Friday 10 December 2010

Western Australia Part 1

Wednesday 20th Oct - Friday 23rd Oct
We arrived in Perth on Wenesday 20th Oct to relatively cool, damp weather. We had only booked a cheap hotel for the first night, and as most of the other accommodation was fully booked we decided to hire a car early on Thursday and head south.
After problems with the car we set out very late and only reached Armadale, south of the city before dark; the first caravan park we found had no tent sites but they let us stay in a great lodge for a great price...we were very grateful.
On Friday we headed for Rockingham because we wanted to visit 'Penguin Island'. We arrived early, took the short ferry ride to the island and spent a few happy hours looking for penguins, giant skinks and at the same time trying to dodge the seagulls who were protecting their young. We watched an Osprey eating a fish, just feet away from us.  




After passing hastily through Mandurah we found a gorgeous forest camp, down 4 km of really bumpy dirt track, at the Yalgorup National Park.
  

That night, we ate our supper in the twilight in glorious secluded surroundiongs and a Quenda came to join us.  We thought this must happen regularly but were informed by other campers that no-one else had seen it!



Next morning, after a very early walk, watching fabulous birds such as the Bronze Cuckoo, we set off for Busselton Dolphin Sanctuary.  After paying about £5 and waiting for 2 hours, we eventually got a peek of a dolphin fin.


However, all was redeemed when we walked to the lighthouse at Dunborough and saw a whole school of Humpback Whales passing through.; it was amazing, they were spinning, tail slapping, sky hopping and generally revelling in reaching the warm seas of Australia.  It was simply one of those magic moments that we will probably never experience again!






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