Australia & New Zealand Adventure Part VII: Perth and the South West
Updated: Aug 20
Well...what can I say? It has been QUITE THE TRIP SOFAR here in West Australia. Absolutely stunning,brilliant, fabulous, and unpredictable!
So much has happened, that I am forced to write twoemails, one for the South West of the state, and thesecond for my trip up the coast of WA to Broome, whereI currently sit in the path of deadly and destructivecyclone - Cyclone Fay, just off the coast of Broomeand heading our way! I am stuck in our youth hostel,getting drunk even though its still morning....what away to spend a few days!
Anyway, here is the update from when Giovanna and Iarrived in Perth. The next letter will follow, butthis should make it easier for you all to read!
Well, Perth is such a beautiful and cosmopolitan city.
We went to Fremantle in the morning for somecappuccinos and just melted the morning away in theblazing heat. We took a cruise back to the citycenter, and found that they offered free wine tastingon board - needles to say, we were both completelysozzled by the time we got into the city of swans....
Later that afternoon, we hired a car for our southwest adventure and headed south. Our first stop wasthe beach at the wondrous Indian Ocean. I was mostimpressed with the clarity of the water and thewhiteness of the sand. I would say that the westcoast gives the east a run for its money in terms ofits beaches!
The next morning, in Bunbury, we hurried on down tothe Dolphin Discovery Center, a non-profit center thatboasts a bottle nose dolphin "interaction" zone wherethe dolphins swim to on a daily basis right up toshore to interact with the humans. Tears welled in myeyes, as "Jet" swam in front of me inches from myhands. These creatures are truly magnificent andgraceful.
Moving on that afternoon we found several paradisaicalbeaches to lounge upon - Meelup and Bunker bay werehighlights! Just crystal blue water: a bounty advertabout to happen and not another soul in sight!
That evening was absolutely mesmerising. We went to abay that was supposed to have giant stingrays. Justabout to leave after failing to spot one, I noticed agrey shape gliding by us close to shore. I ran,screaming with excitement, and saw the ray : a largegrey "monster" with eyes the size of eggs and about1.5 meters long. Some local fishermen there were kindenough to give us some fresh fish to feed the ray with- it was quite a tug-of-war extravaganza with the raytugging on one end and you holding on for dear life onthe other. Such a strange sensation! We were alsoable to stroke the strange things, obviously avoidingits painful "stinger".
Just at that moment, I looked up at the blushingsunset sky only to spot two dolphins about 15 feetfrom shore swimming in. I started to scream withexcitement (again) which was immediately followed bymore shrieks from Giovanna and a mad striptease andrunning into the water. This time, without any prior planning, I was swimming within 1-2 feet of thesecreatures who were feasting on a pod of salmon.
Mind-blowing night. Truly.
That night we stayed in the top hostel in Australia inAugusta. Just so cute and the management so friendly-pretty much how you can some up all West Australians,wonderfully sarcastic in their wicked humor andbending over themselves to be helpful. The characterswe met on our car journey alone were worth the trip!
The following day we visited Cape Leeuwin, the southwestern most point in Australia. Then it was on tothe legendary forests of tall Karri and Tingle Trees.
Our first stop, just before Pemberton, was the giantBicentennial Tree. Now this was no ordinary tree, ithad a ladder carved into it so that you could climbits' precarious 70 meter height to the top of theforest canopy. I have no idea what possessed me toattempt this ludicrous feat, with absolutely no-onearound, no net to catch you if you fall, and just asheer drop awaiting you under each rung, but up weboth went. Fucking exhilarating. Excuse thelanguage, but we wished there had been a crowd ofpeople around to cheer us on when we got to the top!
Instead, we sufficed on munching our lunches, feelinglike Ewoks in Return of the Jedi. The climb down waseven more terrifying, and we were most glad to reachsolid ground.
After such a morning, we treated ourselves to arelaxing swim in Hooker Reservoir before driving toWalpole for our third night.
The next day we also walked up into a tree-top canopy,but this time it was via the famous Valley of theGiants tree-top walk; essentially a bridge platformbuilt 40 meters off of the ground. It was veryexciting, just not quite as scary as before!
We continued driving through stunning forest andcoastline on to Albany, and since we still had hoursof light, we decided to press on the extra 300 K toWave Rock, in Hyden.
People say that Wave Rock is disappointing: 350 k fromPerth and a 10 minute wonder. But I gasped when Ifirst glimpsed it. A sheer 15 meter high rock thathas formed the shape of a wave through erosive forces.
The view from the top was gorgeous too, my first realview of the "outback" - red dust as far as the eyecould see in all directions....
The drive back was long, but we arrived in Perth thatnight ready for our tour up the west coast in themorning......
That's where I will leave it for now, its definitelytime to have another beer, and check out thiscyclone's latest heading!
I will write again tomorrow with more adventures. Ihope this email finds you all well.
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