We have now spent a week in Albany. The weather has been a bit drizzly, a bit windy but overall not unpleasant. A visit to the strawberry farm gave us 1 kg of "seconds" for $2.50 and there was not much wrong with them so we keep going back. We have also driven to Two Peoples Bay and on the way back stopped at The Nipper cafe where we bought marron - freshly caught and cooked while we had a coffee. They were sweeter than lobster and very moreish.
Driving around we have visited the Gap, the Bridge, and the blowholes (which you could hear blowing but could not see and the walk down was about 1km and steep). A walk over the Brig Amity made one realise how "cosy" were the sleeping arrangements and Rob says that this was roughly the size of his grandfather's ship "Enigma".
A visit to the old whaling station again made one feel rather insignificant when standing next to the jaw bone of a whale and looking at the skeletons of these leviathans.
We had anticipated getting lots of fresh produce from the Saturday morning markets but by 9am there was very little left so for many things we had to resort to the supermarkets.
May all our readers have a Merry Christmas .
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
On to Albany
Last week was fairly laid back apart from walking on the beach most days. The highlight was our trip to the Valley of the Giants to do the Tree Top Walk on a brilliantly sunny day. Whilst the walk itself is only 400m in length you can walk it as many times as you like. The view over the canopy was brilliant and looking down the ground sure looked a long way away. The site is very well organised with disabled access. As you slowly descend back to the floor of the forest it feels a little unreal. The Empire walk is again about 1/2km with boardwalks around the bases of the Tingle Trees and the insignificance of the human is quite overpowering.
On Friday we left the tall tree country and drove the 120 kms to Albany stopping for a coffee break at the pretty township of Denmark. This has a very "Bowral" feel about it and we may well revisit it during our sojourn in this area.
Albany has a population similar to Queanbeyan's and very spread out shopping areas. Apart from Myers and David Jones all the other chains seem to be represented. The park is 1km from the main shopping area - not that this is of great interest apart from the food side of things. There is a farmer's market on Saturday mornings where local seasonal produce is available. We did enjoy stocking up with fresh veg, stone fruit and berries. There is not pressure to do anything major here so we will play it by ear - but there are more wineries........
On Friday we left the tall tree country and drove the 120 kms to Albany stopping for a coffee break at the pretty township of Denmark. This has a very "Bowral" feel about it and we may well revisit it during our sojourn in this area.
Albany has a population similar to Queanbeyan's and very spread out shopping areas. Apart from Myers and David Jones all the other chains seem to be represented. The park is 1km from the main shopping area - not that this is of great interest apart from the food side of things. There is a farmer's market on Saturday mornings where local seasonal produce is available. We did enjoy stocking up with fresh veg, stone fruit and berries. There is not pressure to do anything major here so we will play it by ear - but there are more wineries........
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Walpole
The rest of the week in Pemberton was spent walking in the karri forest, Rob climbing halfway up the Glouster tree, visiting a rather lovely woodwork gallery and having a lunch of marron. We also took a cruise down the Donnelly River to its mouth into the Southern Ocean. This is a pristine river with very little human access. The surrounding forest is very dense as there has been no burn off and consists of marri trees and paper barks. The beach at the mouth is the roosting place for fairy terns and all you could see for about 100 sq yards were little heads. A very realxing afternoon.
The drive to Walpole on Friday was pleasant if overcast and the road was certainly narrowish in places when you think that it is classkfked as a highway. The Top Tourist park at Coalmine Beach is a delight. The sites are all separated by trees and the view out of our annexe window is of brilliant red bottlebrush which attracts honeyeaters. The beach itself if 50 steps down from the caravan park and is in the Nornalup inlet. The weather here has been rather overcast but we did drive out to the Giant Tingle Tree which was enormous (see photograph). The forest area around it is pretty, the trees are not as tall as the karri but their girth is certainly much wider.
The drive to Walpole on Friday was pleasant if overcast and the road was certainly narrowish in places when you think that it is classkfked as a highway. The Top Tourist park at Coalmine Beach is a delight. The sites are all separated by trees and the view out of our annexe window is of brilliant red bottlebrush which attracts honeyeaters. The beach itself if 50 steps down from the caravan park and is in the Nornalup inlet. The weather here has been rather overcast but we did drive out to the Giant Tingle Tree which was enormous (see photograph). The forest area around it is pretty, the trees are not as tall as the karri but their girth is certainly much wider.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Big tree country-Pemberton
We spent the last week in Margaret River visiting a few more wineries (!) and did see some fairly impressive venues. We also revisited the Venison Farm to pick up some more salami and ham to keep us going for nibbles.
Friday morning dawned sunny but windy. We set off for the short drive to Pemberton (140KM) and fortunately by the time we turned east the wind became a tail wind which virtually disappeared when the big trees appeared. The GPS system kept on losing our location because the trees blocked the signal but we did arrive safely at the Caravan Park which nestles at the foot of a steep hill covered by native karri forest. The local parrots expect to be fed and their confrontations with the local friar bird are entertaining.
Pemberton is a quaint little town with the buildings on the main street all built in the same style of weatherboard. Apparently this is the biggest avocado growing area in Australia.
We took a drive to Manjimup which is quite substantial and visited the Wine and Truffle Company - more wine tasting (Oh dear!) and smelling our first truffles. On the way back we stopped at the Diamond Tree which is one of three trees in the district that can be climbed (see photos) and certainly give you a crick in the neck trying to see the platform at the top. Rob started climbing the tree but can you spot me (coward) at the base of the tree in the second shot.
Our venture forth today was to take a trip on the Pemberton tram through the karri forest stopping at The Cascades and visiting the Tingle tree. The whole atmosphere is very dwarfing but beautiful. More to follow.....
Friday morning dawned sunny but windy. We set off for the short drive to Pemberton (140KM) and fortunately by the time we turned east the wind became a tail wind which virtually disappeared when the big trees appeared. The GPS system kept on losing our location because the trees blocked the signal but we did arrive safely at the Caravan Park which nestles at the foot of a steep hill covered by native karri forest. The local parrots expect to be fed and their confrontations with the local friar bird are entertaining.
Pemberton is a quaint little town with the buildings on the main street all built in the same style of weatherboard. Apparently this is the biggest avocado growing area in Australia.
We took a drive to Manjimup which is quite substantial and visited the Wine and Truffle Company - more wine tasting (Oh dear!) and smelling our first truffles. On the way back we stopped at the Diamond Tree which is one of three trees in the district that can be climbed (see photos) and certainly give you a crick in the neck trying to see the platform at the top. Rob started climbing the tree but can you spot me (coward) at the base of the tree in the second shot.
Our venture forth today was to take a trip on the Pemberton tram through the karri forest stopping at The Cascades and visiting the Tingle tree. The whole atmosphere is very dwarfing but beautiful. More to follow.....
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Margaret River continued
Our second week in Margaret River was spent visiting more wineries (!), the better known ones being Vasse Felix, Cape Mentelle, Mad Fish and Leeuwin. We were quite impressed by the different styles of buildings, gardens and restaurants incorporated in the large operations. We have also enjoyed the wines and tried some of the varieties not often seen in the retail outlets.
We have visited Prevelly Beach which is at the mouth of the Margaret River. The day we did this was very windy and we have probably taken more photographs of waves crashing into rocks in the last week than in the last 20 years - beautiful and powerful. We also visited the Mammoth Cave which does not have much colour but is better known for its fossils. The cave is in the middle of a Marri forest (not a spelling mistake) and the walk through this was delightful.
As the election was getting close we drove to Bunbury to the AEC Divisional office to vote so we had a look around this rather nice township. We climbed its viewing tower (another 100 steps on top of the 170 that it took to get out of Mammoth Cave), walked the mangrove boardwalk and visited Capel Vale winery on the way back.
On the days we were not feeling energetic we took short walks along the River bank and visited local galleries where we did see some rather lovely paintings, jarrah furniture, colourful glass and exquisite jewellery. Had we won lotto it would have been fun shopping, as it was we just admired.
The other area we visited was Cape Naturaliste where we walked out to the whale watch viewing platform and did see three whales making their way south. From that point we drove through Dunsborough which was already filling up with "Schoolies" (Western Australia's Gold Coast) on to Busselton. The jetty was 1.7km long and we got our exercise walking to the end and back. In addition we visited the Underwater Observatory which descended 30ft and we could see the beautifully coloured coral and sponges attached to the piers. Several largish schools of fish swam past as well as many small coloured/striped specimens
The whole strip from the tip of Cape Naturaliste to Busselton is in expansion mode. There are more caravan parks along the sea shore than you can poke a stick at and each religious/school group seems to have camping areas for members to use.
The end of next week takes us on to Pemberton where the really big trees start.
We have visited Prevelly Beach which is at the mouth of the Margaret River. The day we did this was very windy and we have probably taken more photographs of waves crashing into rocks in the last week than in the last 20 years - beautiful and powerful. We also visited the Mammoth Cave which does not have much colour but is better known for its fossils. The cave is in the middle of a Marri forest (not a spelling mistake) and the walk through this was delightful.
As the election was getting close we drove to Bunbury to the AEC Divisional office to vote so we had a look around this rather nice township. We climbed its viewing tower (another 100 steps on top of the 170 that it took to get out of Mammoth Cave), walked the mangrove boardwalk and visited Capel Vale winery on the way back.
On the days we were not feeling energetic we took short walks along the River bank and visited local galleries where we did see some rather lovely paintings, jarrah furniture, colourful glass and exquisite jewellery. Had we won lotto it would have been fun shopping, as it was we just admired.
The other area we visited was Cape Naturaliste where we walked out to the whale watch viewing platform and did see three whales making their way south. From that point we drove through Dunsborough which was already filling up with "Schoolies" (Western Australia's Gold Coast) on to Busselton. The jetty was 1.7km long and we got our exercise walking to the end and back. In addition we visited the Underwater Observatory which descended 30ft and we could see the beautifully coloured coral and sponges attached to the piers. Several largish schools of fish swam past as well as many small coloured/striped specimens
The whole strip from the tip of Cape Naturaliste to Busselton is in expansion mode. There are more caravan parks along the sea shore than you can poke a stick at and each religious/school group seems to have camping areas for members to use.
The end of next week takes us on to Pemberton where the really big trees start.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Margaret River
It was a pleasant drive down to the township of Margaret River on Sunday. A little reminiscent of Bowral/Berrima with many galleries and tourist retailers. There are apparently 91 wineries in the area but we may need to be a little selective or the boutique prices may blow our budget out of the water.
Our park is 800 m from the town centre and there is both a Coles and an IGA in town. To date we have taken a tour which covered the wineries of Watershed, Redgate and Bettenay and the Venison farm which does produce very tasty salami, cheese kransky, cabana and Choritsos as well as pate and fresh meat. We were also taken to the Margaret River
Cheese Factory but there was nothing there that was not available in the supermarkets, the Chocolate Factory which while providing tasty chocolate was certainly priced expensively e.g. 100g dark chocolate $5.95. As a bonus (!) we visited the Lavender farm and whilst the lavender infused wines did not appeal to our taste buds there was a very pleasant garden (there are apparently 98 different lavender varieties) and an enormous range of lavender products. The final stop was the Colonial brewery where there were 5 different beer varieties available for tasting. As we are more prone to the fruit of the grape we did not indulge here but according to those who like beer, the experience was interesting.
This morning we took off for the 50Km drive down to Augusta and the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. We were fortunate to strike a really lovely day and the meeting of the Indian and Southern Oceans was quite spectacular especially viewed from the top of the lighthouse (176 steps thank you very much). There was also a fossilised waterwheel to see which had provided fresh water from a spring for the three lighthousekeeper families back in 1895.
The drive back through the karri forest was magnificent and made one feel quite insignificant.
We look forward to much more meandering in this area.
Our park is 800 m from the town centre and there is both a Coles and an IGA in town. To date we have taken a tour which covered the wineries of Watershed, Redgate and Bettenay and the Venison farm which does produce very tasty salami, cheese kransky, cabana and Choritsos as well as pate and fresh meat. We were also taken to the Margaret River
Cheese Factory but there was nothing there that was not available in the supermarkets, the Chocolate Factory which while providing tasty chocolate was certainly priced expensively e.g. 100g dark chocolate $5.95. As a bonus (!) we visited the Lavender farm and whilst the lavender infused wines did not appeal to our taste buds there was a very pleasant garden (there are apparently 98 different lavender varieties) and an enormous range of lavender products. The final stop was the Colonial brewery where there were 5 different beer varieties available for tasting. As we are more prone to the fruit of the grape we did not indulge here but according to those who like beer, the experience was interesting.
This morning we took off for the 50Km drive down to Augusta and the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. We were fortunate to strike a really lovely day and the meeting of the Indian and Southern Oceans was quite spectacular especially viewed from the top of the lighthouse (176 steps thank you very much). There was also a fossilised waterwheel to see which had provided fresh water from a spring for the three lighthousekeeper families back in 1895.
The drive back through the karri forest was magnificent and made one feel quite insignificant.
We look forward to much more meandering in this area.
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