ANZAC Day commemorates the landing of ANZAC troops, the name given to
the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought in World War I, at
Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and the first military action of Australia and New
Zealand in WWI. Although the Gallipoli campaign failed from a military
perspective, it was an event that defined Australia and New Zealand as nations
and the ANZAC Legend is something citizens still identify with today. Every
year on April 25th memorial services are held at dawn to remember
and honour the fallen soldiers of the 1915 Gallipoli campaign. Today, ANZAC Day
has broadened to remember all men and woman who have fought and died in all wars.
Lest We Forget.
This year, ANZAC Day was on a Monday and we took advantage of the long
weekend with a road trip to explore the Margaret River Region in the south west
corner of WA. The region is about three to four hours drive south of Perth and includes
the towns of Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River, and Augusta. Our
accommodation was in Augusta but we managed to explore most of the area over
the three days. Combining world-class wineries, craft breweries, artisan food
producers, and fine-dining restaurants with striking natural wonders such as towering
karri forests, spectacular underground caves, and pristine beaches with excellent
surf on a wild and rugged coastline, this compact holiday destination packs a
punch and offers something for everyone.
Views at Cullen Wines
Views at Woodlands Wine Estate
Bron at Margaret River
On Saturday morning we drove the three hours to Margaret River where we
were meeting our friends Matt and Helen for wine tasting. We had some time
before meeting up and used it to visit the really healthy gourmet options of
the Fudge Factory, the Nougat Company and the Chocolate Company. At each you
can watch the sugary confectionary being handmade right in front of you and of
course taste the finished product. After all that, how can you walk away without
something to take home?
Many of the regions premier wineries are clustered around Cowaramup and
Margaret River. They range from big and commercial to small and owner run with
most offering free tastings. The rest of the afternoon was spent hopping
between the picturesque wine farms enjoying Matt and Helen’s company and
sharing cheese platters in the sun. What a great way to spend the day!
Sunday was cloudy and cool with occasional showers but that didn’t stop
us exploring. The first stop was Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. Situated on the windswept
most south westerly tip of the continent where the Indian and Southern Oceans
meet, the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is Australia’s tallest mainland lighthouse at
39 m. The kerosene wick lamp was lit for the first time on 1 December 1896 and
has since been automated but still flashes every 7.5 seconds at night warning
ships of the dangerous coastline and can be seen for at least 40 km at sea. Spectacular
views of the bay await you at the top of the 176 steps; lighthouse keepers were
very fit! Definitely a worthwhile trip. Make sure to leave enough time to enjoy
walking around the grounds whilst listening to the informative audio tour.
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
Views from the top of the lighthouse looking back toward mainland Australia
Boibs at the top of the lighthouse
It was very windy! (About 45 km/h)
From the lighthouse we made our way to Jewel Cave. There are several
hundred caves in the region and 6 are open to the public. The crystal
formations in Jewel Cave are said to be the most beautiful of the area. We were
impressed with the size of the cave, the variety of structures present and how
well-preserved the cave is even though it is open to the public. We learnt all
about straws, stalagmites, stalactites, columns, shawls, flowstones,
helectites, pendulites, and others. Our favourite formations include the karri
forest, the coral chamber and the frozen waterfall. Also interesting were some
of the tree roots that had grown through the 12 m of soil above and formed
thick twisted ropes all the way to the bottom of the cave. Remains of Tasmanian
tigers have been found in the cave and we saw the skeleton of a possum. If you
are in the area, it is definitely worth visiting at least one of the caves.
Crystal formations in Jewel Cave
The rest of the day was spent exploring the coastline and enjoying the
views at Cosy Corner and enjoying the majestic and peaceful karri forest on
Boranup Drive.
Views at Cosy Corner
The karri forest on Borranup Drive
Boibs at the karri forest
Views at Cape Freycinet in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
We skipped the ANZAC Day dawn services on Monday and started the journey
back to Perth. Along the way we stopped in at Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and
enjoyed a short walk in the Leewin-Naturaliste National Park to Sugarloaf Rock.
We loved the fragrant scrubby coastal bush and the wild and rugged coastline,
so reminiscent of the Eastern Cape. It is possible to walk from Cape
Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin along the 135 km Cape to Cape Track. It would be
lovely to return and complete some of the day walks along the scenic track.
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
Ocean views at Sugarloaf rock
The last stop of the weekend was Busselton where we walked along the 1.8
km jetty jutting into Geographe Bay. Required for loading ships with exports
(primarily timber), construction of the jetty began in 1853 with the first 176
m section opening in 1865. A railway line was later added and the jetty was
extended a number of times finally reaching a length of 1841 m, the longest
wooden pier in the southern hemisphere. The last commercial vessel called in
1971 and the jetty was closed in 1972 when the nearby town of Bunbury took over
as the main harbour for the area. The jetty has survived a cyclone, weathering,
several fires and the threat of demolition to become a major regional tourist
attraction and source of local pride. The jetty has since been repaired and
restored and is run by a local preservation committee. We certainly had a fun
walk along the length and it was great to see so many people out enjoying it
too: fishing, riding the train and visiting the underwater observatory.
The Busselton Jetty
Justin's favourite local bird, the Galah
All in all it was a wonderful weekend away and we hope to be back to
explore more of this beautiful area, especially the gorgeous coastline.
Still coming: Bron’s February trip to London!
x
