Wow, it almost seems like an eternity ago that I was in Western Australia (WA). Where to begin! I suppose it all began the day we flew from Hobart -> Melbourne -> Perth! The day of travel was very long and exhausting. Once we finally arrived and collected our luggage we caught a taxi straight to the bed and breakfast only to pass out immediately. The next morning, our adventure out West began!!!
Again, I could blog forever on each day and the amazing trip! However, I will spare you the details and instead leave you with a brief summary and pictures! We really flew by the seat of our pants in Western Australia as we never even had return tickets anywhere! In the end, I'm sure glad we stayed as long as we did and I look forward to one day returning to W.A.!
Day 1: Perth
- made our way to the CBD and explored Perth
- Kings Park
- ferry ride to South Perth
- dinner: The Windsor Hotel
- rooftop bar: The Aviary
- stay: Globe Backpackers (WORST hostel stay ever)
Again, I could blog forever on each day and the amazing trip! However, I will spare you the details and instead leave you with a brief summary and pictures! We really flew by the seat of our pants in Western Australia as we never even had return tickets anywhere! In the end, I'm sure glad we stayed as long as we did and I look forward to one day returning to W.A.!
Day 1: Perth
- made our way to the CBD and explored Perth
- Kings Park
- ferry ride to South Perth
- dinner: The Windsor Hotel
- rooftop bar: The Aviary
- stay: Globe Backpackers (WORST hostel stay ever)
Day 2: Perth -> Fremantle
- caught the train south to Fremantle
- explored the very cool "Freo" area
- caught the ferry to Rottnest Island
- rented bikes and explored the island
- spotted quokkas
- dinner: Aristos Waterfront (best fish and chips)
- caught the last ferry back to the mainland
- Fremantle Prison Torchlight Tour:
- caught the train south to Fremantle
- explored the very cool "Freo" area
- caught the ferry to Rottnest Island
- rented bikes and explored the island
- spotted quokkas
- dinner: Aristos Waterfront (best fish and chips)
- caught the last ferry back to the mainland
- Fremantle Prison Torchlight Tour:
- AMAZING/MUST-DO tour
- our tour guide was an actual prison guard when Fremantle Prison was running. He was both educational and funny. He definitely made the tour extremely enjoyable!
Day 3: Fremantle -> Perth
- Yocal cafe: THE BEST MANGO SMOOTHIE EVER (I literally still dream of these smoothies)
- explored more of Freo, ran our errands, and began dreaming and making a road trip North a possibility
- Fremantle Brewery/Little Creatures
- caught the afternoon train back to Perth
- Fringe World Festival: caught a hilarious comedy show
- stay: YHA Perth City
Day 4: Perth -> Kalbarri
- caught the early morning airport shuttle to retrieve our rental car
- Europcar car rental: Hyundai Accent Hatchback - later known as Sandy
- began the ultimate road trip north on Australia's Coral Coast along Indian Ocean Drive
- Cervantes
- Dongara/Port Denison
- Greenough
- stay: Kalbarri's Backpackers YHA
- Yocal cafe: THE BEST MANGO SMOOTHIE EVER (I literally still dream of these smoothies)
- explored more of Freo, ran our errands, and began dreaming and making a road trip North a possibility
- Fremantle Brewery/Little Creatures
- caught the afternoon train back to Perth
- Fringe World Festival: caught a hilarious comedy show
- stay: YHA Perth City
Day 4: Perth -> Kalbarri
- caught the early morning airport shuttle to retrieve our rental car
- Europcar car rental: Hyundai Accent Hatchback - later known as Sandy
- began the ultimate road trip north on Australia's Coral Coast along Indian Ocean Drive
- Cervantes
- Pinnacles Desert - limestone formations contained within Namburg National Park
- Dongara/Port Denison
- Greenough
- Leaning Tree - characteristic lean is caused by constant strong southerly winds
- Hutt Lagoon - pink hue due to the presence of the carotenoid producing algae
- stay: Kalbarri's Backpackers YHA
Day 5: Kalbari -> Monkey Mia
- Kalbarri
- Overlander Roadhouse
- Shark Bay World Heritage Area
- Kalbarri
- pelican feeding on the foreshore
- Natures Window
- Z-Bend
- Hawks Head
- Ross Graham Lookout
- Overlander Roadhouse
- Shark Bay World Heritage Area
- Nanga Bay - warmest Ocean water I have EVER swam in
- Denham
- tons of wild Emu's
- Boughshed Restaurant: Taste of Australia Skewer Platter - kangaroo, emu and crocodile
Day 6: Monkey Mia -> Carnarvon
- Dolphin Experience: bottlenose dolphin feeding
- Shark Bay Camel Safaris: camel (Eli) ride
- Wildlife Sailing Cruise on the 'Shotover': saw dolphins, turtles and dugongs
- Hamelin Pool Stromatolites: oldest living fossils in the world
- Shell Beach - trillions of tiny cockle shells piled up 10 metres deep creating a 110km stretch of beach
- stay: Carnarvon Backpackers
- Dolphin Experience: bottlenose dolphin feeding
- Shark Bay Camel Safaris: camel (Eli) ride
- Wildlife Sailing Cruise on the 'Shotover': saw dolphins, turtles and dugongs
- Hamelin Pool Stromatolites: oldest living fossils in the world
- Shell Beach - trillions of tiny cockle shells piled up 10 metres deep creating a 110km stretch of beach
- stay: Carnarvon Backpackers
Day 7: Carnarvon -> Exmouth
- Carnarvon
- Bundegi Beach for the afternoon: start of the Nigaloo Marine Park
- Jurabi Turtle Centre: interpretive educational night talk and tour of turtles and their natural habitat
- fun night out in Exmouth with locals
- stay: Potshot Hotel
- Carnarvon
- One Mile Jetty
- Bundegi Beach for the afternoon: start of the Nigaloo Marine Park
- Jurabi Turtle Centre: interpretive educational night talk and tour of turtles and their natural habitat
- fun night out in Exmouth with locals
- stay: Potshot Hotel
Day 8: Exmouth
- explored/snorkelled the most beautiful, secluded, and peaceful beaches in Cape Range National Park
- explored/snorkelled the most beautiful, secluded, and peaceful beaches in Cape Range National Park
- Oyster Stacks
- Lakeside
- Turquoise Bay
Day 9: Exmouth -> Coral Bay -> Geraldton
- an early morning rise in order to ensure we arrived in Coral Bay on time for our Manta Ray Interaction Day
- Ningaloo Reef Dive & Snorkel: Manta Ray Interaction + 2 offshore REEF snorkel sites
- arrived back off the boat at 4pm and drove 8 hours to Geraldton
-stay: Foreshore Backpackers Geraldton
- an early morning rise in order to ensure we arrived in Coral Bay on time for our Manta Ray Interaction Day
- Ningaloo Reef Dive & Snorkel: Manta Ray Interaction + 2 offshore REEF snorkel sites
- ABSOLUTELY AMAZING COMPANY and FANTASTIC TOURS
- saw: tons of coral, bright beautiful fish, starfish, seahorses, turtles, sharks, stingrays, mantra rays, etc.
- arrived back off the boat at 4pm and drove 8 hours to Geraldton
-stay: Foreshore Backpackers Geraldton
Day 10: Geraldton -> Cervantes
- slept in and spent the day relaxing, exploring and enjoying Geraldton and the sunshine
- drove to Cervantes
- stay: Cervantes Lodge & Pinnacles Desert Backpackers
Day 11: Cervantes -> Perth
- drove to Lancelin
- Lancelin Sand Dunes: rented sandboards
- took a freezing dip in the ocean afterwards to clean off as much sand as possible
- drove to Yanchep National Park
- stay: Bed & Breakfast near Airport
- slept in and spent the day relaxing, exploring and enjoying Geraldton and the sunshine
- drove to Cervantes
- stay: Cervantes Lodge & Pinnacles Desert Backpackers
Day 11: Cervantes -> Perth
- drove to Lancelin
- Lancelin Sand Dunes: rented sandboards
- took a freezing dip in the ocean afterwards to clean off as much sand as possible
- drove to Yanchep National Park
- Crystal Cave Tour
- Chocolate Drops Store
- Koala Boardwalk
- Yanchep Inn for a coffee and Baileys to warm up with some lovely live outdoor music
- stay: Bed & Breakfast near Airport
Day 12: Perth -> Brisbane
The day of goodbyes and almost tears. ANOTHER adventure had come to an end and I was flying home to start uni again the next day :( However, Cheri and I had already begun scheming up a plan for Easter break which kept me excited and ready to take on the beginning of a new semester!
To recap my favourite moments from Western Australia:
Favourite Tour: the Fremantle Tourchlight Tour
Favourite Moment: YOCAL Mango Smoothie
Favourite Day: the day spent at Coral Bay on the Ningaloo Reef swimming with the cast of Nemo!
Interestingly, lots of people were very negative and told us not to waste our time in Western Australia. However, I have to say this trip proved them ENTIRELY WRONG and that if you are traveling to Australia and plan to NOT include seeing Western Australia you are losing rather than winning on all that Australia has to offer. I hope to one day return in order to experience even more beautiful weather, beaches and destinations.
The day of goodbyes and almost tears. ANOTHER adventure had come to an end and I was flying home to start uni again the next day :( However, Cheri and I had already begun scheming up a plan for Easter break which kept me excited and ready to take on the beginning of a new semester!
To recap my favourite moments from Western Australia:
Favourite Tour: the Fremantle Tourchlight Tour
Favourite Moment: YOCAL Mango Smoothie
Favourite Day: the day spent at Coral Bay on the Ningaloo Reef swimming with the cast of Nemo!
Interestingly, lots of people were very negative and told us not to waste our time in Western Australia. However, I have to say this trip proved them ENTIRELY WRONG and that if you are traveling to Australia and plan to NOT include seeing Western Australia you are losing rather than winning on all that Australia has to offer. I hope to one day return in order to experience even more beautiful weather, beaches and destinations.