Holiday in South Western Australia

[Walter John]

Hello friends, I have just returned from a 2 week holiday in South Western Australia at a locale by the name of Quindalup. This is in the top corner of the Margeret River area, famous for it's wineries, surf beaches, massive trees, plentiful kangaroos, grass trees, wineries, oh, did I say that already ? anyway, it's a cool area, and only a couple of hours from towns/places like Albany and Denmark at the bottom of the state of WA. My wife Donna and I had a bloody great time, our hosts, Donna's sister and partner were fabulous and drove us all around to wine tasting spots and galleries etc., except when I hired a car and drove to Walpole to see the Valley of the Giants (Tingle Trees from the Tree Top walk) and we stayed for 2 nights in Denmark and drove to the national park in Albany etc. Our hosts (who breed race horses) had befriended some kangaroos when they were just joeys left by their mothers. They have grown and still remain friends and come each day to the house for a feed and a pat. Late last year a very bad bushfire ran through areas near the township of Margaret River, right up to the beach, I took some pics of the aftermath and of some surfers at the famous Prevelly beach where the big surf carnivals are held. Enough chat, on to some photographs.

"Getting acquainted with kangaroos".

This is Bella, she asked me a few questions, kinda like an interview, before she would allow me to be friends with her and her daughter Bindi and another kanga, Mary. Fortunately I got the job, only temp though.

Here I am patting Mary who was also helped out as a starving abandoned youngster.

Me hangin' out with the ladies

I started singing "Climb Every Mountain" from Sound of Music and pointing to the local hills and they bolted, I wonder why ?

Bella would sometimes come inside when she heard the footy on the telly, this is Chris explaining to Bella why the Brisbane Lions were lucky to beat the West Coast Eagles. I taught Bella to follow Rugby League instead.

It was a great experience to get up close with these animals, not normally recommended.

[Walter John]

We dropped in to some of the local galleries, where they all had the same sign, "DO NOT TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS". So I set the camera on a timer so it wasn't me taking the pics, and, I got away with it. until now.

The photos are a little random sorry, this is my sister in laws recently acquired stallion "Chatline". I asked him, "what's with the long face?"

[Walter John]

A couple of pics from some of the local wineries..

And now for inside, yes, for the first time on Palmtalk, inside a mens toilet, I mean, have a look at the furnishings, ahem, paintings, why wouldn't I take photos ?

[Walter John]

More later..my cycad/grass tree thread is HERE

[Walter John]

Here's a bit of sadness, the usually picturesque Marg River area, all burnt now. I'm told the fire was begun on purpose as a preventative measure to prevent this happening, how wrong plans can go, as many houses were destroyed, fortunately no lives lost.

And here's the famous Margaret River surf carnival spot, Prevelly beach.

[Walter John]

An obligatory event when you are down this way is to walk the Busselton Jetty. I asked this girl who had just stepped out of the ocean where I could locate the jetty, she just grinned and turned away, (now I know why they call it brass monkey weather).

The Jetty, which stretches 1.8 kilometres across Geographe Bay, is the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. You can be lazy and catch the Jetty train if you wanted, I walked, I was in the middle of a fitness campaign.

The Indian ocean looked wetter than the Pacific

[Walter John]

more soon....lots of trees and seascapes and hundreds of roos...

[newcal]

What no palm pics Wal?...Geez ...Cheers Mike Green(Newcal)

[Walter John]

What no palm pics Wal?...Geez ...Cheers Mike Green(Newcal)

Hello ?

[Walter John]

Here's a map to give you an idea how far I went. Look at the Sth West corner, I stayed near Busselton and went as far as Albany. I saw both the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean. I live north of Brisbane and south of Noosa.

Remembering that Australia is about the same size as USA mainland.

Back tomorrow with some tree pics and seascapes from Albany, stay tuned. Wait till I tell you about the award winning pies I ate in Denmark.

[paulgila]

i am reading a book about the explorer james cook,at present.just wondering if theres any historical monument that marks the spot where he discovered "terra australis."

[Walter John]

i am reading a book about the explorer james cook,at present.just wondering if theres any historical monument that marks the spot where he discovered "terra australis."

Hey Paul, Captain James T Kirk, er Cook, never discovered Australia first per se, that was the Dutch over in WA. He was the pommy dude that arrived on the East coast first. Not sure about any monuments on any spots, perhaps in Botany Bay near Sydney, which was his first landing on the east coast. Oh bugger, I've just gone and spoiled your read, sorry..

[Walter John]

The following few posts are all about trees, the giant eucalypts of the Margaret River Boranup forests and the even taller/bigger ones near Walpole. It sure was a wonderful experience seeing and being amongst these trees, I hope the pics do them justice, there's nothing like being though.

Besides the very tall Karri (whiteish trunks)(Eucalyptus diversicolor) there are also Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and Marri (Eucalyptus calopylla) here in the Boranup forests.

[Walter John]

Boranup forest part 2

[Walter John]

Here's an interesting sight at the banks of the Denmark river. A large lower branch of a Karri tree has grown into another tree next to it. Kinda weird alien looking but still a marvel.

[Walter John]

And on to the Wapole/Nornalup park where we visited the Valley of the Giants. Two main trees here are the Karri (E.diversicolor) and the Tingle (E.jacksonii).

From the 40 metre high "Tree Top Walk", even though it swayed a little (bit scarry for the feinthearted), it was a brilliant experience you should try, there's always a pleasant wine tasting afterwards down the road a piece.

[Walter John]

Valley of the Giants - Tree Top Walk - part 2

[Walter John]

Valley of the Giants - Tree Top Walk - part 3

"I left my shadow on a Tingle" - words and music by Watty O'Diamond

[Walter John]

On the ground now, there's a neat walk amongst these magnificent trees.

[Walter John]

Last ones..

Walk thru trees

Massive burl on this mother

I tried to resurrect this fallen giant with healing hands, I guess I'll stick to palm trees.

[Walter John]

On the way to the Torndirrup national park in Albany we came across all these kangaroos warming and resting themselves. Must have all over eaten the lovely green grass. I have never seen so many in one spot like this before in my whole life, must have been over 100 easy. For those new to palmtalk photo methods, you must click on the thumbnail to enlarge same.

[Walter John]

Torndirrup national park, Albany, Western Australia. Where the Great Australian bite taken was Antartica itself. don't quote me on that I've had two stubbies already..

As you drive along this headland there are several different roads off to the right leading to amazing natural seascape/rocky sights. It is uncanny, but on the way back they are on the left, a trick of nature you see.

It was windy, it was chilly, that's the Southern Ocean where the Great Whites hang out, not to mention monster freak waves due to a very short drop to the continental shelf. It is very dangerous waters and coastline, plenty of warnings though.

Here was our first turn, to Jimmy Newells harbour, or was it Jimmy Newhill ?

[Walter John]

Next was the Stony Hill Heritage Trail.

Here's Donna with the town of Albany behind

Looking out yonder

That's me showing off to some young dudes, showing them how it's done, it's all about arm and hand usage to be respectful to the Soutern Gods you see.

[Walter John]

I was left like a shag on a rock, as the girls had had enough of my limited bravado, so they headed off.

[Walter John]

Next turn off was to the Gap and the Natural Bridge. True wonders of nature, apparently some people have been a bit too over ambitous with the adventure here and aren't around to speak about their experiences.

Here is where you can see the most ancient rock form called Gneisse (pronounced NICE). There are bits of it here on the Aussie mainland whilst Antartica also has the broken off bits of the same rock, some real evidence of the Gondawana continental break away. It has dark stripes through it, quite wonderful to see.

[Walter John]

And so, the evidence of the great Gondawana separation is here to see, I was really overwhelmed with these sights, ancient earth building geologic history always excites. The place is so heavily wind swept, the trees are flat but living.

That's all for now...thanks

[Ken Johnson]

Thank you Wal. Very nice. I'm still learning all the time here on PalmTalk!

[Miccles]

Awesome pics Wal - thanks heaps. I love seeing shots highlighting this vast country of ours !

Regards

Michael.

[paulgila]

awesome photos,wal. what a beautiful country!

[Bill Austin]

Thanks Wal really enjoyed the pics.

[Cindy Adair]

I can truly say that I would love to replicate your trip from the rocks to the trees to the kangaroos! I guess I'd have to miss out on the men's bathroom, but probably the women's would be interesting too. As a poor student more than 30 years ago with a hefty negative net worth, my husband and I made a wish list. I'm not sure where that list is now, but I remember one item was a 6 week minimum trip to Australia and New Zealand. Perhaps I'll still get there one day. Your photos,captions and map (for us Americans) made it all perfect. Thanks!

[Walter John]

Thanks everyone for those wonderful comments.

I managed to try 2 pies from this award winning bakery in Denmark. I tried the plain meat pie and the next day I got stuck into the Vinda Roo pie, yes, it was made from roo meat, and tasted bloody great. Recommend this place when you're in this part of the world folks.

On our last full day we went to a winery for tasting and hanging out in the warm winter sun overlooking the vineyards. This is my wife's sisters family, this is how aussies enjoy winter, I was quite tiddly this afternoon, having a wonderful time.

This one legged magpie wanted something off the cheese platter, I offered him a glass of Shiraz instead..

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Nice country way out west ! Wal

[ariscott]

I'm not sure where that list is now, but I remember one item was a 6 week minimum trip to Australia and New Zealand. Perhaps I'll still get there one day. Your photos,captions and map (for us Americans) made it all perfect. Thanks!

It will take 6 weeks for you just to do the Kimberley.... try 6 months

Regards, Ari

[Walter John]

Here at the Denmark River bridge, an odd positioning of a table setting..

[Tyrone]

Really good pictures Wal. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. The area around Boranup is my favourite bit down near Marg's as we call it over here. I think the area you photographed is called Jerusalem Hollows and I know exactly what you mean that photographs just can't capture what it's like to really see it and experience it in reality.

Albany is a beautiful place with rugged coastlines and rough seas. It can get bleak down there. Down near the natural bridge is a cave system that only the locals really know about. Years ago I went down in there and there's a huge cavern underground. If a King wave came in though you might get flooded down there and stuck. Not recommended.

What Albany does need is a botanical garden with Howeas, Hedyscepes, Laccospadix and Rhopalostylis. It's quite a moist humid place even in summer along that south coast section. Alexanders and Bangalows do alright down there too, with some nice ones in Denmark and Margaret River.

And yes, wineries in the winter sun are a great thing to do in the SW. I don't do enough of it.

Tyrone

[Darold Petty]

Thanks very much, Wal. I realy enjoyed these photos!l

[Gileno Machado]

Nice photos, Wal

I'd trade Bella for my big Tahina seedling anyday

[BS Man about Palms]

Yep.. The Biennial will be a hoot!

Missed this thread the first time.. glad Gileno did the bump..

[GTClover]

What great fun it is to read the travel-logs of this wonderful group! Thanks Wal!