasury Casino. We found a small bar, By George, at in the casino and had a a pizza and chicken wings. The food was ok, but took ages to come. The ladies were both hangry.

We then took the ferry up the river for a touristy river cruise. The City Cat ferries are big, fast and comfortable. We embarked and asked the conductor how to pay. He said we needed a “Go card” – which we did not have. He whispered “never mind” and we got a free cruise (it felt good to get something from Translink …but that’s another story). We stood up the front on the ferry and with the warm wind on our faces, enjoyed the city sights up to “North Shore”. Then we went inside for the trip back home.

Sally’s all smiles (cos she doesn’t yet know she’ll have to quarantine for 14 days in Perth)

We then got the news from the WA government that they had strengthened the border restrictions to travelers from Queensland – that’s us! If you were arriving after midnight Monday you’d have to (self) quarantine for 14 days. Jane and I would just make it, arriving back in Perth on Sunday, but no such luck for Sally who had booked her return on Monday. This means missing various Christmas festivities.

Arriving back in the city at North Quay we decided to head back to our hotel and have those elusive Martinis. We were all exhausted so we caught an Uber. Thankfully they allowed us to use all our vouchers at once so we each had a couple of cocktails. We agreed the whiskey based “Old Pal” was the best.

As the Perth Scorchers were playing their BBL fixture in Sydney, we had already planned to find a pub somewhere and watch the match. We settled on the Grand Central Hotel in the heart of the city and ordered another round of drinks (of course).

The Scorchers had a big win over the Adelaide Strikers with Kiwi import Colin Munro hitting a 73 ball century. In a nice gesture, the hotel manager kept the bar open for us until the match ended. After the game (and a lot more drinks) we went into the city to find a toilet(?). All I can remember is Sally and Jane walking through the streets shouting “Let’s go, Scorchers, let’s go!”.

We made it (somehow) back to the hotel after midnight.

Day 4 – Home

Our flight home wasn’t until 5.55pm so we woke late, hungover, had a leisurely breakfast and chilled out in the room until checkout at 12pm. The hotel kept our bags, while we ventured into the city for some more shopping and sightseeing. We had some Nasi Goering at Jimmy’s on the Mall and made our way to South Bank again. We rode the Wheel of Brisbane, which was quite fun.

After the wheel, we noticed that just about everyone was eating ice cream. We found that Connoisseur were having a promotion and handing out free ice cream bars – what a city!

It was time to leave for the airport and say goodbye to Brisbane. We really had a great time here. The cricket was great, Brisbane was a nice and friendly city and the weather turned out nice. Travelling with Sally was so much fun too. Hopefully when the borders open we can all plan a trip to Bali together – or at least a Hobart test match.

We arrived back in Perth having to show our GTG pass to police officers before they’d let us into “Fortress WA”. We made it!

Exploring the beauty of Australia’s South-West wine region (…and hospitals)

Published on September 29, 2021September 29, 2021 by JellyfishKingLeave a comment

The AFL Grand Final was held in Perth this year due to Covid-19 restrictions in Victoria and other states. “Great news!” I hear you say. Yes, it is for those lucky enough to secure a ticket. Gordon, my long suffering Dockers supporter mate and I, unfortunately weren’t part of the lucky 61,000 people to get a ticket. But we knew we had to watch it together, albeit on TV. Gordon suggested we travel to the South-west to watch it in the relaxing surroundings of Eight Willows Retreat. We had been to Eight Willows before and our mutual friend and resort owner, Mike was offering us a very nice discount. So why not!

We arranged to meet Friday night for dinner at the resort, have a nice lunch on Saturday and watch the game with a few bevvies back at the chalet. Nice a simple and relaxing. Probably not worth writing a blog entry.

Gordon, Cristy and their Granddaughter Catalina arrived early Friday afternoon and got settled in with a few beers – I assume Catalina just had milk. I left work around 2.30 and soon got a phone call from Gordon saying that he is getting pains in his back. We both laughed it off and diagnosed more beer was in order. I picked up Jane from her office and we excitedly made our way down the Forrest Highway for the three hour drive. Just outside of Perth we received a message from Gordon that the extra beers didn’t in fact relieve the pain and had gotten so much worse that Cristy was taking him to Margaret River Hospital Emergency Department. We were shocked.

Gordon has recently been diagnosed with Melanoma cancer in his brain and lung, with another cancer on the other lung. He has been receiving immunotherapy for the last month and a half. The side-effects of this treatment are quite horrendous. Having a nice relaxing weekend away was going to be a tonic for Gordon’s spirits. A visit to the ED was the last thing he needed right now!

We pressed on, anxious to find out more about the situation.

Another hour down the highway we got another call. Gordon was being transferred to Busselton Hospital for a CT Scan. “Oh dear, this is not looking great”, we were thinking. Gordon asked if we could pick him up from there on the way through to the resort. We arrived at Busselton Hospital at around 6.30pm. An hour later Gordon emerged from the ED, looking quite frustrated and said “let’s get out of here”. The results of the CT scan would be phoned through later that night. They had given him pain relievers and he was keen to get back to the resort for the barbeque and more beers (and wine).

After a nice meal of lamb chops, sausages and salad, the hospital did ring with the results of the CT scan. Gordon had a blood clot in his lung. They had prescribed blood thinning medication and it would be available at Margaret River hospital in the morning. The fact that they didn’t insist that he return to the hospital was a good sign, however.

Saturday morning were up about 8.30am for a “cook-up” breakfast at our chalet. Bacon, eggs, tomato and toast was just the ticket to get us going. After a quick shower Jane and I drove Gordon to Margaret River to pick up the prescription. On arrival at the ED, the triage nurse claimed to have no knowledge of the prescription. Another frustration that Gordon didn’t need. About 30 minutes later they managed to find a doctor that understood the situation and wrote the prescription. We filled the prescription, and had (the worst) coffee and (and best) hot chocolate in Margaret River. We then made out way back to Eight Willows to prepare for lunch.

We had lunch at Flutes Restaurant within the grounds of the Brookland Valley winery. This is a long-time favourite of Gordon’s but Jane and I haven’t had the pleasure. We all decided to dress in white and have a photoshoot in the stunning surrounds.

After the ordeals of the past 18 hours we were hanging out for a good time. We were not disappointed. Lunch was superb. The service was great and food delicious, complimented by the vineyard’s own wines (Verse 1 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc)

After lunch we explored the grounds and took some photos.

Back to the chalets for a nap before the “Big Dance“.

The AFL Grand Final is the last game of the season and determines the best team of the year. Clearly the best team is not playing in the Grand Final this year, but that’s another discussion. The Melbourne Demons take on the Western Bulldogs, both Victorian teams. It’s a shame that no Western Australian teams (no, the Western Bulldogs are not a western team – don’t get me started) are playing in the first ever grand final played in Perth. It promised to be am interesting game nonetheless.

Despite a close first half the Demons finished very strongly to win comfortable in the end for a well deserved victory.

Watching the game, Gordon wasn’t his usual exuberant self and we could tell he was suffering again. After the game we left Gordon to rest and retired back to our chalet for a jacuzzi bath and some TV before bed.

Sunday morning Gordon did indeed feel better and reciprocated the bacon and eggs breakfast. They checked out soon after and drove home. We anxiously await advice from his Oncologist on the impact of the blood clotting.

We checked out around 11.15am, as we were planning to meet Mary Ann, Alex and Marcus for lunch before we headed for home. Mary Ann and Alex were camping in Augusta for the weekend. We met half way at the Colonial Brewery in Bramley (just outside Margaret River). We arrived without a booking and luckily they fitted us in. Lunch was nice and it was great to catch up with them, albeit rushed.

The weekend was umm… different. Parts were a lot of fun, but we were always worried for our mate. Many thanks to Mike for fitting us into the resort, on short notice on a busy long weekend, The highlight was the lunch at Flutes. It was a wonderful afternoon and we will be back there for sure. On the other hand, I won’t be fussed if I never see the inside of any South-West hospitals again!

Splashing cash at Bunker Bay

Published on July 2, 2021July 3, 2021 by JellyfishKingLeave a comment

Another refund from our Covid-19 failed Greece trip landed in our bank account last week. Feeling sorry for ourselves, we decided to spend it on some luxury in the Southwest of Western Australia at the Pullman Bunker Bay resort.

Bunker Bay is about 260 km south of Perth, 10 minutes from Dunsborough, near Cape Naturaliste.

The Pullman resort is 5 star luxury, and at $450 (AUD) per night we were expecting something special.

After a cold and rainy three hour drive we arrived Sunday afternoon. We stopped at the Bunbury Farmers Market to stock up on some snacks. This is becoming a habit every time we drive through Bunbury – going there – and coming home. We also arrived to hear that there was a Covid-19 positive case in Perth. Stage 1 Restrictions had been put in place for the Perth and Peel regions. We were outside the Perth/Peel regions so we thought we were lucky to escape. The regulations stated, however, that visitors from Perth were still required to wear masks in public.

We were checked in by the very friendly Shane. Our villa was quite close to the reception and car park so we didn’t require the golf-cart transport that other distant villas would have needed.

Seeing it was cold and wet outside, we cracked open a bottle of red and enjoyed the big bath. The villa was very spacious with a kitchen, sitting area and large bathroom. We decided to have dinner at the hotel’s restaurant Other Side of the Moon. We arrived early and had nice cocktails at the bar. Dinner was a little disappointing. I ordered the Marron, which was an unusual selection for me. I had to wrestle with the claws to extract a tiny morsel of meat, The tail meat was removed from the shell in a nice sauce, although it was a little dry. At $56 it should have been perfect though. Jane ordered the Swordfish. She described it as “okay”. We retired early at watched Netflix.

I awoke early on Monday and decided to wander down to the beach for the sunrise. It wasn’t too cold and there was a nice amount of cloud promising a good sunrise. I walked to the end of the bay where there were nice rocks. I set up my tripod and waited for the magic. It was a lovely sunrise and I got some great photos.

I arrived back at the villa hungry and hassled Jane to wake up. Our accommodation included buffet breakfast. The breakfast was quite comprehensive, the highlight being small eggs benedict portions.

After breakfast the weather was still good so we set off to explore the bays up Cape Naturaliste. We visited Castle rock, Meelup beach, Eagle Bay, Bunker Bay, We had a little photo shoot at Point Picquet.

We stopped for a beer and chips at Bunker Beach House. This was a lovely little place over looking the bay that serves breakfast and lunch. Lunch here on a warm summer’s day would be spectacular. One to keep in the memory banks.

News was coming in that there were more Covid-19 cases in Perth and the government implemented a four day lockdown for the Perth & Peel region (not Bunker Bay).

We travelled into Dunsborough for dinner at Bamboo Spice. This was a small Thai restaurant. We shared a Massaman Curry and Papaya salad. The food was delicious.

When we arrived back at the resort the clouds had all but disappeared affording a fantastic view of the stars. I decided to get the tripod out and try some Astrophotography. It was a great opportunity being away from the city where there’s always too much light pollution. Even still it was difficult to find an area that was dark enough to trigger Google camera’s Astrophotography mode. Success though. I’m quite happy with the result.

Astrophotography (Google PIxel 4XL – Google Camera v8.2 Night Sight option)

No sunrise wake up on Tuesday. It was straight to coffee and breakfast. After breakfast we explored the hotel grounds. The weather was quite nice. The sun showed itself occasionally through the clouds and it wasn’t too windy, so I decided to fly the drone on the beach. I asked Jane to strip off to her bathing suit for some top-down photos. She was freezing but obliged for the sake of art.

Shane recommended to eat at the Blue Manna restaurant in Dunsborough. The only booking we could get was 4.45pm. This was later changed to 5.15pm. It was worth it! The food was sensational. Jane and I shared a tasting plate to start consisting of fish taco, scallop and salmon sashimi. We also has a couple of oysters each. We then shared the “special of the day” pork ribs with a Balinese sauce with chilli and satay. We were hesitant to choose that dish because in our heads those flavours didn’t seem like they’d work. The waitress assured us it was delicious, so we went for it. It didn’t disappoint – It was very good. We will definitely return to the Blue Manna whenever we’re in the Busselton – Margaret River area (which is quite often these days).

Wednesday was our last day. A lazy wake up and into the restaurant for breakfast. We had one more walk around the hotel grounds. We were packed and ready to go at 11am. First stop Bunbury Farmers Market (again).

Bunbury Farmers Market (Jane’s second home)

After we loaded the car with fresh Bunbury produce we took a detour to visit the Wellington Dam. A mural painted on the dam wall has just been finished and I was keen to see it. The 8,000-square-metre mural is thought by organisers to be the largest in the world. I got the drone out to fly around and over.

We arrived home about 4pm.

It was a nice relaxing break for us. We decided to spend a bit of cash to compensate ourselves for the lack of overseas trips. The resort was nice – the drinks and food was great. The scenery on Cape Naturaliste is always a treat no matter the time of year.

Check out my Instagram pages for more photos:

@jellyfishking_photography

@jellyfishking_drone

Final thoughts on the Pullman Bunker Bay Resort: The resort is certainly immense and luxurious. The room was spacious and well appointed. The breakfast was good enough. The staff were relatively efficient but somewhat unfriendly. Perhaps I’m comparing the staff too much to the Parmelia Hilton Perth, where we enjoyed a weekender mid June. The staff at the Parmelia we’re ultra-friendly without exception. The staff member that checked us in, Shane (IG: @thoughlocaleyes) was very friendly and provided us with a map of his recommendations for places to eat and photography spots. Overall the resort is luxurious without being spectacular. For $450/night it really should be spectacular. I probably wouldn’t stay there again, unless they cut the room rate in half.

Kalbarri – before the storm

Published on April 13, 2021April 13, 2021 by JellyfishKing1 Comment

A vacation to Anchorage sounds great. The largest city in Alaska with snow, glaciers, Northern Lights…

A vacation to Anchorage Caravan Park in Kalbarri sounds, umm …ok too. It’s April 2021 and we still cannot travel overseas, so Kalbarri it is.

Day 1 – 8 hours in the car

Kalbarri is a tourist town in mid-west Western Australia 600km north of Perth, renowned for its stunning scenery, fishing and general holiday activities. Its a long road trip of around 8 hours after stopping for lunch and stretching breaks. I have been to Kalbarri many times, but my last trip was some 25 years ago. This trip was a first for Jane, and our travelling buddies Alex, Mary Ann and 5yo Marcus.

About 70km before reaching Kalbarri, we passed Hutt Lagoon. This is a large lake famous for its pink colour. We made a quick stop to check it out. Alex and Mary Ann wanted to see it also, so we planned to come back the next day (with the drone).

We stayed at Anchorage caravan park, right in the middle of town. Alex and Mary Ann had their caravan, while Jane and I roughed it in a tent. The caravan park was jam packed. It was starkly contrasting from the grassy spaciousness of Denmark’s Big 4 park we stayed in February. Nevertheless, that’s camping for you (don’t get me started).

Alex and Mary Ann arrived shortly after us and we went about setting up our respective camps.

We had a BBQ dinner and a few drinks and retired early to bed after a tiring day of driving.

Day 2 – Coastal

After a lazy rise and slow breakfast of coffee, bacon and eggs we took off in Alex’s jeep to explore Kalbarri’s coastal landforms.

Firstly we travelled the 70km back down the road to the pinkish Hutt Lagoon. We tried to find a road into the lagoon as we both recalled seeing photos where cars were on a road crossing the lake. We couldn’t find such a road so we went to the lookout near Port Gregory with all the other tourists. The lake wasn’t all pink, but there was enough pink salty water to get some interesting shots wit the camera and drone.

The next stop was the Natural Bridge and Island Rock lookouts. Something that has changed in the past 25 years since I last visited was the signage, roads and tracks improvements. The lookouts were easy to find and nice to walk along the paved trails.

The sandstone cliffs were spectacular.

Net stop was Pot Alley. A coastal gorge with a quaint little beach. Alex got his drone out here.

Marcus and the girls were getting hungry so we went back into town to grab a pizza or two at Angie’s. The pizzas were great, but the highlight for Alex were the vanilla slices. Marcus got his vanilla milkshake as promised too.

We had a short rest until our cruise up the Murchison River on Kalbarri Wilderness Cruises. This was a two hour cruise on a small flat bottom boat up the river. The skipper, Grant was very entertaining and has all sorts of information on the river and the region. We saw lots of kangaroos and birdlife, including a white eagle. Grant didn’t tell us what type of an eagle, but I believe it was a White-bellied Sea Eagle. The funniest part of trip was Castle Rock. The boat made a stop on the sandy beach and Grant pointed out a rock formation high on the banks of the river. He said people like to climb it. As he opened the gangplank all the kids immediately run up the hill to climb the rock… including Marcus. This took Mary Ann by surprise and she and Alex raced after him. Jane and I just looked on thankful we didn’t have kids. Before you knew it they were all up on top of the rock. Mary Ann came back red-faced from the strenuous workout. The boat returned to the town in time for a spectacular sunset. We all enjoyed the cruise.

Back at camp we had a BBQ dinner and drinks before bed.

Day 3 – Inland

Bacon and eggs again at “casa Pecoraro” for breakfast before heading out to explore the rugged inland features of the Kalbarri National Park. Entering the park there is a checkpoint where you must part with $15 per car for the national park fee.

First stop was the Z bend. This is a lookout over a step gorge snaking around in the shape of a giant Z. The round trip for the lookout is 1.2 km. For the more adventurous there is a trail down to the river at 2.6 km with a steeper grade. Being a hot day and having a 5yo meant we just enjoyed the lookout (phew!).

Next stop was the newly constructed Skywalk. This structure takes you out over the edge of the cliffs. Its not as scary as it looks, however. Alex and I got our drones out here. There is a nice little café here. so I had to get an ice coffee.

Nature’s Window can be (just) seen in the background. That’s out next stop

The next stop is Nature’s Window, which is perhaps one of the most photographed landscapes in Western Australia. Everyone was eager to see it. It’s only a 800m round trip from the carpark, but on a hot day with “friendly” flies it was a tough journey.

I think all agreed Nature’s Window was the highlight of the trip. We were lucky with the weather, albeit quite hot and we all arrived back at the car park tired and sweaty.

Back at camp we had a refreshing shower and got ready for dinner at Dirt, Dust N Diesels restaurant. Mary Ann had done her research and recommended this place. It promised a lot with a unique Australian menu including Kangaroo, Emu, Crocodile, Buffalo and Camel. Sadly, it didn’t deliver. I was looking forward to trying something different, but they only Australian food they had available that night was the Kangaroo, which I have had many times before. Jane and settled for Fish and Chips (boring) and (tasteless) Garlic Prawns. Alex had a Parmi – which he said was dry. Mary Ann ordered a Beef and Guinness Pie which was too salty. Marcus seemed to be the only winner with his kids size Spaghetti Bolognaise.

We left quite early and disappointed. Alex wanted to try his hand at fishing. He was inspired by our camping neighbours “4 Macs Makin Tracks“. This young family of four from Gold Coast have been on the road since November travelling around Australia. Joel walked into camp Thursday night with a huge Mulloway he caught in the river just near the caravan park. Alex did catch a fish, but it wasn’t a Mulloway. The rest of us enjoyed the balmy night with some wine and cheese on the jetty.

Day 4 – Chased out

During dinner the previous night Jane received a call from the caravan park. They were evacuating tourists from the town because of the incoming cyclone “Seroja“. We were asked to leave before 10am on Saturday. This was fine by us because we were planning to leave Saturday anyway. Alex and Mary Ann however wanted to stay until Sunday. Many people had already left the caravan park on Friday.

We were up early and packed quickly and we were on the road my 7.30. The traffic wasn’t too bad and we made it home at 2.15pm. It was a very nice few days in Kalbarri with good friends. The stunning scenery of Kalbarri is well worth the 600km drive. You probably need a full week there to get the most from it.

The Storm

In the subsequent days Cyclone Seroja wreaked havoc in Kalbarri with 70% of houses being damaged in some way. Luckily there appears to be no loss of life reported to date. Cyclones this far south in WA are very rare and towns in this region like Kalbarri are not equipped for such events.

Denmark, here we come, …the birthplace of Google Maps!

Published on March 2, 2021March 3, 2021 by JellyfishKing3 Comments

When our good friends Alex and Mary Ann invited us on a trip to Denmark, I thought “great, I’ve never been to Scandinavia, the home of Google Maps, Lego and salty liquorice”. When Mary Ann sent me the details, I realised to my horror it was camping in the Western Australia’s south-west town of Denmark.

There’s a pattern developing here.

The Labour day long weekend in Western Australia is the first week of March, not in May like every other place in the world. We took the Friday off to make it an extra long weekend. We set off on Friday morning for the five hour drive to the lovely little town of Denmark. Denmark is situated on the south coast of Western Australia 420km south east of Perth. Its relatively straight drive down Albany Highway turn west at Mt Barker. We’re travelling with two other couples, Alex and Mary Ann and Steve and Annabelle. Alex and Mary Ann’s cheeky 5 year old, Marcus is with us too of course. We stayed at the Big 4 Caravan park in Ocean Beach, which is about 10 minutes outside the main town. Alex and Mary Ann are seasoned campers and have a caravan with all the gear. Steve and Annabelle had a small tent similar to ours. When I say “ours” I mean the tent we borrowed from Alex and Mary Ann.

We arrived first, soon after by Steve and Annabelle and later Alex, Mary Ann and Marcus.

Once we were all set up we congregated at the Pecoraro estate for drinks, nibbles. This flowed on to dinner and we finished the night with Whiskies.

Saturday night we awoke late and a little hungover. After a wake up coffee and bacon and eggs, we set out eager to explore the south coast. First stop was the Valley of the Giants, in particular the Tree Top Walk. The Tree Top Walk is a walking structure that takes you up 40m to view the magnificent Tingle Forest. I had been there before, but this was a first for many in our group. The Red and Yellow Tingle trees are endemic to this region and are impressive in their height, girth and the gnarly shapes of their trunks. After the tree top walk there’s a ground level walk called the Ancient Empire Walk where you can walk through the burnt out trunks of the “giants”.

After leaving the Valley of the Giants we stopped for lunch at the Demark Good Food Factory. The place boasted the best burgers in Australia – which actually wasn’t far from the truth. We all agreed the burgers where first class. Jane and I had their cider tasting paddle. They were quite good, with the highlight being their Jalapeno Cider. They also had a soccer-golf course that looked quite interesting – no time for that though because Steve already had his map out.

The decision of where to go next was an easy choice, as we were all hanging to go to Elephant Rocks and Greens Pool at William Bay. In my opinion these are two of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Huge granite boulders poke out of white sandy beaches and the pristine clear water of the Southern Ocean. It would be perfect if it weren’t for the other tourists being there too. I took my drone and got some stunning shots of the coastline.

We spent a while swimming, taking photos and droning at both beaches.

On our way back to the campsite we visited many of the viewpoints along the south coast, such as Madfish Bay and Waterfall beach. We arrived back at the campsite ready for a shower and something to eat (and drink). Alex got his barbeque out and we ate, drank and talked BS until what felt like the “wee hours” (but more like 9pm). We hit the air mattress ready for tomorrow’s expedition.

Sunday after a late breakfast we set out to explore some of the attractions closer to Denmark. First stops were some lookouts around the mouth of the Wilson Inlet. These included Sinker Bay, Black Hole Rock and the Lions lookout. All offering spectacular coastal views.

We then headed up the hill to see the big windmills at Denmark Wind Farm. There’s two giant wind turbines high on the hill. The girls had fun taking photos, while the engineering nerds tried to guess some windmill stats.

We went back into the town itself for lunch. It was actually quite difficult to find somewhere suitable. In the end we got takeaway from various places and sat in the park by the river. Jane and I got pies from the “world famous” Denmark bakery – seems like every town’s bakery is world famous these days. The pies were nice, although Jane’s potato pie was too heavy on the potato.

After lunch we drove up Mt Shadforth. This is the highest point in Denmark and promised good views towards the coast. The drive up the mountain was very nice. Tall Karri trees lined the road. The view from the top, however, was a bit of a disappointment. Perhaps we should have been visiting the wineries along the way.

Someone mentioned “chocolate” so we all headed to the Denmark Chocolate Factory. Everyone (except me) ordered expensive hot chocolate which they all enjoyed. I explored the stunning grounds and managed to spot a blue wren. I only had my phone camera and got a blurry photo. (Not worth posting).

The last stop was Monkey Rock. When we got there the signage was non-existent. Jane and I were weary and fearing a long climb we decided to head back to the campsite for a rest (beer). The others pushed on and when they joined us back at the caravan they told us the views were great (of course!).

It was our last night in Denmark so we decided to go out for dinner. Captain Steve did the research and suggested Boston Brewpub. We’d found out during the day our old mate Conrad was also staying in Denmark with his partner Riann. We were yet to met her, so we invited them to join our group from dinner. It was nice to meet Riann and catch up with Conrad. The food at the Boston was great and service very efficient.

Back at the campsite we had a couple more drinks and retired early. Big drive home in the rain tomorrow.

As much as I hate camping, I must admit I had a good time. Big thanks to Alex and Mary Ann for their generosity and organisational (MA) skills. Thanks also to Steve and Annabelle for making a fun group to travel with.

Augusta, here we come, …where’s my golf clubs?

Published on January 18, 2021January 18, 2021 by JellyfishKing1 Comment

When our good friends Clive and Susan invited us on a trip to Augusta I thought “great, I’d love a few days playing golf at the top-ranked course in Golf Digest‘s 2009 list of America’s 100 greatest courses”. When Clive sent me the details, I realised to my horror it was camping in the Western Australia’s south-west town of Augusta.

–Insert usual thing about Covid-19 and complain about not being able to travel overseas blah blah–

We’re not campers. We don’t have any gear, except for the 2 tin cups Clive gave us for Christmas. Jane was super keen, so we agreed to join them, it was Susan’s 60th birthday celebration after all. Other friends were also coming to give it a party atmosphere.

Augusta is on the very south-west tip of Australia. It’s nestled on the banks of the Blackwood river just before it empties into the junction of the Southern and Indian oceans.

We left Perth Thursday morning for the three and a half hour drive. After stopping for lunch at the Rose Hotel in Bunbury, we arrived around 3pm at Flinders Bay Caravan Park for our four day stay. Clive and Susan were already there and helped us erect our tent. I mentioned before we didn’t have any camping gear, but we borrowed a some items from friends. We did in fact have an air mattress and sleeping bags. Thanks to Mary Ann and Alex for the tent and Annabelle and Steve for the portable fridge. Mary Ann and Alex were to join us on this trip, but cancelled due the ill health of Mary Ann’s sister, Rosie in the Philippines. Sadly, Rosie passed away on Friday.

Susan made a nice stir-fry for dinner in their “camp-kitchen”. After dinner we finished the night with wine, whiskey and cigars.

Friday morning we had breakfast with Clive and Susan. Coffee, bacon and eggs on toast, courtesy of Susan. After breakfast we made our way to the beach, a short walk from the caravan park. The weather was warm, but very windy. That didn’t stop Clive, Susan and Jane going for a swim. It was too cold for me so I took some photos around the rock pools. Unfortunately it was too windy to fly the drone.

After the beach we returned to the caravan park for a shower, then into town for lunch at the Augusta Hotel. Jane and I shared fish and chips, while Clive and Susan had burgers. The view was lovely, overlooking the Blackwood river. The food was nice and the cricket was on TV.

We picked up some supplies from the local IGA and headed back to the caravan park … for a nap.

When we were suitable refreshed we re-joined Clive and Susan to find Janice and her son, James had also arrived. Then a bit later Jenalyn, Sean and their kids arrived. After they were set up, we decided to have an dinner early to secure the BBQ spot overlooking the beach.

We ate and drank to well after dark, until we were all tired. It seemed like a late night, but I think we were all in bed before 10pm.

Saturday was Susan’s 60th Birthday. We got up early for bacon and eggs again. We all went to the beach for a girls birthday photo shoot.

Back at the caravan park, after a shower we congregated at Clive’s campsite for Susan’s birthday lunch. It consisted of French Champagne, chicken, cheeses and meats. Lots of laughs were had and as the champagne, beer and wine flowed the BS became thicker and richer. The celebrations went on until after sunset when we all retired. Tomorrow was the long drive home.

The drive home took longer than usual because part of the freeway was closed due to a bush fire.

Anyway we all got back to our nice beds and showers on Sunday afternoon. Everyone had a good time. It was nice to celebrate Susan’s Birthday in nice surroundings and with great friends. …although golf in Augusta, Georgia, USA would have been spectacular!

Busselton 2020 (not Bali)

Published on October 26, 2020October 27, 2020 by JellyfishKingLeave a comment

Our family had a week booked in Bali in June spanning my 57th birthday. My sons Aidan and Anthony and Aidan’s Fiancee Ena were joining Jane and the girls and I for the usual Bali favourites: relaxing, eating and drinking.

Again, ruined by Covid-19! [Insert frowny/angry/frustrated face emoji]

We decided to re-imagine the vacation in Busselton. We stayed at our usual haunt Busselton Beach Resort.

Aidan, Ena and Anthony arrived Friday night, while Jane, the girls and I arrived lunchtime Saturday. Aidan had been talking up Rocky Ridge Brewing Co at Busselton, so we went there for a (liquid) lunch. Their thing is tasting paddles, because they have abut 26 beers to choose from. Between the six of us I think we have then all covered.

They had a big variety. Aidan got a couple of growlers refilled. I left my growler at home much to Aidan’s disgust.

After some basic grocery shopping we headed back the the resort and reacquainted ourselves with the pool and outdoor spa (Jacuzzi). The pool was freezing, but the spa was nice and hot. We had a BBQ for dinner before playing some cards and Jackbox before we crashed around midnight.

Day two (Sunday) started with a traditional Aussie breakfast of bacon, eggs, mushrooms and toast. Aidan and Anthony brought Kayak, so we carried those down to beach after breakfast. I took the drone down and got some nice photos and videos. Its a pity the beach is clogged with seaweed. I know Busselton shire has tried to fix this problem, but I guess the seaweed is here to stay.

We hit the pool again after we returned from the beach.

Aidan wanted to got back to Rocky Ridge, so we went there for lunch. The burgers and wings were very good. We also tried the beers we didn’t try the day before. Later we walked up to the jetty and had another beer at the Goose. We got back the resort for a rest. When we were all ready for dinner we realised most places were already closed (at 7.30!). We drove to the Esplanade Hotel just in time for the kitchen closing. The girls were hinting at MacDonald’s, so we gave in and they got takeaway “McDo” (as they say in the Philippines). We settled in and watched Lachie Neale win the Brownlow medal. Cards and Jackbox were the go after the medal count and we retired to bed exhausted.

Day three (Monday). Ena and Jane promised us a Filipino breakfast, which meant Aidan was up early to go and buy rice. Ena was able to get Beef Tapa, Tocino, Longganisa and hotdogs from her work. There was a mountain of food, but the girls were in heaven and wolfed the lot!

Everyone was keen for a game of golf. Busselton has a nice Par 3 Golf course which is relaxed and casual, perfect for beginners. Aidan and Anthony are experienced golfers and I play occasionally, but the girls had never played before. With seven of us the group it was going to be a long walk. It was actually good fun and everyone enjoyed the experience. I had a good round excepting one hole where I sliced my drive into adjacent houses. I got the “yips” after that and took a 10 for that hole.

A well deserved beer was waiting for us at Beerfarm. Beerfarm is a craft brewer in Metricup which is about a 30 minute drive from Busselton. We got their sample paddles and enjoyed lunch at their restaurant, Burnt Ends. The beers where good, the food was better and the grounds were stunning.

Back home for a quick rest. Aidan wanted to try his luck with squidding on the jetty. He’s never caught a squid before, so we all got geared up with squid jigs and hit the jetty. Aidan got some luck early and caught a little squid. But sadly that was it for the night. We saw a pod of dolphins and guessed (or used that as an excuse) they chased the squid away.

At sunset I took my new camera down to the smaller jetty to capture some classic Busselton Jetty images.

We had fish and chips (Cod Rocks) for dinner and pretended we caught the fish.

We played cards and Jackbox again until about midnight when we all retired after a long, but immensely enjoyable day.

Day Four (Tuesday) was our wine tour. The bus was picking us up at 9.30. Aidan booked the whole day tour at Cellar d’Or Tours which included four wineries, two breweries and the chocolate factory. Anthony cooked bacon and eggs for breakfast, with some leftover hotdogs and cheese kransky sausage.

Our tour driver Stuart, who we later named “Chewy” was waiting at reception. We had to pick up two other couples from Bunker Bay and Yallingup before we we started the wine quaffing.

First stop was Happs winery. Happs is not your usual wine tasting set up. They had 43 wines set up in a self-service arrangement. Whoa – it was going to be a big day!

The Second winery was Credaro Wines. This name was familiar to Jane as she worked with one the Credaro’s in a previous job – too bad it wasn’t the wine brother!

Lunch was at the Black Brewing Co, which used to hethe Duckstein. Lunch was good with a nice selection of Beers, Wines and Gins. I needed a rest from wine tasting, but Aidan and Anthony tasted them. Aidan got one of his growlers filled there.

Winery number 3 from Bettenays Wine and Nougat. We were all tasting their wines and considering if we should buy a bottle of two. Then they opened the Nougat Liqueur. Everyone just said “wow”. Most of us on the tour bought several bottles of the liqueur – no wine.

A quick trip the Margaret River Chocolate Co before heading to the last winery of the day, Willespie. Willespie was an old fashioned traditional winery with old growth vines. They also still use cork, which is rare these days. “Chewy” replaced the sexy French host, much to the girls disappointment, to run us though how to properly drink a Chardonnay. Apparently it needs to be warmed up somewhat to avoid that extra woody taste. By this stage I had so many wines, my taste buds were just about cooked. It was a fascinating tutorial nonetheless. Well done Chewy, you did a great job.

Last stop was Cheeky Monkey Brewing for a cleansing ale before we returned back to Busselton.

It was a full-on day with lots of wine beer and food. We all loved it.

Day Four (Wednesay) was Aidan and Ena’s last day with us. They were going to stay at Bettenay’s guest hose for a couple days to celebrate their anniversary.

I took my drone down the jetty foreshore and took some aerial photos and videos. I was hoping to see some dolphins and follow them with the drone, but no luck.

We went to Canal Rocks for sunset photos. The ocean was rough but the sunset was nothing to write home about. Dinner at Occy’s in Dunsborough before saying goodbye to Aidan and Ena and home to Busselton. Early to bed as we’re heading home tomorrow.

Day five, we cleaned up and left for home about 11am.

It really was a great holiday. Having Aidan, Ena and Anthony there meant there was lots of fun and laughs. I hope we can do it again next year.

Next trips are:

December 2020 – 2 night stay-cation in Perth for Christmas shopping

January 2021 – 4 Nights Camping in Augusta to celebrate our friend Susan’s 60th birthday.

Guilderton to York

Published on September 16, 2020 by JellyfishKingLeave a comment

I should point out, firstly, I didn’t actually travel from Guilderton to York.

As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts Australia’s borders are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so we’re taking the time to rediscover Western Australia. We took a long weekend and made short trips to Guilderton, North and York, East.

Guilderton

Guilderton is one hour (100km) North of Perth and is situated at the mouth of the Moore River.

It’s a sleepy tourist town with a caravan park and quite a few holiday homes. It doesn’t really cater for couples with its larger scale accommodation offerings, hence our day trip only. I guess we could camped if we really wanted to stay. It would be nice to come back with another family ans spend more time exploring the river and surrounding spots such as Lancelin.

Jane and I shared fish and chips from the General Store. At $11 it was delicious and ample enough for two. We sat on a bench overlooking the river. A couple of ducks waddled up and demanded their share.

The real attraction of the place is the river and beach. A boardwalk around the escarpment offers spectacular views over the river mouth. Of course the lookout wasn’t high enough for me so I got the drone out.

Further inland another boardwalk traverses the river.

York

On Monday we left early for our day trip to York. York is situated in the “wheatbelt” of Western Australia about 150km east of Perth. Its quite close to Toodyay, where we visited in July. The main reason we wanted to go is that the canola fields are blooming.

There has been some grumblings of the local farmers say that tourists are coming a trampling all their crops. There are some that allow visitors in for a fee. Jane and I preferred to find out own locations. So we found our own location and we ventured inside (umm… yeah trespassed) the fields and immersed ourselves in the yellow fields. We were careful not to harm any plants. Of course the drone came out to fly above the sea of gold.

Video here

Canola is also known as Rape Seed. Edible oil is made from the seed of the plant and is popular around the world for its Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids content and it also helps to cut cholesterol levels.

The best place to see the canola fields in the road between York and Northam, called the Northam-York Road of course. We took some gravel side roads to find a field that was remote and unfenced.

Greece Part 1

Published on August 16, 2020August 16, 2020 by JellyfishKing1 Comment

The azure water of the Mediterranean sea laps gently against the hull of our yacht. We sip our gin & tonics while our topless partners sun themselves on the deck. Its a beautiful warm day moored just of the coast on the island of Mykonos…

…is what I should be saying right now.

But sadly our Greece trip was ruined, like just about everything this year by Covid-19.

Instead we spent a few days in the South West of Western Australia at Eight Willows Retreat. We’re only allowed to travel within Western Australia until further notice. I guess we shouldn’t complain, at least we’re allowed to travel somewhere, unlike many other parts of the world. We have stayed at Eight Willows before and decided to come back for a 3 day family get away. Bettina didn’t want to give up any work, so it was just Bianca joining Jane and myself.

We booked a 2 bedroom villa right at the back of the property.

As you can see I’m now the proud owner of a drone. I bought the Mavic Air 2 drone a few weeks ago and I’ve been dying to use it over come spectacular coast line.

We arrived Thursday afternoon, unpacked and settled in. That evening we headed to Canal Rocks to catch the sunset. We had some rain as we travelled down from Perth, but the evening broke up and the sunset was nice.

I was “too busy” to take photos of the girls

After the sun went down we headed into Dunsborough to have dinner at Clancy’s Fish Pub. Jane and I shared the seafood platter. Even though it said “for one”, it was ample for two of us. Even Bianca had some. I tried one of the local beers – Asam Boi Gose from Beerfarm. Its an unusually delicious sweet and sour Asian style beer.

We got back the unit for night cap and a spa bath for two.

We woke up lazily on Friday morning and after some bacon and eggs we headed to Injidup Bay for more flying around. It was a beautiful sunny day. I hadn’t been to Injidup before. It is renowned for its “Natural Spa” formation, where the waves come crashing over the rocks and empty like a waterfall into a rock pool.

We drove back to Margaret River and had lunch at the Cheeky Monkey Brewery.

The Chicken Wings were fantastic. The garden setting was very nice too.

We stopped in at the Churchview winery to sample some of their offering on the way back back to the retreat. They had a nice (cheap) Shiraz and an interesting Zinfandel.

After a short rest we made our back to Margaret river for dinner at La Scarpetta Trattoria. This Italian restaurant is a local favourite and we had to wait over an hour for a table. We walked up the Settler’s Tavern for a drink while we waited. The food at La Scarpetta was delicious. We could see why the were so popular. The staff were efficient and very friendly.

Back to bed after another spa bath. Driving home tomorrow stopping at the Bunbury Farmers Market on the way of course.

Yeah its not Greece…but Western Australia is a pretty fine place to be nonetheless.