19th April to 25th April 2012 Dongara

Thursday 19th April 2012

Travelled to Dongara and didn't take us long to settle in to "Happy Hour" with Michael and Lois and also friends of theirs also staying at the farm for a few days...Phil and Pam..

Michael and Lois have been house sitting on the 5 half thousand acres farm for the last 4 months..and will be leaving shortly to catch up to us further north to travel with us for the next few months..

The farm is sitting on a hill over looking Dongara and surrounding areas... and we have a great view of the coast line and beautiful blue sea... which of course the sun sets on every night...

Lois cooked a nice beef curry for dinner for all of us....

Friday 20th April 2012

Went for a drive to Port Denison today...which is a little town just outside Dongara, its a cray fishing town....very pretty ....

We bought fish and chips from the local fish shop and enjoyed them on the foreshore...

Pam and Phil cooked a pork roast for dinner tonight... it was yum..

Plus another great sunset.....

21st April 2012

Morning coffee.... I made my beautiful scones again.. which were enjoyed by all...

We all went out for dinner tonight to celebrate Michael's birthday...as Pam & Phil are leaving in the morning...

We went to "The Priory Hotel' which is situated on six acres of land on the southern side of the picturesque Irwin River
.

Originally built as a single storey hotel in 1881 by William Criddle to service the teamsters travelling from Mt Magnet to the Port Denison, it was purchased by the Dominican Sisters who created St Dominic's Priory.

A second storey was added, which was completed in 1909. In 1928 the sisters built a two storey college and boarding school, 'The Dominican Ladies College' the hotel has since been renovated and the college is now the accommodation wing. Also a beautifully restored 1881 Restaurant, where we had our dinner.

Each night we had amazing sunsets... I  just love them...

23rd April

25th April

18th April 2012 Cervantes - Desert Pinnacles

Headed out towards Dongara today...but intend stopping for the night at Cervantes...Driving through Perth on the main highway we were amazed to see the main railway system in the middle of the 4 lane highway..and the railway stations....

Once through Perth we took the new coastal road "Indian Ocean Drive" which was  established in 1962..at a cost of $95 million dollars... it cuts the travelling time dramatically... it's a very pleasant drive all the way up the coast....and no trucks are allowed on the road which makes it even better...On the side of the roads we passed 1000's of "Black Boy Plants" now known as "Grass Trees"and the area is also known for its beautiful white sand dunes... The snow-white dunes are popular for sandboarding, dune buggies, motorbikes and four-wheel driving.

The coastal views are beautiful showing the crystal blue clear waters of the coastline all the way...

Cervantes is approximately 256 kms out of Perth.  using 505 hectares of land excised from the Nambung Reserve, the town site was created to serve the people engaged in the Cray fishing industry.The town is named after the American whaling ship “Cervantes”, a two masted barque, wrecked nearby on 29 June 1844. 

Cervantes features spectacular white, pristine beaches showcasing the beautiful turquoise ocean and visitors can enjoy many water activities including swimming, snorkelling, and diving, boating, fishing and exploring the off shore islands and reefs in the area.

The main reason we stopped here was to visit the very popular and extraordinary ancient rock formations that make up the Pinnacles that are found just outside Cervantes.

Regarded as one of Australia's most unique landscapes, these incredible limestone spiers rise eerily out of the sand, some several metres tall. You can get up close to the Pinnacles on a scenic drive and walking trail which also  includes an amazing lookout over the Nambung National Park. It's believed the Pinnacles were created millions of years ago as seashells were broken down into sand and then eroded by water and wind. They were just amazing to walk amongest them..

.Finished off going back to the bay to catch the sunset....

Monday 16th -17th April 2012

16th April 2012

We had a nice lazy day... till the afternoon and then we went to watch my favourite movie Titanic in 3D..awesome still moves me that movie....

After we checked out the Maritime Service Board where I view plagues with names of families on that sailed into Fremantle in 1966 on the Castle Felice..the same time I arrived into Australia on the same ship... eerie

The sun was just setting over the wharf which was busy with lots of fisherman...so of course I had to capture it...

 A Monument of emigrants arriving in Fremantle

Sunday 15th April 2012 ... Swan River

Well yesterday we got to see Perth by land ... today we are heading on a luncheon river cruise to see it by water.... sailing up the Swan River from Fremantle to Perth...

Its a glorious day 30 degrees.. and the water is like a mill pond... perfect...

We were served lunch as we boarded with a glass of wine...

The Swan River is a gentle river right at Perth's doorstep. It was named in 1797, by a Dutch explorer, Willem de Vlamingh he named it because of the many black swans in these waters.

The river separates the downtown area from its southern suburbs. Near the City, the banks of the Swan spread out into a wide, sparkling bay.. surrounded by green playing fields and behind is the city skyline which is silhouetted against a clear blue sky.... just magic !! Everywhere you look is a  scene of yachts criss-cross each other, and the many different coloured spinnakers.

Luxury motor cruisers sail by and I mean huge cruisers, also the small outboards  putt-putt on the waters. Fishermen are here too,  the Swan is a great place to catch prawns, crabs and a variety of fish.

 The Brewery At Kings Park

Under the bridge

On every corner you turn there is a yacht club... I have never seen so many boats and yacht of all different sizes in the one place.

The commentator on the boat also told us that there are 120 thousand motor boats registered in Perth alone !!!!

The mansions on this water front are just amazing... everywhere you turn ... huge homes ...with magnificant views.

 This house is 3 stories high and it also has another 2 stories high house behind it plus another to the side of it all on the same block... cost 30 million to build the main house..Think of the HOUSE work !!!