Hello! This weekend we had a roadtrip down south to Margaret River - it was the bank holiday so we managed to stay friday night saturday night and sunday night, coming back to Mosman Park on Monday. After a 6 hour drive down (apologies for the map - the computer doesnt accomodate images very well), Rachel and I arrived in a tiny town called Walpole, home of the Valley of the Giants. Its probably the closest thing to home ive seen so far, lots of huge trees, lots of wildlife and not too many people. Walpole was lovely, we stayed in the youth hostel accomodation, which was lovely and very quaint. Went for a beer with the locals on Friday night, and then hit the sack, ready for the next day! Up early on Saturday, and we went to the Valley of the Giants, and the treetop walk. Its basically a conservation area, with hundreds of hundred year old trees, all about 40m tall (hence valley of the giants). There's the opportunity to walk along a steel enforced free standing bridge, which obviously we did, so you can walk along the tree tops...v high, sometimes quite wobbly, but amazing. Next up were Conspicuous Cliffs (no they dont have inconspicuous ones too), took lots of photos, had a dip in the (freezing) sea, and it was off to the next site. Very much a whirlwind tour, but i had a taster of everything which was fab. Next up was of course, lunch, so off to Denmark for some toasties, then onto Ocean Beach - very much a surfers beach, and not a lot else, so we ate our sandwiches an set off for Madfish Bay, Green Pools and Elephant Rocks. Madfish bay is a tiny little bay, where, legend has it that when two tides meet, the fish go 'mad' and jump out of the water. We manages to get pictures of the two tides, very pretty, but no fish (what a shame...)The rocks are absolutely massive and look like elephants (hence the name) and Green Pools are...well, green pools. They are beautiful, absolutely stunning, so we had a dip there too. Next up was the giant tingle tree - i cant remember exactly how tall it is, but its the tallest tree in WA, and is used for look out posts for bush fires. You can climb right up to the top...i made it round one trunk circumference. A very poor effort! Then it was time to head up to Pemberton. A couple of hours drive, and it was tea time! We had dinner in Pemberton, then set off for Margaret River. We ended up driving about 7pm, when its just starting to get dark, and the kangas come out to play. They recommend you dont drive any later than 9pm because its just so dangerous if you knock over a kanga. We saw lots of dead ones along the side of the road :( We arrived at Margaret River, staying at the YHA again. Sunday morning we were up early and off to Leuwin Lighthouse - the site where the Indian and Southern oceans meet - the waves were phenomenal. Very rough indeed! We walked around the site, then off to taste some wine! First wine stop was a place called Briarose Winery, and it was beautiful (as was the wine). We bought some Rose, and then off to the next winery - Laurence winery. All the wineries there are beautiful - so pretty, and they all have the most amazing grounds. Then it was time for lunch, so we went back in Marg, and got some lunch at a pub. More sites to see, so off we went to Hamelin Bay - where stingrays frequent. They were the most amazing things, huge, but really quite calm and beautiful. Ray got in there and had a walk with them, touching her feet etc etc, i managed a brief walk (more of a jog) and that was ample! I can appreciate them more from the sidelines i think! Time for a sunbathe, then we set off again, and stopped at the toffee factory - a little shop where they make toffee and preserves. It was lovely, just at the side of the road! Needless to say, we bought some toffee. Then off to the beach at Yallingup, where we went for a lovely walk along the cliffs, did a spot of sunbathing, lots of swimming and then watched the sunset. Back to Margaret River and drank some of the wine we'd bought. Time for bed, ready for another packed day! Monday morning, up early, and off to Lake Cave, a cave found in the 1890s by Tim Connelly, and opened to the public in 1901. Its full of stalactites and stalagmites, and is so pretty. 60m deep and only 80m wide, its quite small, but beautiful. Then off to a winery called Vasse Felix for some food! V posh, and lovely, we sat on the verandah overlooking all the grapes! After a lovely meal (beef and potato rosti) we stopped briefly at a winery called Swings and Roundabouts, and bought my favourite wine so far, sauv blanc, called Kiss Chasey! We carried on to Eagle Bay, absolutely stunning, real picture postcard stuff, and about eight other people there! Lovely, the sea was so clear. Time was ticking so we went up to Bunker bay, yet another beautiful bit of coast, more sunbathing, more swimming and time to head off! We ended the day with a trip to Bussellton, which boasts the longest jetty in WA, and its pretty long! Left for home about 6 o clock, and wound up home at 9ish, very tired, with over 250 photos! An amazing weekend.

Hope you are all well, love as always

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