Thursday evening of 27 th October I was once again taken out for dinner by Christine & Geoff, to wish me well, having only been here in Australia for eight weeks... and about to start the tour I came for! I stayed at Jacqui's house once again and early the following morning I was up doing my washing, preparing to join up with the UK saga tour I was booked on!! I left Jacqui's mid afternoon for the Mercury hotel Perth, and having checked in relaxed for the afternoon and evening, before meeting my new travel companions the following morning! Before I continue I must once again say a great big Thank You to Jacqui, Peter, Andrew and Thomas for welcoming me into their home, giving me a base to stay, a real 'home from home' and Christine and Geoff for also scurrying round, making sure I didn't miss anything and taking me down South - you've all been great and loyal friends, my travels in Australia would not have been anything like as good without you all!! Saturday morning 29th October I met my fellow companions on the tour, as expected... I think I'm the youngest... or act like I am!! 830 am we were all on the tour bus, for a tour of Perth, quite interesting really, considering I thought I knew my way round!!, then it was off to Cottesloe, on a wild, windy morning, unusually cold for this time of the year (where have I heard that before??) anyway a wander along the beach blew the cobwebs away....
before back on the coach, and a drive into and around Fremantle, where we were dropped off to wander around 'at leisure'... quite a busy day in Fremantle, there was the 'blessing of the boats' of the fishing fleet, a 'Little Italy' food show (and lots of free food), and entertainment here and there, alongside the interesting indoor market in the town. I wandered through the tunnel built underneath the 'round tower' to drag whales into the processing plants...
By 5-30 pm we were back on a boat for a cruise along the Swan river back to Perth, and our 'welcome meeting' with our tour guide - indigo blue!! A few of us had a great meal out at a Korean restaurant in the town, before an early night!! Sunday 30th October we were up early to gather just after 8 am, for a bus down to the boat jettys for a trip across the bay to Rottnest island, a popular spot for trippers, I was to find out why later!! ...and I was to be the 'tour guide' for the day - great fun between the 10 of us who went! It took almost two hours to get there, with a stop at Fremantle north, collecting more passengers (the boat was full!!)
Having got to Rottnest I was quickly off, and along the coast to a secluded bay for 30 minutes of snorkelling on the reef there - the waves were quite strong, and there was a sudden drop off the edge if the beach into deeper water... Then back to The Lodge for our included lunch, which was very good and filling!! A relax after lunch, where I wandered into Trinity church
before we jumped on an island tour bus, to take us around the small island (10 kms long) in hot afternoon sunshine, although still windy!!
Quite an interesting tour, especially as there was a large Japanese tour group also on, and there was lots of mention of the Japanese bombings in the war!! Back to the port area, where there were lots of Quokkas wandering around
- these being why were first thought to be rats by the first island arrivals, hence its name (Rats nest!!) 430 pm our time on the island was finished and we were loaded onto the full to capacity boat, for a real 'white knuckle ride' journey back across the rough sea towards the mainland - great fun, and perfect seats as we were all on the upper deck with great views, but out of the sea water hurtling over the side rails!! Having dropped some passengers off in Fremantle we continued at a more leisurely pace towards Perth, watching the setting sun over Perth.
We were picked up in Perth for our transfer back to the hotel, arriving back just before 8 pm, a long day!! Monday 31st October I was up at 6 am ready to finally leave Perth... we headed out to the airport, for an 845 am flight to Darwin... and losing 1 1/2 hours as we did for the differing time zone!! We landed in Darwin, up in the Northern Territory, real hot jungle atmosphere of 90% humidity, and a welcoming 35c!!
Having boarded our tour coach we were off on a tour of Darwin, along the waterfront, and a stop for lunch at an Aboriginal museum,
eventually arriving at our hotel - the Vibe after 430 pm, it was chaos, no porters and long long corridors!! Anyway I was soon settled in, showered and ready for a walk along to the harbour front for dinner of Steak and prawns at Crustacean restaurant, sat next to the water watching the fish swimming beneath the jetty, whilst people were throwing food to them!!... and lightning lighting up the dark skies in the distance... it's now officially the 'wet season' up here, but they're waiting for the rains to arrive, with the oppressive humidity building up and up each day... Tuesday 1st November a leisurely start and after loading the coach (and the driver complaining about my heavy case!!) we set out for 9 am through Charles Darwin national park, another differing countryside, not particularly barren, nor lush!!
Our first stop was at the 'windows on the wetlands' visitor centre
where we could look out over the area of wetlands below with various birds flying around... before continuing to 'Humpty Doo' for a cruise on the Adelaide river of the 'spectacular jumping crocodiles'!! There were lots of wild salt water crocodiles in the area, and we cruised the water, looking for them - having spotted one the crew would try to tempt them by holding out meat (on the end of a pole) for the crocs to jump it at!! - as you can see I was fairly close to the action!!
The crew also tempted the kites from the area to swoop down for food. Quite an interesting 2 hour cruise up and along the murky river...
Back on the coach we continued, towards the Kakadu national park, stopping for lunch, coincidentally being also able to watch the Melbourne gold cup (the race that stops the nation - like our Grand National) and who won the sweep!!?? and the $65 prize!!
We continued after lunch further into the Kakadu np to stop at an area where there were lots of ancient rock art paintings, and a climb up to a look out giving great views over the area
Arriving in the woods at Kakadu lodge, a simple and basic chalet camp just at sunset.... I tried the 'tasting platter' for dinner - meats of Buffalo, Emu, Crocodile, cheeses and chutneys.... and some paper bark... which I ate, even though I didn't need to!! Wednesday 2nd November was a really early start, at 530am, ready for a cruise on the Yellow river and wetlands area... by 630 am were were being loaded onto the boat, and driven out by our guide - a humorous aboriginal chap, along the river and into the flooded wetlands area, just as the sun was coming up.
There was lots to see - Ospreys nesting in the trees, water Lilly's along the bank, crocodiles (estuarine crocs) hunting, and preserving their 'kills' A very interesting and informative (and humorous) two hours followed, then it was back to the bays, loaded onto the coach, and off to view more rock art further in the park - better in my opinion, and another lookout point for all round views
It was very hot and humid with temperatures reaching 39C and 95% humidity - very oppressive!! We continued, stopping briefly at a drying creek/billabong...
And also some large termite hills
continuing to the sleepy mining town of Katherine, and an old motel that was like out of the 1970's movies!! Dinner at the local RSL club, followed by an early night 830... finished the day!! Thursday 3rd November a nice leisurely start to the day, where we started just before 9 am for a cruise along the Katherine gorges - spectacular gorges that are changing all the time with the yearly rainfall filling them up, and drying out again as the season wears on... another very hot and humid day, in fact as I got into the boat the metal was too hot to touch..
Firstly cruising up along the first, and wider gorge,
quite impressive, then out of the boat to walk across a rock band into the upper, and far more spectacular gorge
with rock art on the upper cliffs above us
After the two hour cruise we disembarked, and started our long drive back to Darwin, stopping for lunch in Pine Creek at amateurs tasting the 'famous mango smoothies!!'... then carried on driving, stopping at the .303 bar on the Adelaide river crossing, and a viewing of Charlie, a film star from the Crocodile Dundee film!!...
and continued back to Darwin and the Vibe hotel in the 39C heat and high humidity!! A great sunset accompanied me whilst I wandered along the quay for a great snack of rush and chips... and an early night!!
So my first week of the tour is almost completed, still fairly fast paced, and long days... not exactly adventurous, however still what I expected to see!! Friday I'm off to the 'red centre' of Alice Springs and Uluru (Ayres rock)... I'll be in touch!!
Friday 21st October saw me up at 6am, packed and out by 715 am, having bid a fond farewell to Jacqui and Peter who would be away when I next returned to Perth... and 730am saw me stood outside the Billabong backpackers hostel nearby, awaiting collection on my next adventure... a 7 days tour up North from Perth to Exmouth... and return... just wait for the highlights!! Shortly after 8 am a battered old minibus, towing an even more battered trailer arrived, to take me on my tour with 'Aussie wanderers'... the guide/driver having the unusual name of 'Wokka'!! - turned out to be a great bloke, who worked hard driving all day, informative... even cooking the evening meal!! I met my fellow adventurers, a mix of early 20s backpackers, and a few older ones, including 2 German women, in Perth for the World masters athletics championships!! 10 of us crammed into the small mini bus... a real adventure!! Having left Perth we started driving north, firstly through the nilgen nature reserve, straightaway I noticed how the bush up here was different, not many trees, all lower scrub and not as dense.
By late morning we were arriving at the 'Pinnacles' in the dessert, several options given for their existence.... a large number of limestone columns just standing up in the dessert landscape, and now exposed by the winds....
The landscape / pinnacles exist for quite a distance (upwards of 30 kms) - I subscribe to the theory they were once part of the underground cave system, and the roof has disappeared over time! We left there late morning for a drive to Jurien bay, and lunch, sat overlooking the blue sea.
After lunch we continued driving fast and hard, further North... stopping to look at the bent trees in Greenough - bent over because of the strong fierce and constant wind.
Continuing driving we passed by a purple coloured lake just outside our night stop of Kilbarri,
then continued to the coast having just missed the sunset, although we did get the after views,
then it was on to our stop for the night... in a backpackers farm hostel... rough, but clean, and lots of travellers to chat with, and a bed with 7 others (I was on the top bunk bed!!). Saturday morning we were all up very early at 545 am, for a quick breakfast, then by 630 am were were all packed, loaded and on our way up to the Murchison gorge, river and famous Z bends (typical meandering river plain!):
where some of the group did a little abseiling, I didn't bother, it was only 25 metres drop!!, we then drove from there, further across the Kilbarri national park, along what now were 'sand roads'
and to Natures window, a rock arch on top of cliffs overlooking the striated ridges and canyons below
We'd already been going 5 hours... so stopped for lunch in a layby before continuing our drive, up along all sorts if differing rough roads... we stopped at Hamlin pool to see ratter unusual life forms - Stromatolites, what is reckoned to be the first formations of anything on earth...
then onwards for a bit of fun in Shell beach...
some went for a swim in the shallow very salty water... I practised Boomerang throwing, even managing to get it to come back to me! After that break it was onwards for an early evening stop in Shark bay, where a tall ship was moored, and on to catch the partial sunset in Denham,
and finally our accommodation at the Monkey Mia resort for dinner and bed after a very long day again!!
Sunday 23rd October we were up early for a 7 am brekkie, then down to the beachfront for a briefing from the national Park rangers, before we could witness a number of Dolphins swimming into the bay, to eventually get fed some fish by the viewing crowd... not really a spectacle I was comfortable with!! The best live action was from 'Rogue' the pelican who kept trying to pinch fish from the volunteers buckets!!
There was even an Australian TV crew there filming it!! After an hour and a half we returned to the mini bus, made our lunch, and set off for the rest of the day's exploration - along the coast, to the cliffs above Shark Bay - I could see why it was named thus as sharks were constantly swimming along the sea beneath us!!
Continuing up through Francois Perron national park, we dropped three of our passengers off (they were returning direct to Perth) and continued up through Sandy Gully and into Kingsford, the base of a satellite receiving station who's one and only use was to relay pictures from the first moon landing - it's now just a museum!!
Carrying on we continued to watch the sunset over Coral bay (handy being on the West coast!!)
and on to another backpackers hostel for another night 'on the road'!! The fridge was covered in scrawled writings... this one catching my eye, one to remember!!
Monday 24th October was to be a 'free day' where everyone could do as they wished, however we all selected to go on a snorkelling trip out on the 'world famous Ningaloo reef', where there were the prospects of being able to snorkel over coral reefs, and with differing fish!! So we all gathered at the bay at 9 am to be kitted out with our snorkelling equipment, taken to the boat and loaded onto the boat, along with several other customers for an unforgettable day of swimming and snorkelling, although regrettably I didn't have my underwater camera with me, and so there aren't many pictures - they're all imprinted in my mind!!
Having got on the boat, we were taken out into the lovely blue bay towards our first diving spot...
we dropped into the water, and had an introductory session diving over the coral reef, seeing all the differing coloured plants beneath us, and lots of differing fish around us of every colour, size and description!! The water soon cooled, even though I had a short wet suit on, and after about 20 minutes we were all called back into the boat to resume the cruise...
As we headed across the bay I was stood at the front of the boat, as suddenly the message came through that some humpback whales had been spotted, and sure enough, within a few minutes, these majestic creatures roared out of the water in front of me! There were 2 large whales (presume mothers) with two smaller ones (presume 2 new born calfs) looming out of the depths, blowing water from their blowholes, and sinking back down with their large tails sliding up, out of the water before descending beneath the depths!!
We must have spent half an hour watching these majestic creatures, before leaving them to swim off, as we headed further across the bay, and told to get ready to.... 'Dive' as the manta rays had been spotted from an aeroplane above, and we were about to see these other great sea creatures... we lined up on the back of the boat, then slid into the water as directed, to see beneath us 4 large manta rays (biggest about 2 metres across) swimming beneath us... another great experience, I was there for about 10 minutes watching them swim around beneath me as I followed their movements... returning to the boat for a short time, before being given another opportunity to see them as they were staying around for an unusual length of time, so could dive again!!
After this wonderful morning we were taken further out into the bay for lunch on the boat
The day's diving hadn't finished though, and soon we were heading for a different part of the coral reef, to be taken by the crew on a guided tour of the reef, and interesting points... we all dropped in the water on the sheltered side of the reef, and were then guided through a gap in the reef, to the open water beyond... immediately a sea turtle was swimming beneath us, lots of different coloured coral was all around us... and then Sharks swimming beneath us!! Reef sharks to be accurate, however it felt peculiar to be just feet away from these sharks that were almost 2 metres in length, with all the mouth and feet of larger sharks!! At the same time, lots of larger fish were swimming in the reef, with some of them grazing on the coral beneath - I could even hear (and see) their teeth scraping on the coral!! Eventually it was time to leave this watery wonderland, swim back through the reef gap and return to the boat - the day's dive had finished, and I was able to warm up sat on the front rail in the sunshine.
As we headed back to port had a group of dolphins swimming alongside us... what a day!! Great sights, great crew... wonderful!!
Back on shore we were all raving about the great day we'd all had, and had a shower at the hostel before driving further north to Exmouth, passing some giant termite hills on the way!! We all slept well that night in a nice campsite in Exmouth!!
Tuesday 25th we were all up for breakfast at 7 am and out early to travel into the cape range national park, firstly passing 4 Emus at the roadside who promptly turned their back on us!! We drove up into the coastal hills, where time, nature and water had formed deep canyons, gullys and ridges in the soft underlying rocks
with a dried up river bed stretching all the way through the range, and out to the sea.. after a couple of hours going from viewpoint to viewpoint we returned to Exmouth, hired snorkelling gear and went to Turquoise bay, normally a great snorkelling spot, however today the sea was quite rough and not very good visibility, although a turtle and differing fishes were spotted, although not much... I went for a walk along the bay instead
before returning to Exmouth for showers and then up to the Vlarmingh head lighthouse, to watch the spectacular sunset from the top - as a whale was bursting through the waves in the bay below
then an early night, ready for a long day's drive next day.. Wednesday 26th October was just a long travelling day really, as we headed back down south towards Perth... a mid morning stop at a roadhouse with a few old steam engines just parked up on the forecourt... surreal really,
then into Caernavon where we called in a farm called Bumbacks, with the slogan 'get your bum Back to Caernavon'!!! A heavy afternoons driving down the coastal highway saw us arriving back in a different hostel in Kalbarri, in time to shower and get out to watch the sun go down over the mouth of the river and open sea, before a spag Bol dinner and early night!!
Thursday 27th October, the final day of the trip continued with Wokka doing us a pancake and eggs & bacon breakfast before we headed off at 8 am on the continuing drive south... firstly passed the pink lake at port Gregory
then onto Greenough 'wildlife' park, with several rescued kangaroos, emus, camels... even crocodiles there, although I wasn't too impressed with the place...
After a quick lunch we were on to our final adventure spot... sandboarding down the sand dunes at Lancelin - I did manage to fly down the sand dunes a few times, although not with as much speed as others!!
Then our final drive into the suburbs of Perth, where Wokka was given a thank you present for his weeks very hard work, good humour and enthusiasm... thanks Wokka!!
I was dropped off near to Jacqui's after my weeks adventure with the Aussie Wanderer!!, highly recommended!!
