Day 5 : Margaret River, Albany and Esperance

Today is the last day of our South tour as we rode approximately 730 km back to Perth. We left bright and early at 630am and there was a slight drizzle as we were departing.

Midway to Perth we dropped by Hyden to see Wave Rock and then it was onwards to Corringin to see a dog cemetery.

Next we stopped at York for a toilet break where the Avon River runs through it and our tour guide gave us 20 mins to enjoy the town. Unfortunately there was a heavy downpour and we were stuck at the shelter and had to get on the bus to go back to Perth without checking out the town.

That marked the end of my South trip and tomorrow I depart on my North trip. Can't wait to update all of you on it.

Day 4 : Margaret River, Albany and Esperance

The day started windy but yet sunny although last night I had to sleep with my jacket on....brrrrr

We started the day by climbing Cape Le Grand. It was steep and you have to climb on the rock surface, I made it to the top this time, yeah!!! It was harder to climb up for me versus coming down but then again what's new?

We spent our entire day in Esperance today and we were busy beach hopping. 1st up was Lucky Bay, long stretch of white sand used by Tourism Australia for their ads but it is not exactly clean. We then had lunch at the bbq area there and then we went to check the Whistling Rock which wasn't whistling by the way as the wind was not blowing in the 'right' direction. Next we walked to Thistle Bay which has a more pristine and cleaner environment than Lucky Bay.

Following that, we went to another beach which is our guide's favourite - Hellfire's Bay. It was shorter than the previous beaches but it was very windy yet less 'sandy'.

I must add that besides having sandwiches for our lunches recently, we were also having the real deal - 'sand'wiches, gifts from the wind.

After all the beach hopping we headed back to the hostel for those who had to dropped off their wet clothes and then we went off for the Great Ocean Drive - more beaches.

Before we went on the drive, we stop by the Tanker Jetty near the hostel and look for Sammi the sea lion but it was nowhere to be found. So was the ice cream truck that my guide was looking for. So the guide said we will pop by agin later.

The Great Ocean Drive may not be as spectacular as the one in Melbourne but it is definitely less commercialized and crowded and instead of rocks formation you see endless ocean and of cos beaches.

First stop on the drive was a spot where we were told to check out some surfers and man oh man, there were some huge nice houses overlooking the ocean, drool. I was more keen on the houses than the surfers, truth to be told.

2nd stop was Twilight Cove which has nothing to do with the movie and it wasn't spooky just so you know. You can see a few huge rocks in the cove and one looked like a rabbit's head. Look at the photo and let me know if you see it the way I saw it. Next to the cove was a beach called Picnic Beach and again it doesn't seem like a spot for picnics and most importantly you don't see any picnic tables at all, not sure why the names given doesn't gel with the actual place though. The tide was coming in and that leaves very little space for you to even take a stroll on the beach.

We move on to a spot call Observatory Point and this one fits its name better, there were stairs going down for you to check out the beach below and there were stairs going up to a lookout point and it was bloody windy. The majestic ocean views were great from the lookout.

Back to the winds, they were very strong throughout, we can feel our bus rocking when it is stationary and most of the time if you are walking, you can either be push forward or backward depending on the wind's direction.

Moving on, we arrived at a beach call 10 Mile Beach which was named because it was exactly 10 miles from town and not because it was 10 miles long. AND it is a nudist beach but there were no sunbathers there of cos due to the winter like weather.

Nearer to this part of the drive, you can see many wind turbines on the hilltop, very smart since it is always windy one should take advantage of it. Apparently 70% of Esperance gets their energy from wind and the remaining from gas. Amazing! I am very impressed because I know I will never get to see these back home. Anyway, the good news was our guide decided to bring us to the wind farm and you know what? You can actually stand under the wind turbines, our guide wanted to let us hear how loud it was but all we heard was the howling of the wind. Then, it started drizzling and we started to hide behind the turbine. It was the first shower after a long day of sun and while standing under the turbine we looked up and saw the turbine moving. Of course it was not, it was the moving clouds that caused the impression. My guide felt it was freaky and decided to run back to the bus hehe.

Right after the mini shower, a wonderous rainbow appeared in front of us, beautiful!

Last stop on our drive was a place called Pink Lake and as you probably already guessed, it is not pink! Why's that so? Because it is filled with too much water during this season so it look like a normal lake but apparently during the drier seasons when the water evaporates, it looked pink when light get reflected on it. This is due to the rich beta carotene minerals that are at the bottom of the lake.

Having seen the Pink Lake that's not pink, it marked the end of our drive. We headed back to town and I hitched a ride from our guide to town to grab some snacks from the supermarket while he pumped petrol.

We had stirfried chicken with vegetables and rice. Yum, though it was too salty for my liking but nonetheless it was good to have a change after days of pasta and processed meats. The dinner somehow took 2 hours to prepared so even though we wanted to have an early night it was quite impossible since we ate only at 830pm.

I was out by 1030pm as we had to wake up at 530am the next day as we had to get ready for the long drive back to Perth.

Day 3 : Margaret River, Albany and Esperance

Today is another bright sunny day. First thing in the morning, our guide made us climbed 88 steps to the top of a war memorial and that was just the start of tougher things to come.

After that, we departed for Middleton beach where you can see a broad expanse of sea. If we are there on the right season and the right day, we might just see whales who are on their migration south. However, today is not the day.

We then headed for the Stirling Ranges where we were to climb a huge mountain called Bluff Knoll. It was tedious as I hate everything with stairs and I didn't managed to go all the way to the top since we were told to be back by a certain time and there were more and more steep stairs to the top and due to the time, I know I wouldn't be able to made it to the top.

When all had descended we had lunch at the foot of the mountain and then headed to Esperance from there on. It took us some 4 - 5 hrs to get there. It is really tough being the driver since the rest of us do not need to do anything at all.

Heard my guide say we are climbing another mountain tomorrow which is not that high but it is steeper. Oh crap!

Anyway, see what happens tomorrow in my next post.

Day 2 : Margaret River, Albany and Esperance

Today I made a request to the guide to show us the Augusta lighthouse which I saw in so many postcards. It is actually called Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse which is supposingly the most southern part of Australia. Not quite sure about that as I always think Tasmania is further down south.

Anyhow, what's special about this spot is that 2 oceans actually met here, the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean. While the Southern Ocean looked very calm, the Indian Ocean was quite the opposite, very choppy and very rough.

However, the good news is the sun came out to play today and therefore we were able to enjoy the beaches and all today which I will share with all of you in a while.

After leaving Augusta, we headed to Pemberton where some of the tour mates went ahead to conquer the Bicentennial Tree which was quite slippery so I gave up after a few steps. Didn't want to slip and cause any injury tio myself. After everyone descended, we headed to the Tree Top Walk at the Valley of the Giants where tall eucalytus and gum tree grow. Very shaky bridge by the way due to the strong winds. We then had lunch by a river that runs through Bow Bridge.

Our next stop was Willam Bay National Park where we get to see the Elephant Rocks and Green Pool which is probably cause by algae. We spent some time forlicking in the water before heading back to the bus to continue our journey south.

We drove into this town called Denmark, bring your passport boys and gals - just joking.

We then arrived at what I must say was really the highlight of the tour thus far prior to Esperance. We went to this spot by the ocean where we get to see The Gap and the Natural Bridge. The waves were majestic there but at the same time you also see how unforgiving they are. In time to come, I am sure the waves will erode the rocks and the land push more inward by them.

What was really beautiful was also the sunset, we were able to stay there and have moments to reflect while we observed the sunset and it set really fast. Simply beautiful.

That marked the end of our 2nd day and we drove into Albany and checked into our hostel. Was planning to ran to the store to grab some chips but we had a late dinner and by then the shops were closed. Oh well never mind, I can survive without.

Update you all on my 3rd day on the tour in the next post!

Day 1 : Margaret River, Albany and Esperance

Woke up early at 5+ to make sure I get to my tour pickup place in time.

Tour started late due to some latecomers. Right after everyone arrived, we started on the tour. We drove south and passed by Bunbury and Mandurah before arriving at ou 1st sightseeing spot - Busselton Jetty, apparently the longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Majority of the jetty is under repair due to damage from a freak typhoon so we can't walk the whole jetty.

Weather for the 1st day weren't that good, rained a lot and that kinda spoil the fun abit as we had to run for shelter and we can't spend more time at each spot.

Anyhow, the show must go on, we continue our journey down south and passed by Dunsborough without stopping. I have fond memories of this place, many many years ago I went there as a student and had my first homestay with an elderly couple. Still remember we even went whale watching during my stay there. Amazing how the brain can remember such details when I can't even remember what I have for lunch 2 days back, figuratively speaking of course.

Anyway to continue, we went to Yallingup and visit Ngilgi Cave and after exploring the cave we had lunch while the heavens opened up.

After lunch, we were driven to Geographe Bay, part of Ngilgi Reef. Next, we visited a chocolate factory, nothing fantastic if you ask me.

Soon, we arrived at the much anticipated Margaret River which was an anti-climax because the town looks really small and nothing much to explore. We did however dropped by 1 of the beaches there which is well known for surfing and stopped at a lookout point to look at the whole Margaret River from the top.

Having done all that, we continue on to Augusta where we will be staying for the night. Augusta was all quiet and after settling in, we had an Aussie barbie which is barbeque for those who are not familiar with the Aussie slang. And that marked the end of our 1st night.

Will share with all of you the happenings of the next day in the next post.

Hehe

Instead of writing everything down upon my return from my 2 weeks vacation, I actually drafted everything on a daily basis like a journal on my blackberry and so they are ready to be uploaded. Unfortunately my photos are not downloaded yet so I will post them as and when I sort them out.

Sometimes the blackberry really comes in useful hehe.

On Vacay...

Finally! Long anticipated break although still checking emails and responding to emails since I came.

Am in Perth, the city where I spent 2 years during my undergraduate days and though they haven't change much it is good to be back. Somehow it doesn't feel much as if I am on holiday but rather like I am coming home.

Today is Day 2 and had been spending them in malls quite a fair bit. Fremantle or Freo as the locals called it, was partially explored and will definitely be back there prior to my return home.

Tomorrow marks the start of my tours down South and then up North, both of which I never did had the chance to explore while schooling here, due to my shoestring student budget. Look foward to sharing my photos with all of you upon my return.