Fremantle
We enjoyed our three days in Fremantle. There’s lots of historical buildings to admire and a strong Italian influence with great food.

There are 252 Heritage listed buildings in Fremantle, this is one of them
Rottnest Island
We took the ferry from Fremantle to Rottnest Island planning to hire bikes for the day but it was raining heavily so we took the bus instead. Of course the rain stopped as soon as the bus left. It turned out to be a good day. We rode the bus to the far end of the Island where we spotted whales, seals and a pair of nesting Osprey then walked back via the lakes.
Quokka cuteness overload:








Saturday 21 August: Perth to Bunbury 200km
After parkrun at Cottesloe we picked up our Apollo campervan and drove to Bunbury for the night. The local Council allows free camping opposite the surf lifesaving club so we stayed there.

We went for fish and chips and we surprised to find every table (bar one) reserved
Sunday 22 August: Bunbury to Margaret River 160km
Big Swamp, Bunbury
Big Swamp in Bunbury is a unique wetland reserve, home to over 70 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and fish. There’s a 2km walk through the wetlands.



Manea Park
Manea Park is Bunbury’s premier bush reserve and supports several threatened species. The 2.3km walk takes in a range of habitat types. It might not be peak wildflower season but there were dozens of plants in full bloom.



Tuart Forest National Park
Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) is one of the forest giants of Southwest Australia. The Ludlow Tuart Forest between Bunbury and Busselton is the only naturally occurring one of its kind. It’s a good place for possums but we didn’t see any in the middle of the day.



Busselton

Construction commenced in 1864 and was extended numerous times until the 1960s
Monday 23 August: Margaret River Wine Tour

We spent the day touring Margaret River wineries with Tony of Margaret River Vintage Wine Tours. A great day, we visited two iconic estates in the morning – Leeuwin and Xanadu then after lunch at Olio Bello two smaller boutiques – Thompson Estate and Jarvis Estate.
Of the 6 wines we tasted at Leeuwin Estate, it was the 2020 PRELUDE CHARDONNAY that took our fancy. “A vibrant and ethereal palate – great direction with shape and frame. Energetic and lively citrus fruits meets saline acidity. Gentle nuances of hazelnut, and sweet spice add a complementary layer and contour to the palate.”

We liked their 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, only available cellar door




We fell for a fortified white and a Tuesday wine (Jarvis Estate Classic Red) bottled yesterday
Tuesday 24 August: Margaret River to Pemberton 210km






It was built in 1895 from local limestone and is still a vital working lighthouse



Marron are a large freshwater crayfish endemic to south-west WA
