Swan Valley and Angie's Birthday

Friday 5 April 2013 to Monday 8 April 2013

Our next stop was the Swan Valley where we were to be looking after the Rippon kids while Brett and Vanessa caught up with their family for a wedding.  On our way there we stopped in to the camper trailer place to show the damage to the zipper on the trailer.  They told us that it might be a few day to repair so we would be without a home.  We organised to drop the trailer off on the following Tuesday and decided to book a cabin back at Mandurah so we could spend a few more days with the WA Elphicks.

The van park at Caversham had a fantastic table tennis and games room and was surrounded by the vineyards of the Swan Valley.  John and Gail also came to stay at the park and booked a cabin for one night.  They looked after the kids on the Friday night and Craig and I went to the Boab Tavern to watch Cousin Ben’s band play.   We went to the restaurant for dinner and were served up a feast. Neither Craig nor I could finish our meal.  We had a great night and were stoked that we could make it out to see the band.

On Saturday we spent the day around the van park swimming and making use of the great facilities.  Brett and Vanessa headed off to their wedding in the late morning and Gail and John were due to fly back to Canberra that day so they set off just after lunch.  However, a few hours later Craig got a call from Gail – they had missed their plane so Craig went to pick them up from the airport.  The upside was that the kids got another night with Nanna and Poppy.  During the afternoon John amused the kids with some songs on the guitar.

The next day we met my friend Clare and her lovely family for lunch at the Rose and Crown Hotel in Guildford.  After a relaxing lunch and some great conversation/reminiscing we decided to call in at the Iron Bark Brewery which was conveniently located right next door to the van park.  We sat in the beer garden and sampled some of the local brews including a mango beer and lime based beer as we listened to an acoustic guitarist.  We even got to chat to the owner and got the history of the place, as well as a story about each of the beers.

On Monday it was my birthday.  I got a new reclining camping chair and a bracelet that Craig had secretly bought in the gift shop at the Valley of the Giants tree top walk.  In the morning we drove into Guildford for coffee and milkshakes before returning to the van park.  We picked up some supplies for afternoon nibbles and drinks and had a very relaxing afternoon.  I bought a custard tart to use as a pseudo birthday cake.

Mandurah

Tuesday 2nd April 2013 - Friday 5th April 2013

On the way to Bens we stopped at Busselton and took a walk along the Busselton Jetty.  It is the longest Jetty in Australia and stretches two kilometres out to sea.  The water was very clear and we saw some beautiful fish including “Nemo”.

 

We stayed at Ben and Zacks for 3 nights and the younger kids had a lot of fun looking for Slender Man, which is a character from one of Zack’s favourite games on the I pad.  As Ben had a pool we also enjoyed a swim everyday and Adam got his Playstation fix by playing “Call of Duty”.  We also were treated to some amazing sunsets from Ben’s backyard.

 

 

One day Nanna and Poppy took the 3 kids to Rottnest Island where the kids saw a quokka, which are only found on Rottnest.  They also swam, explored the Island and had Subway for lunch.  As we had the day to ourselves Craig and I enjoyed a day of walking around the town, going to Ben’s favourite Thai restaurant for lunch and having a refreshing afternoon beer at Murphys.  That night we shared a fantastic Indian dinner with Ben and Jess over a Corona or two.

We visited Ben at his work where Craig tested a few keyboards and bought a guitar to play around the campfires and teach the kids some songs.  Ben gave Craig a couple of guitar lessons and he is now teaching himself a few tunes.

Sophie and Fiona invited us to their house for dinner where they prepared a yummy Spaghetti Bolognaise and we had an enjoyable evening catching up. 

 

 

 

Big Valley and Sophie's wedding

To our suprise, as it was the Easter long weekend, there were very few campers in the paddock at Big Valley and we were treated to lovely views of the rolling hills.

On the first night we made dinner up at the camp kitchen while we watched our first game of AFL for the season, Carlton v Richmond. The atmosphere at this camp ground was very welcoming and the kids found many friends while we chatted and exchanged stories with other travellers. 

 

Enjoying the good life at Big Valley

 

The next night we had an Elphick gathering at  Erravilla Country Estate and it was fantastic to catch up with the WA Elphicks once again.  We all enjoyed an amazing dinner including Ben’s Thai prawn curry which he had made from scratch.

Sophie's wedding was the next day so we dropped the kids off to the Rippons and headed back out to Erravilla.  It was a lovely day and Sophie and Luke had a beautiful garden ceremony.  That evening the drinks flowed, the band played and everyone had a fantastic time.  Craig lent his musical talents to the band and it was great for him to play a few tunes with his cousin.

 

 

The Beautiful Bride



Ben in action



 

When we picked up the kids from the RIppons the next day Kai was very excited to tell us that he had jumped from a rope swing into a river and he had to show us how fun it was.  They had also been visited by the Easter bunny and had been on an Easter egg hunt. 

Kai enjoying the rope swing

 

We went to lunch and the Duckstein brewery and visited Laurence winery where people go just to take photos of the amazing rest rooms.

At big valley there was a whip maker on the premises and he was teaching people to make their own whips. Our big valley neighbours, who were also travelling around Australia for a year, had a go at making their own and when they had finished they let us and the boys had a go at cracking them.  The whip maker gave us some instruction and Kai and I were able to crack the whip on our first go.

 

 

Lachie showing us his whipping style

 



We left big Valley on the Tuesday and made our way to Ben's in Mandurah to stay with him for a few nights.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Climbing the Gloucester Tree and Margaret River WA

Monday 25 March 2013 - Wednesday 27 March 2013

On our way to Margaret River we visited the Gloucester tree where you can climb up 153 pegs and make the 61 meter climb to the top.  The platform at the top was originally built as a fire lookout and provides some spectacular views of the Karri forest.  We were fortunate to have a break in the wind and rain so Craig, Brett, Aidan and Jayla made the climb to the top. The two younger boys were very dissapointed that they could not climb the tree due to their age. 
 

 

 
 


That night we stayed at a road side truck stop.  Just as we finished cooking dinner it started to rain so we had dinner in the camper trailer and watched a dvd.
 

After dropping into the very busy town of Margaret River, we drove down a 15 minute four wheel drive track and found another beautiful camp spot amongst more peppermint trees.  As there was no campers and it was coming up to the Easter weekend we thought we were quite lucky to find such a great camp area.

 
 
The next day Vanessa and I headed into Margaret river for a bit of retail therapy and relaxation. That afternoon we were paid a visit by the local ranger who informed us that the camp area we were in was part of a National park and camping was not allowed. However given that it was late in the day, he allowed us to stay another night before moving on the next day.  Although the up to date Hema maps did not reveal it, apparently the spot where we were camped had been part of the National Park for over 4 years.  Luckily we had been advised about a camp area called Big Valley which only opened it doors to travellers and they were able to accomodate us for the Easter weekend.

Albany and Parrys beach

Tuesday 19 March 2013 - Monday 25 March 2013

At albany we visited the whale museum where the kids learnt all about the days of whaling and the reasons that the whale station was closed down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parrys beach camp site is set amongst the peppermint trees, right on the beach with excellent facilities.  One night we were sitting by the camp fire when our neighbour came over to say hello. He was from Perth and comes to Parrys Beach for four months each year. He kept the kids entertained with his knowledge of archery and even took them for a lesson on one of the secluded beaches.  The boys picked up some valuable tips which they will continue to practise during the rest of the trip.

 

 

 

 

We drove to Greens Pool which is known for its snorkelling and even though it was quite a cold day the kids and Craig braved the chilly waters.  There was a great rock that the kids could jump off and Craig and Adam saw many colourful fish and marine life. 

 



 

Greens Beach

We walked around the beach to Elephant rocks where the kids embarked on the big climb to the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Waterfall beach the kids had a shower under the freezing water which certainly freshened them up. 

 

 

 Adam enjoying a freezing waterfall shower

 

In the afternoon the adults freshened up at the Boston Brewery where we each ordered a sampling tray of the beers that were brewed there. The bartender taught us that when drinking a sampling tray you should drink the beers from darkest to lightest and leave the cider until last. 

 

 

The next day we went to Valley of the Giants treetop walk where the highest point of the walk is 40 meters above ground level.  Some of the Tingle trees that we were walking through are up to 70 meters high.  There was an amazing Grandma Tingle tree which is said to overlook the forest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Grandma Tingle Tree

 

 

On the day we were leaving we bumped into a couple that had helped the commercial fisherman net the salmon.  We were told there might be another school of Salmon coming through that day so we decided to hang around to see if we could help.  We waited till around lunch time and the Salmon still had not come in so we decided to hit the road.  It was a shame for the kids at it would have been a great experience for them.

 

 

 

Esperance and Quagi Beach WA

Friday 15th March 2013 - Monday 18th March 2013

We stopped at Karmal rest stop for the night and had a great Jaffle iron dinner over the fire.  That night it absolutely pelted down with rain and in the morning we chucked the kids in the car with the Ipad and Craig and I packed up.  By the time we got packed the rain had stopped but as it was absolutely “Mud City” (as Lachlan called it) and the wheels just spun so we were not going to make it out. When there was a slight break in the rain the Rippons helped push us out and we drove to Esperance. 

 

 As Esperance was one place that Craig really wanted to visit and enjoy we decided to explore the caravan parks and pay for our stay.  We phoned pink lake caravan park, which was only 2 km’s out of town, and enquired about their prices.  It was $44 for a unpowered site or $120 for a cabin with our own bathroom which to us was a big luxury.  Of course we took the cabin option and the kids enjoyed watching some TV programs that they had not seen for a long time.  Craig ventured into town and brought back fish and chips for dinner.

 

Little did we know that the ‘Festival of the Wind’ was on that weekend in Esperance.  We took the kids to the festival in the park where they enjoyed learning about bubbles and watching magicians. 

 

 

 

Kai helping out at the Bubble Show

 

 

That night, which happened to be a Saturday, Craig went out for a few quieties at the local pub.  He came back and reported that if you had to rely on Esperance for a Saturday night out it would be a quiet one. 

 

We left Esperance on the Sunday and after a bakery breakfast went to meet the Rippons at Quagi Beach.  At Quagi Beach we had a great setup where we attached the awning to the covered picnic table and we had a big group dinner.  One night an owl came to visit us while we were watching the stars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crossing the Nullabor

Tuesday 12 March 2013 - Thursday 14 March 2013

We took the scenic dirt track along the cliff tops of the Great Australian Bight where we drove quite close to the edge and encountered some great views. 

As we had heard that it was hard to come across water on the Nullabor we did our research on how hard it really was.  After coming to the conclusion that water was like gold we carried extra with us for such things as a showers and dish washing.  We were actually quite suprised to find that water was freely available in big tanks at various rest stops and I was even able to do some very overdue clothes washing.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped at the Nullabor road house for lunch and afterwards we threw out our remaining fresh fruit and vegetables, as we would be crossing the border to Western Australia that same day.  We got through the border check point in about 10 minutes, although we did had to hand in our honey which Kai was quite devastated by.  We headed Eucla Roadhouse and had a coffee and hot chips while we waited for the Rippons to join us. We camped in Eucla behind the sand dunes and that night it was extremely windy and cold so Craig and I put the kids to bed and watched Charlie and Boots in the car with our cheese, bikkies and beer.   That was my extremely healthy dinner that night.

The next day we made our way to Cocklebiddy Caves which is an underground cave more than 6 km long, of which around 90% is underwater and only accessible via cave diving.  The kids went down and had a look at the entrance but that is about as far as they could venture into it.

 

 

Cocklebiddy Caves

 

 

We drove along the longest, straightest stretch of road in Australia which is 145.6 kms long and the Rippons joked over the CB that they were having a great time playing 'Corners".  As we are travelling slowely in order to try and conserve petrol we even got overtaken by a Road Train.

 

 

Our next rest stop was really just a patch of dirt but the kids turned it into a sporting ground by setting up the street tennis, cricket pitch and playing with the frisbee and skipping ropes.  We were also able to have a proper camp fire after all the fire bans we had encountered, which we were all very greatful for.