WA 2013

So this was our test as to what our family holidays might look like.  Alan and I still wanted to maintain freedom and flexibility in our travels so we decided to book a campervan and that was pretty much the plan.  We arrived in Perth to be greeted by Alan's beautiful Aunty Robin who helped us get our van organised and us on our way.  The first day was a long one with a little 11 month old who needed constant entertainment while travelling in the car.  We were hoping facing forward in a big exciting van would be entertainment enough but we were wrong!

We arrived in Bunbury just in time for dinner and our first night's sleep in our van.  The next day we headed out to see the wild dolphins which was a fabulous experience.  Lara loved watching the fish in the aquariums too. 

Dolphins at Bunbury

We then got back in our van and made our way slowly to Busselton via the beautiful tuart trees. Unfortunately we were too late to make the train down the super long jetty so we walked down to the end and all the way back and treated ourselves to an ice cream when we finished.

Busselton jetty

 

One of many ice creams!

 

That night, we pulled up in a free camping area and were soon joined by many others.  Out came the pasta and red wine and we had a relaxing evening in the forest, leaving early the next day bound for the cute little town of Yallingup.  Along the way, we stopped by some beautiful beaches in Meelup National Park and had a gorgeous walk from Sugarloaf Rock, not quite making it back to the van in to miss the rain.  Alan and I spent some relaxing times reading and taking in the views as Lara slept in the van.

 

An evening free camping

 

Meelup Beach

Sugarloaf Rock in the rain

How's the serenity at Sugarloaf Rock

We spent the morning pottering around Yallingup and spending some time at the beach before heading off towards Margaret River.  This is a place where you can just get lost driving around pretty country lanes but stumble upon wineries galore.  We visited Mad Fish and my favourite - the chocolate factory!  Wow, I have never seen so much chocolate in my life!  Of course we had to indulge.

 

Resting at Yallingup

Tasting the local wines

and chocolates... yum

 

We also made it to see Lakes Cave which was just beautiful with the stalactites mirrored on the still surface of the lake.  Lara wasn't too keen on the dark so we're glad it was not a long tour!

 

Lakes Cave

 

We spent the evening at a beautiful bush camping area with a gorgeous river running through.  It was so nice to have the peace.  On waking, we packed up and headed south to Cape Leeuwin and its lighthouse and strange cow looking through a telescope - as you do.  This is also where two oceans meet which was pretty cool to see.

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse cow

 

We the headed east to stay in the gorgeous town of Nannup before making our way back north and along the coast to watch rays coming into the beach and admiring the thrombolites - one of the oldest living organisms - on our way back to Fremantle.

 

Rays at your feet

Amazing thrombolites at Lake Clifton

 

We absolutely loved Fremantle and didn't spend enough time here.  We saw the prison, wandered along the foreshore and did a driving tour of the sights but the next day hopped on the ferry to Rott Nest Island.  It was quite amusing getting Lara to have a sleep without a pram.  We ended up on a tiny beach with her on a towel on the sand under a tiny overhang of rock!  We took the tourist bus around the island, had a gorgeous swim and enjoyed lunch before heading off in search of the quokka.  We found one!  Very cute.

Fremantle Prison

Snoozing on Rott Nest

Beach life on Rott Nest

 

Lara going in for a quokka kiss

Our last couple of days were spent with Alan's cousins in Perth and we had a fabulous time with them.  Lara especially loved playing with all the kids - no surprise as she was the centre of attention!

Lara and her admirers

 

The wonderful Aunty Robin