KayF

Just back last night from 10 days in the west. We live in Melbourne so the short 3 1/2 hr flight was wonderful compared to the horrendously long flights to Europe/USA. Had great weather, about high 20's to low 30's every day, no humidity.

Had 3 nights at the Port Mill B&B in Fremantle, would highly recommend it, very central with friendly, knowledgeable owners. www.babs.com.au Paid $170 a night.

1 night on Rottnest Island - $280 for both of us, included return ferry fare, deluxe accomm (do NOT expect the Sheraton!) and breakfast.

3 nights at Busselton - self contained cottage at Amblin Caravan Park, right on the beach. $83 per night. Park has a heated indoor pool.

3 nights at Comfort Inn, Scarborough Beach - $133 per night, self contained. Not our first choice, but had trouble getting somewhere over the weekend.

Good meals at Etto, Fremantle; Gino's, Fremantle; Villa Rustica on James St in Northbridge. Two best areas for meals - very lively with good choices - Fremantle and Northbridge in Perth.

Loved New Norcia, bit of a drive to get there but so interesting. Two tours per day, try and do the tour if you can $13.50 each, 2 hrs.

Margaret River was OK, not as good as we expected, everything very spread out, definitely need a car or do a tour.

Any questions, happy to help if I can.
Kay

billbuckin

Nice report. Glad you liked my home town/state.

A number of posters have recommended New Norcia. How long is the drive, and what makes the tour/visit so interesting? I lived in Perth for 20 years and never once visited.

A comment on Margaret River. Not sure what people expect when they go there. It basically is a small country town on a main country highway. Not sure I would recomend the town itself, except as a short term base for exploring the region, or a stop over on the way to some where else.

The Margaret River REGION though is wonderful, if you like surfing, caves or wine tasting. As a college student, we would go down and spend a week or so every year. Drinking, beaches and caving was the way to go as a student.

Just wondering if you had been to other wine making areas around Australia and how Margaret River compares.

What did you think of Rottnest, did you do any tours, or just stay in the Settlement?

Thanks for the report, makes me want to go "home"

Bill

KayF

Hi Bill,
yes, we were very impressed with what we saw in WA and plan to go back to see other areas.

My parents recommended New Norcia and it was on a TV cooking show recently "Surfing the Menu". It's about a 2 hr drive north of Perth, very boring, very dry Australian bush, only roadtrains for company. I thought we would be the only ones on the tour as there were hardly any cars on the road but there were about 20 on our tour and some more on the afternoon tour. It's a very strange sight, to be on a highway in the middle of nowhere and come across these very European, grand buildings. Not what you expect out there! It was created by Spanish monks in the 1860's. There are 60 buildings, all owned by the monks, 13 of which still live at the monastery. They have olive groves and bake bread to sell. There is an Abbey, a monastery, an orphanage, a cathedral etc, all very grand and when you are inside, you'd swear you were in Europe. The monks used to teach aboriginal children and white children (separately in those days) but not any more. There is a museum and art gallery as well. Worth the trip in our opinion. They have quite a good website, you can stay at the hotel or as a 'retreat' where the monks live. A cold drink on a hot day on the wide shady verandah of the hotel was a treat.

With Marg River I expected it to be more lush but it was very dry and not particulary attractive. Also wineries/attractions/town/beaches etc were all very spread out and you really need a car to see things. I thought it was OK and we had a good day but wouldn't rave over it. I've been to the Barossa, Yarra Valley, Rutherglen, Hunter Valley etc and thought these areas were just OK too.

We liked Rottnest, thought the beaches were beautiful and the water incredible, so crystal clear and a lovely aqua colour - cold though! We caught the Bayseeker Bus around the island to see as much as we could. I'd go back again.

Do you mind me asking Bill - do you still live in Australia?
Kay

billbuckin

Thanks for the response Kay.

I have now moved to the United States and live in the plains of Montana. Driving two hours here is nothing here, reminds me of home.

Definately will head towards New Norcia on our next visit home.

On our last visit we went south to Albany, previously went to Kalbarri/Monkey Mia.

Just waiting now for the start of footy season. We get one game a week here, and one other game hightlights. Go Eagles.

Bill

KayF

Bill - as the Americans would say 'yurrr a long waay from home'. We drove through Montana about 4 years ago coming from Canada and Waterton National Park and headed to Yellowstone in Wyoming. We ended up staying at a little town called Drummond. It was...well...interesting. Don't think they had many visitors. It was like a western movie set.
Enjoy your next trip home!
Kay