Journey Through Western Australia
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 7:31AM Having escaped the rains of Melbourne, our journey took us to the far West Coast of Australia. We flew into the bustling city of Perth, one of the most isolated capital cities of the world. There are many similarities here to the thriving oil economy of Western Canada. Australia’s resource boom has transformed this city into a thriving and bustling metropolis. The city also boasts an excellent transportation system and the downtown core has some great pedestrian streets.
Downtown Perth
We opted to stay in one of Perth’s coastal suburbs to take in some of the great weather the area is known for. The sleepy suburban township of Scarborough made a great pit stop and we enjoyed watching the locals partake in the popular sports of Windsurfing and Kitesurfing.
Windsurfers in Scarborough
After spending two nights in Perth, we decided to rent a car and take to the road. Our planned journey would take us south through the port city of Fremantle all the way down into the famed Margret River wine country. On the way we enjoyed a night in the city of Rockingham where we enjoyed an excursion to Penguin Island. This is one of the only spots in the country where you can see the miniature Blue Penguins in the wild.
Blue Penguins on Penguin Island
Our journey continued with a trek down to Margaret River, a picturesque town situated in the heart of Western Australia’s wine country. The area is known as a premium wine production area and boasts over 100 wineries. We decided the best way to experience this part of the country was to partake in one of the local winery tours. The area rolling hills, arid climate and picturesque forests make for a charming and intriguing landscape. The wines were quite nice too! You can find all manner of estates, from the humble mom and pop operations to the exquisite corporate owned wineries.
Margaret River Wine Tasting
Our journey continued on to the South-westerly most point in Australia, Cape Leeuwin, on the outskirts of Augusta. The Leeuwin Lighthouse occupies a strategic position on the very edge of the peninsula and makes for a great place to see the merging of the Indian and Southern Oceans.
Leeuwin Lighthouse
The view from the Peninsula is terrific and we quickly seized the opportunity to take in one of the famed sunsets.
Cape Leeuwin Sunset
The next day we spent exploring the area around Augusta. One of the main highlights was the immaculately preserved Jewel Cave which took us 60 meters underground. The limestone formations within the cave were impressive and it was amazing how the tour snaked through the caves deep underground.
Jewel Cave Near Augusta
Our adventure continued with a quick trek East to Pemberton, home of some of Australia’s largest trees. The giant Tingle Trees reach over 60 meters in height and we quickly jumped at the opportunity to climb to the top of the Gloucester Tree.
Gloucester Climbing Tree
Our drive then took us Eastward towards Walpole, in the heart of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park. The varied scenery of rolling hills, lush forests and undulating farmland kept us interested all the way to the sleepy town. Walpole is like many remote Western Australian towns, featuring a small main street, a few shops and a couple of places to stay. On this trip we are staying mostly at backpacker accommodations as they provide the best value and a great place to meet fellow travelers.
Scenic Forest Drive
The following day we made our way to the popular Treetop Canopy Walk in the Valley of the Giants, just outside of Walpole. That morning we met a fellow traveler who joined us to see the giant trees. The Canopy Walk is well engineered and meshes seamlessly with the forest canopy. Reaching some 40 meters into the sky, the views give you a great Birdseye perspective of the forest below.
Treetop Walk in the Valley of the Giants
The day continued as we headed further East towards Albany. On the way we encountered some amazing roads that winded through lush farmlands, arid wine producing regions and scenic coastal areas.
Exploring the Countryside
One of the most amazing places we encountered was the strangely named Conspicuous Cliff. The bay was one of the most pristine coastal landscapes we’ve encountered thus far and it was mesmerizing to watch the waves of the Southern Ocean roll in on the white sand beaches.
Conspicuous Cliff Near Walpole
This post briefly recapped some of the highlights of our Western Australia tour from the bustling city of Perth through to the Southerly port city of Albany. We are planning to spend a few more days taking in the beautiful landscapes of Western Australia before we head to the famed town of Alice Springs, in the middle of Australia’s great outback. Stay tuned for more stories from the road.
Reader Comments (4)
Terrific shots as expected Steve. Love the climbing tree. Inspiring tour and you've only just started. Are you planning on seeing any of New Zealand?
Gorgeous picture of the windsurfers! That ladder up the tree looks pretty sketchy, I think I'd be shaking by the time I made it to the top...
Always a great collection of travel images, but I *love* the photo of the windsurfers on the water. It's amazing how much Western Australia has to offer but is often overshadowed by Australia's east coast.
Steve and Priscillia. Great photos and very nice information on the places you have visited so far. Looks like an awesome trip. Mom and I are starting to plan our trip to Africa!