Down South

15th June 2006

Good Afternoon Campers!

So, last weekend Jane, Chris, Chay and I visted the sights south of Perth.

First we visited Bussleton home to the world's longest jetty I believe (which we walked down in the bitter cold!!)

After this we drove to Pemberton, home of the Gloucester Tree which was used as a fire lookout out back in the old days (it's the tallest tree for miles) It's now open as a tourist attraction, visitors are allowed to climb the tree if they are crazy enough ...... Uncle Chris climbed it twice ...... proof that he is indeed one crazy man!!! The tree is absolutely huge!!! At the same national park are semi-tame birds called Lorikeets and 28's - see my photosite later for pictures of them. We took parrot seed to feed them, placed the seed in each hand and stood like scarecrows and they flocked to us!! Of course, i managed to get bird poo on my black jacket .....

We stayed in a motel in Pemberton that evening and watched the England match in the bar with locals and expats.

The next morning we drove to Denmark, stopping at Warpole on the way - Warpole is famous for the gigantic tingle tree (see pics). Denmark is a quaint, freezing cold town right at the bottom left corner of Australia (Jane and Chris have friends there who we stayed the night with).

The next morning we drove to Albany stopping at The Gap and the Natural Bridge just outside Albany, which are coastal touristy sights, believe it or not we actually saw whales breaching who were migrating to warmer waters. It was a brilliant sight to see! After this we headed to Whale World in Albany where they used to hunt whales for their oils - thankfully this has now been outlawed, but the plant remains open as a tourist attraction. Next we went into Albany for lunch and for a little drive around the town, then we headed home.

It was a great trip - well worth doing if anyone ever comes over to this neck of the woods!!

My next adventure is up North - Sarah, Michelle and I leave on Saturday morning at 7.30am to see the following:

Day 1 - Pinnacles desert, Lucky Bay - Overnight Bush Camp

Day 2 - Kalbarri National Park, Muchison River Pools, Nanga Bay Resort (working sheep farm) - Overnight Camping Park

Day 3 - Monkey Mia, Denham, Eagle Bluff, Shell Beach - Overnight Bush Camp

Day 4 - Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Ningaloo Reef - Overnight Camp Park

Day 5 - Optional tours, snorkelling, whale spotting, dugong (sea cow) spotting, Exmouth, - Overnight bush camp Duck Creek

Day 6 - Tom Price, Karijini NP, Oxer's Lookout, Weano Gorge, Handrail Pool - Overnight Bush Camp

Day 7 - Dales Gorge, Circular Pool, Fortescue Falls, Fern Pool, Karijini, - Overnight Bush Camp at Marple Bar

Day 8 - Coongan River, Jasperlite arriving in Broome around sunset

So, after that I stay in Broome for 3 nights, then fly back to Perth for 2 nights, then onto Cairns to meet up with Holly my new travel buddy!! Michelle and Sarah are flying onto Brisbane from Broome, so i will be making my way down the coast to meet up with them again.

I hope you are all well and are enjoying the lovely weather over there - it's only 20 here in Perth - i hear it's 28 in scummy nunny - and what's all that about freak golf ball sized hailstones in Coventry?!? Scary!!

Adios Amigos!

Jac xx