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Hi everyone from Western Australia! I have just spent a smashing week exploring the southwest corner of Australia with Catherine & Simon - it is wild and rugged down here - I love it!
I flew over from Cairns after my last update nearly a week ago now, directly southwest back over Alice Springs and the Red Centre. It sure feels a long way away and it is - Perth is the most remote city in the world, the nearest being Adelaide, over 2,000 km away! I am very lucky to have a super place to stop here - with Catherine & Simon who live in the port of Fremantle, a lovely town a short distance south of the City. I checked it out last Thursday, wandering about the harbours and beach, the main streets around "Cappucino strip" (crammed with alfresco cafes) and the galleries and heritage buildings which give the town a cool, arty ambience. And Catheine knows all the best spots of course so we feasted at lunchtime in a local hideaway. We set off on Friday morning to the Margaret River region, Australia's most southwesterly corner, about 3 hours drive from Fremantle, and well-known for its wineries, karri forrests and beaches, as well as rain and cooler temperatures (true!).We spent 4 days exploring far and wide and have had the most wonderful time!
We stayed in a cottage just outside Margaret River town, surrounded by Australian bush and wildlife - we went possum hunting at night and saw ring-necked parakeets and grey kangaroo just outside the door - wow! There were wild emu about too, noisy kukaburras and all sorts of other birds. It was a bit freezing by night but the cottage had a real fireplace which was great and I have now perfected my pyrotechnic skills! The town had a great local but lively vibe to it with some real Aussie bars. And the area is full of wineries and local produce so we tested out wines, cheese, chutney, jam, some amazing ice cream and fudge too - a feast!
It was great to get about by car, we got well of the beaten track and saw some spectacular scenery. We drove some 4x4 tracks on Saturday through karri forest and out to a deserted beach, possibly the most beautiful I have seen on my travels - we walked out along the dunes and surf which was scattered with small blue squid and green sponges. It was really heavenly. The rocky headlands are magnificent too - we visited several with some awesome rock formations including one called Canal Rocks where the sea washed through a narrow gorge with rocks on either side that we climbed all over. And the primeval karri forests which cover the region are magnificent, we drove and walked several tracks amongst them, including a nice one over a wobbly suspension bridge past Beedelup Falls, and to a beautiful lake in the light rain. We attempted to climb one too - up to a 75 metre high platform (Simon succeeded but I failed at 25 m!). Oh and we visited 'Gracetown' - a small town with a nice seafront. I took my obligatory throne next to the signpost for a quick snap!
We arrived back yesterday and I have since been planning a quick jaunt up the coast before I head off next week. I have gone mad and booked a 16 hour Greyhound trip up to Coral Bay tomorrow! Am I crazy? - probably, but apparently it's nice and warm up there! I am hoping to do a bit of snorkelling and may stop somewhere en roue back to Perth too but I'll see what happens - I might as well explore some more of WA - it's a different world to the rest of Australia.
Well, follow me north and I'll let you know soon how I get on!
Grace xx
P.S. I suppose I must mention the football - we frightened all the kangaroos in WA when the goal was disallowed - ^@*! - no more said!
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