Margaret River area and back to Perth

·         Hamelin Bay

·         Margaret river

·         Busselton

·         Manniyup P.O.W camp

·         Rockingham Ski club

·         Lake Karrinyup

It’s been a little while since I have updated the blog – lack of power and data issues.  As mention in the previous blog we had 2 weeks to fill in prior to me starting work so after Windy Harbour we headed to Hamelin Bay. The weather was not to favourable so our stay was short but managed to see the lighthouse at Cape Leeuwin Naturaliste on the south western corner of WA .  We moved on to the Big Valley Farm stay just out of Margaret River.  Nice rural sheep farm that have set up a C.P., very rustic appeal .  From this spot we did day trips around out the area , nice coast line, very diverse agriculture region with cheese , wine,  breweries , chocolate makers etc.

At Busselton we happened to get a site for just a donation at a Christian Camp that was closed for the season (whilst they were doing renovations).  We did the touristy stuff until the weather turned again.

To keep costs down and also whilst the weather was ordinary, we headed off to a freebie in the state forest at Manniyup.  This turned out to be a WW2 POW camp that held 3500 Italian and German prisoners. The remnants of the camp were slowly being consumed by the bush.  This place was off the grid a bit.  Others camping there were living a very alternative life style.   Living in make shift tepee’s and alike -  and I thought we were living a nomadic life!  They were a happy lot serenading us into the night with the bongos, ah the serenity!

3000 POW's lived here

Heading back to civilisation we stopped at a water ski club that have a few sites for caravans just west of Rockingham.

Here we are at Lake Karrinyup Resort  in the northern suburbs of Perth.  14km from center of Perth.   I have been lucky with a short walk to the golf club. The first week took some adjusting to the 4:30am alarm and lunch at 10:30am but it’s been a great opportunity to see a large crew of 20 staff go about their business.  It’s a very international collection of workers, American, Canadian, Kiwis, South African, Irish and English oh and a Bendigonian.

A bit different than Bendigo Golf Club workshop!

First day cutting fairways, 4 machines cutting fairways. Rainbow! ,yep got wet

Weather during the week has been very nice but on the weekends we seem to have rain, rain and more rain.  We’ve had the hottest day in September for 90 years (32 degrees)  followed by the wettest day ever recorded in September (32.5mm).  We have been to the Kings Park Botanical Gardens – probably one of the best displays in a botanical garden we’ve seen - Canberra and Katoomba would come in second.

Busy Bee at Kings Park

leucadendron 

best display of native yet

Awesome gardens just outside Perth

 We also ventured down to Fremantle to take in the markets and old buildings.

Hooroo

Nice day in Freo

Freo market excellent fruit and veg

East of Margaret River Area

·         Pt Louisa (Greenhead)

·        Wando Reserve

·       Drummonds Reserve

·       Perth

·       Wellington National Park

·       Wrights Bridge

·       Windy Harbour

We thought we had our fill of Wild Flowers at Western Flora, but we were wrong, the plants at Mt Lesueur N.P. were another banquet to take in. The variety is so large that when you walk around the bush tracks you suffer from visual overload, as you are hunting for something new that you haven’t seen before and the odd snake, lizard or bird. Scrubby country but once you look closer the individual plants start to stand out.

Nice plant variety at Mt Leusuer N.P.

Painted Feather Flower

Limestone pinnacles

The Pinnacles

Our Gypsy life is going to take a drastic turn due to me getting a job at Lake Karrinyup Golf Club for 6 weeks.  The club require a groundsman to help prepare for the PGA International Golf tournament being played next month, so I have committed to a 6 week stop in Perth.

Lake Karrinyup front entrance

Now there's a head only a mother could love!
Sorry Di

As I don’t start till the 15^th Sept we are filling in our time camping in the southern regions of Western Australia. This is truly a beautiful area, lovely valleys with pastures, grapes, and little creeks.

Plenty of  creeks a flowing Had a bit of rain lately

We have been stopping at National Parks around the area, which give you firewood for your $7.50 each.

Camp site at Wrights Bridge

On our way south we stopped at a fire spotting station which has been built on top of a massive Karri Eucalypt. The fact that they allow you to climb untethered is bazaar and it was very spooky climbing in the rain.

Windy Harbour, it is windy. Nice walks amongst the Banksias. I caught a couple of Western Australian Herring off the beach, nice spot.

We have been really impressed with the Margaret River area -it is certainly a foodie and wine lovers delight.

Hooroo

Enjoy the Pics.

Fire spotting station on top of Karri 

Up,up we go

About now i am thinking.....

Male bravo!, she cant see me trembling

Don't look down

One big tree to climb - 52 metres

Native Kangaroo Paw

The flowers are really showy over here

Hooded Lily

The Banksias are awesome 

Menzies Banksia

Carnaby's Black Cockatoo

Back in southern Australia moss covered forests 

The bugs help pollinate plants over here

Splendid White Spider Orchid

Windy Harbour - D'Entreacasteaux NP

Plenty of this in Margaret River Area

Love the Karri and Jarrah forrests

Donkey Orchid

A little moss forest

Swan River Myrtle

Green Spider Orchid

I think a Myrtle?

Odd looking Banksia cone

Donkey orchid

I see you Western Grey

Cape Leeuwin

Splendid Spider Orchid

Ah the things you have to do when you rough it!