Blue arsed fly: On the road again, Walpole to Perth

Catch up with Bruce and Elaine’s journey around Southern Western Australia. First, read about them getting ready to travel then take a look at the first part of their journey around Southern Western Australia

Next was the 65Km drive to Walpole a small town, we stayed at the Rest Point CP on the Inlet, $22 p/n grass sites good enough amenities but with all the rain that had been and still coming when we drove onto the site we sank lower than a coxswains heart or brain (sorry Surge, mate was a coxswain in the Navy, copper to you non matelots). Each morning we woke up to a swimming pool around the van. But as I said with the amount of rain the SWWA has had all parks would have been the same. We took the obligatory visit to the Tourist Centre, you can go to the tree top walk, but we’d been there before so ignored that. A very good little drive is the 30 km trip to Mt Frankland, very disabled friendly walks, one is a mini tree top walk that looks out over the valley with stunning views. The wild flowers were beginning to show so we took photos of them and when we get home we’ll do a montage of them for the wall. By the way Diesel was $1.65 a litre.

We really did want to get out of the rain, we were sick of having a swimming pool around the van so we headed for Margret River. Now for all you plonk drinkers out there MR is wino heaven, dozens and dozens of vineyards, all you have to do is pick one a day and you’ll be in plonk heaven. But me hearties for those like us who do not partake in the Satyrs revenge there is still a lot to see and do. Scenic drives down to Cape Leeuwin, down the Bussell Highway and up Caves Rd where you can pop in and visit all the little hamlets that are along the coast. If you want to there are other caravan Parks further sth and along the coast if you want to go that far. We stayed at the Taunton Farm CP a big 4 park about 10-15 km’s nth of MR. $35 p/n with discount on level grass sites and this time there was no water lying around even though it did rain. Amenities were very good with disabled facilities available. We only stayed 2 days because we had been here before in another life.

Next stop only 35 km’s north at Busselton, we stopped for 4 days at the Amblin CP on the Bussell Hwy. Now for all you ex matelots, the Navy Canteen Fund owns this park and for all ex service men you get a 20% discount, being winter it was $30p/n but we paid $24, mind you in Summer hols it’s $60 p/n w/o discount. Next day we drove to Yallingup for a look see, there are 2 CP’s there, one right on the beach in Yallingup. Then we drove back to Dunsborough and took the turn off to Cape Naturaliste Light House and on the way back took all the turn offs to several very nice beaches and a scenic drive to Bunker Bay, Eagle Point and Meelup Beach where we were lucky enough to see a whale and her calf about a 100 metres off the beach, it was something we did not expect to see but were thrilled. There is off course the Bussleton Pier you can walk the 1.8 km to the end where they have an Oceanarium where you can see the bottom.. Or you could take the train for $11 pp if you are lazy, as we’d already been out there on a previous visit we gave it a miss.

Next stop was Pinjarra where we stayed at the Pinjarra CP $33 p/n and if you like staying with permanents and all it entails this is the place. 98% of the park is permanent and only a small grassed area is for blow ins like us and even that area has permanents on it. I’d give this place ½ star rating only because it has level grass sites. The amenities were ok but small for the number of people who had to use them, if you want a shower get in early I reckon. We stayed here for 2 days as we were visiting friends who lived down the road a few k’s, if not for that we’d give the place a miss. Nothing to see in the area except a golf course across the road.

On then to Perth were we stayed at the Woodman’s Point CP just outside of Fremantle Big4 $47/49 p/n w/o discount for a grass/paved site. Because it was winter they had specials on so it cost us just under $30 p/n a big saving so remember to always ask for any special deals the CP’s might have on. We have stayed here before and it is near the beach and a very good park it is with very good amenities with disabled facilities and level grass/paved sites. Being Perth there are lots of things to do so go to the tourist bureau and find out what there is to do. For the ex Junior Recruits out there I made sure to visit (HMAS) Leeuwin which is now a barracks and found out that during the week if the boom gate is open you can go in a walk around. This I did and even though it has changed from when I was there in 65/66 it was great to walk around and try and remember where everything was.

While in Perth we needed to do a bit of victualling for a few necessary stores, just before we left Albany went to sit down on the chair and leant back. The only problem was I kept on going back until I looked like a turtle on its back with all flippers flapping in the air. Great I need a new chair, I’ll get one in Perth says I. In Perth went to ggo out put mother in the car and took off and immediately there was a crackle and a crunch. I forgot to pick up the plastic step she uses to get in the car. Get out and have a look immediately being of sound mind and eyesight I could see the step was a little broken. The first 999 pieces of plastic would be easy to glue back together, the other 990 little pieces of plastic were not going to be put together. So when we were out I went to Bunnings and bought a new chair for $80 and a fitness place to by another aerobic step for $89 (This is the third one by the way).

We stayed in Perth for 10 days before pulling the plug and headed north, we were headed for Jurien Bay and last time we were here you had to take the Brand Hwy to get there but now the Wannaroo Rd becomes the Indian Ocean Drive and you can save 50 odd k’s by taking this road. Get there by taking the Mitchell Freeway which gets you from one end of Perth to the other and going nth you turn right and then left onto Wannaroo Rd. When we got to Jurien Bay mother did not want to stay at the CP so we drove 50 k’s further nth to Green Head, both of us too one look at the CP and said no. We drove a little further to Leeman and stayed the night at the CP $24.50 p/n, a basic CP with adequate amenities, grass and slab sites. There’s only ABC for TV unless you have a dish, we don’t so we watched Aunty that night. We stayed hitched up and next day went onto Dongara 80 kms nth. If I had it over again I would have opted for Jurien Bay it’s a largish town with a Top Tourist park but hey what the hell.