We stayed in Wellington National Park for 4 peaceful days, enjoying the seclusion, the natural environment and beauty of the Jarrah Forestry, while being able to drive to different spots not too far away. Each day we had visits from the beautiful and friendly ring-necked parrots who got quite cheeky after the first day, and started sitting on our arms, heads and laps to feed. Other birds such as blue wrens, kookaburras and maggies also paid their visits on occasions.
On Friday, we drove into Bunbury on the coast, and after spending the wet morning sheltered in the Library doing some bookwork, we picnicked in Queens Park while the sun shone, bordered by an estuary.
Saturday was set aside to find some Gnomes! Yes, I am serious, I am not that fond of them myself, but the knowledge of hundreds of the little creatures hiding in the forest in a place nearby called Gnomesville had me hooked! We had to go and see it for ourselves! And oh my goodness, we found it!!! Just at the back of the National Park, near a town called Lowden, were literally hundreds of gnomes of all shapes and sizes donated by anyone and everyone, making a home in the forest. To me, just a little bit too much gnome, but the kids thought it was fantastic! Something you must see to believe! As long as the creepy little creatures don't make their way back to Captain Slow, I will be happy! We also explored some more of the National Park on the way back, checking out the rapids along the river and Honeymoon Pool. Great swimming spots if the temperature was a bit higher, beautiful scenery.
Fathers Day started out fairly traditionally with mum helping the kids prepare dads breaky, and then we headed into Collie for a play at the park beside the river and lunch at the Railway Precinct Museum and Cafe. A lazy afternoon back at Wellington NP followed before our final night here.
Okay, its Monday, its raining hard, we are trying to pack up and we just found out on a walk around the van that one of the tyres is flat!!! Great start to the day! We manage to change the tyre, pack up and hitch up, both Dwayne and I getting drenched to the underwear while doing so, and decide to head into Bunbury as the weather is just getting worse by the minute! When we get to town, the wind is even stronger, causing sideways rain, and too dangerous to drive on any further. It looks like Bunbury will be our home for this week at least. We welcome a holiday park with power, hot showers, a laundry and some protection from the weather with open arms!
For the first few days in Bunbury, the rain, wind and cold continues, and it is the first spot we have used all the walls of the annex on our trip! The Bunbury library is our second home, where we spend each morning in the warm and dry doing workbooks and reading. It is a fantastic library with tables, coffee machine and couches, so we are quite comfy.
On Thursday, the rain starts clearing, and we spend the afternoon looking more around Bunbury, checking out the Lookout with great views of the town, the checked Lighthouse and Ocean Drive. Bunbury is a beautiful town almost surrounded by water, ocean, river and estuary, with an arty/coffee feel to the CBD displaying many a sculpture or artwork to admire. It is nice to have some blue sky to enjoy it today. The kids also get the chance for some jumping on the jumping pillows, to their delight.
On Friday, we wake to more blue sky with better weather predicted and decide it is safe to move on. After checking out a Vintage Car display on the esplanade, we head out to Donnybrook, back into the dairy farm and orchard country a little inland, where we lunch and play for the afternoon at Apple Funpark, which is apparently the largest free playground in Australia, smack in the middle of little Donnybrook!
Sometimes it is hard to believe some of the hidden away spots we find along the way to camp at for free or very low cost, and Ironstone Falls Camp Area is one of those places. Just south of Donnybrook, we pulled into this spot in the early evening to stay the weekend and enjoy the sunny weather again. We park the van with views of the falls, the bush, and the stars, and sleep to the sound of the falls over the rocks. I have said it before I know, but how blessed are we to have these amazing places in our country to enjoy! We spend the weekend just walking, sitting, catching tadpoles and soaking up the gorgeous surrounds of Ironstone Falls. There seems to be a beautiful balance here in the South West of Coastal development, farmland and forestry, none seeming to encroach on the other, enabling you to be able to enjoy every part of it.
This blog is getting long and we haven't quite exploring the South West corner, so I will finish here for now and it "will be continued..."
No comments:
Post a Comment