Week 11

Day 72: On the recommendation of the Belgium couple we decided to head to Warren National Park for the night. The Greens Pool was along the way so we stopped in to check it out. It was awesome with big rocks about 100m out from shore that the waves crashed over making the water from here to the shore lovely and calm. It was a very hot day and the pool was packed with people. We drove through the Valley of Giants, which is a forest of huge Karri trees. We stopped to do a short walk through the forest where one had a circumference of about 24m and 16m wide, big enough to park our car in!! We stopped at The Bicentennial Tree which you can climb if you're game. It is 70m high and only has metal rungs sticking out of it to use as a ladder. Well Decs' legs were too short to reach the rungs, but Charli was fine and very keen to climb it. Al said she would go up with Charli and Housie was nearly sick just thinking about it. Once they started the climb they soon realised that thongs were not the best footwear so decided to try it again tomorrow with joggers on. From here we went to the camping ground to set up for the night. Declan went down to the river to do some fishing. After a while Decs gave up and Housie took over, but still no bites.

 

 

Greens Pool

 

Valley of Giants

Park your car in here

 

Bicentenial Tree

Campsite Warren NP

 



Day 73: We were on our way to Conto Fields camping Ground, near Redgate Beach, where we would meet up with Al's cousin Kaddy. After deciding what way we were going to get there we were off. Housie took us through another 4wd track that started at the D'Entrecasteaux National Park. Along the way we stopped at Lake Jasper, which is the largest permenant fresh water lake in WA. We were on our way to see the amazing black basalt cliffs when Al saw a big sandy incline up ahead, she said 'please tell me that's not the way we are going'. Housie kept quiet and just shrugged because he was pretty sure that the road did go that way and didn't want to freak Al out. Around a few bends and there was the incline that we were going to have to go up. After a few attempts and getting stuck Housie decided to go back around the last bend to get a bit of a run off. Well this did not help at all, we were bogged, again! Everyone got out to help dig out the tires but the sand just kept falling back in. Housie decided to go look for a large tree to tie the winch to, he found the biggest one and it was about as round as Al's thigh, this was going to be interesting. The max tracks were down and the winch ready so Housie gave it a go but nothing happened, tree too small and car/trailer to heavy. As Al was untying the winch from the tree another car approached form over the hill. They got out and gave us a hand. The Guy suggested we unhitch the trailer and winch it up with the car, I'm sure we were all thinking this was the only option but really not wanting to go there again. It was all set up and the trailer was slowly winched up the hill, while Al and the kids took care of the max tracks .We had to winch the trailer up about 60mtrs, so the winching had to be done in three lots as the cable is not that long. We finally got the trailer up and the other people waiting were able to get past us on the track. We hitched up again and we were all pretty relieved to get off the sand. It wasn't too bad really, only lost a max track to the sand and another leak in the water tank. We drove to the camping ground and set up and Kaddy arrived not long after. We decided to go to the pub in Margaret River for a well earn't beer and some dinner.

 

Lake Jasper

 

Redgate Beach

Housie's bed for the night



Day 74: Today Kaddy showed us around the Margaret River Winery area. First stop was the Chocolate factory where we sampled plenty of chocolate and then some of their chocolate liqueurs and condiments, it was all very delicious. We went to another winery that also had nougat tasting. Kaddy tasted it all but Al,Housie and the kids just tried the nougat. The kids did not like the nougat! We went to The Cheeky Monkey Brewery for lunch which was great as the kids could play on the playground while us adults relaxed. From here we decided to tackle a maze. The maze was great fun with water pistols adding to the excitement. Kaddy needed to head back to Perth and after saying bye the rest of us stayed for awhile doing some puzzles.

 

 

View from our table at Cheeky Monkey



Day 75: We drove through the Boranup Forest, filled with beautiful trees and shrubs. From here we headed to Augustus, where we visited the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. This is where the Southern Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. We decided on an audio tour which was very informative. Charli, Declan and Al went up the lighthouse. The views from here were amazing. The kids liked the spiral staircase and the small balcony that wrapped around the top. We were very lucky as the weather was perfect with a slight breeze and plenty of sunshine. At times the wind can be very strong here at about 100kmh!

 

 

 

 

After lunch we decided to revisit the 4wd track to Black Point which of course was where we were heading when we got bogged a couple of days ago. This much time lighter without the camper. We made it easily and were rewarded with the views of black basalt cliffs that plunge into the ocean in brick like formations. At another lookout the black rocks were a great contrast to the white sandy beach. The sea was pretty wild here and an awesome sight.

Day 76: Today we went for a drive to Busselton, north of Margaret River. We really liked Busselton especially the foreshore where we went for a swim and had lunch. Heading back to camp we went via Yallingup to check out the beaches but unfortunately the westerly wind had picked up and it wasn't pleasant enough to stay. Down further Prevelly beach was much the same although we did enjoy watching the kite surfers. We headed back into Margaret River to have a look around and after visiting the Information Centre Charli spotted a 50 dollar note lying on the footpath! She immediately said we should take it into the shop in case anyone there had lost it. Housie and Al looked around and there was no one nearby and no one looking for anything so they reassured her that it would be fine for her to keep it. Charli then decided she would buy us all an ice cream and share the change with Declan, what a thoughtful young lady. It was late now and the ice cream shop was closed so we would have to wait til tomorrow.


Day 77: Once we where packed up we were headed off to Bunbury. Along the way we stopped at Mammoth Cave and did an audio tour through this massive cave. There were stalactites, stalagmites and fossils. Overall it was very impressive.

We liked Busselton so much that we went there for another swim, shower and lunch before heading to Bunbury. We set up camp in the Leschenault National Park about a 15min drive from Bunbury.

Day 78: Today we ventured to the Dolphin Discovery Park where wild dolphins visit a few times in the morning. While we waited we checked out the other marine life that the park kept in aquariums. During our morning tea the bell sounded to let us know that the dolphins had arrived. We went down to the water and there was a dolphin named Eclipse swimming around. We stood in knee deep water and watched her swim back and forth only about a metre away, she was beautiful. After she had checked us out she decided to put on a little show for us. Eclipse would swim past us take off and do some jumping out of the water, we could of watched her all day. We then saw star fish, cray fish, flounder and port jackson sharks being feed.

After lunch we headed about 30 ks out of Bunbury to 'Gnomesville'. This is a rest area that has thousands of gnomes just sitting around. You can walk through them and leave a gnome there too. We left our gnome 'Doc' amongst them with our name and the year on it.The original gnomes were put there in memory of a group of people who did a bike rally to raise money for a charity in 2002. Then others decided to add their own gnomes, it was pretty mind blowing.

Our "gnomie"

Keep an eye out if you visit