Week 9/52 - Cape Leeuwin, meeting of Indian & Southern Oceans

Over the weekend we drove down to the far south west tip of our state to Cape Leeuwin, to capture some photos for you.

Travelling south from Margaret River we reach Augusta, and then nine kilometres further south is Cape Leeuwin, where the Indian Ocean to the west, and the Southern Ocean to the south, meet - Latitude 34degrees 22 south, longitude 115 degrees 08 east. Like Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin is known for its treacherous reefs and rocks, and savage unpredictable weather. There are many shipwrecks off shore.

The first recorded sighting of Cape Leeuwin was in 1622 by the Dutch ship, Leeuwin. It was named Cape Leeuwin by explorer Matthew Flinders in 1801 at the commencement of his mapping and circumnavigation of the coastline Australia. The foundation stone for the lighthouse was dedicated by Sir John Forrest in 1896. The lighthouse is built from local stone and the lighthouse precinct is heritage listed. The lighthouse keepers cottages still exist and one is now the visitor centre and cafe.

From Life Images by Jill

Here is an elevated view so you can get a general picture of what the area looks like - not the most fantastic shot but you can get the idea. The Leeuwin lighthouse is on a piece of land that stretches out into the ocean where the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean meet. Next stop Antarctica. When I have visited before it has been windy and cold so these relatively calm seas were a novelty.

From Life Images by Jill

It was a fine day when we visited on Sunday, but I rather like this one I took a couple of years ago on transparency (sorry about the quality of the scan). It was raining and blowing a gale - when I think of lighthouses, this is the sort of scene I imagine.

From Life Images by Jill

Here is another photo of Cape Leeuwin.

From Life Images by Jill

Here's another photo from Cape Leeuwin - this is the old waterwheel built in 1895 to supply water to the builders of the lighthouse, and later the lighthouse keepers. The water came from a natural spring, and as the water flowed over, the wheel turned and activated a pump to pump the water up to the lighthouse. The wheel is now encrusted with calcified lime.

From Life Images by Jill

 To reach Augusta, we drive along Caves Road (so called because of the number of underground caves along this stretch of the coast) through the Boranup forest (there is a wonderful gallery and gift shop where you can buy wood products and furniture, glass work, beautiful art and gifts - I love stopping there). The trees in this photo are Karri trees - we will see some more of them when we visit Pemberton next week.

From Life Images by Jill

And the Boranup Forest - it is hard to capture its grandeur. At least this time I took my tripod along, and used it! Its amazing how many other people stop and take photos when they see someone using a tripod -  but it is a magnificent scene from this spot, and changes with the light.

From Life Images by Jill

This one I have added a cooling filter in Photoshop Elements.

From Life Images by Jill

And of course my tour would not be complete without at least one wildflower photo - this is from the Eucalypt family.

From Life Images by Jill

Here's another photo from Cape Leeuwin - this is the old waterwheel built in 1895 to supply water to the builders of the lighthouse, and later the lighthouse keepers. The water came from a natural spring, and as the water flowed over, the wheel turned and activated a pump to pump the water up to the lighthouse. The wheel is now encrusted with calcified lime.

Week 8 / 52 - Yallingup & the Capes - History for me and surf for him

Welcome to Week 8 of our 52 week tour of Western Australia. Today we continue south from Yallingup through the "cape to cape" region to Margaret River - internationally famous surfing location and wine region.

In the Cape to Cape region you can enjoy shady pathways through towering forests, surfing on a hot summers day, waves crashing on rugged cliff faces, secluded sandy white beaches, stunning wild flowers, pristine cave formations, late lunches and wine tasting in cosy wine cellars, vineyards spreading across rolling hillsides, whales and dolphins playing in the bay, an afternoons fishing on the jetty, browsing through art galleries and museums, exploring historic town-sites, and at the end of the day, sitting on a veranda and watching the sun go down over the Indian Ocean after another glorious day in Western Australia’s South West corner. This is the place where history, natural beauty, friendly people, fabulous food and wine, all combine to make your stay an unforgettable experience. There is something for everyone.

I am not big on surf photography (probably because I am not very good in surf and I can't get in there to take those fabulous photos surf photographers do) but here is one

From Life Images by Jill

We are also going to explore some history at Ellensbrook Homestead, home of the district's first pioneers, Alfred and Ellen Bussell, who lived here from 1854 to 1865. The home was gradually extended as their family grew, and is a unique example of early architecture and construction techniques. It would have been a wild and lonely piece of coastline when then settled here. It was a dull day when we visited so I have done a bit of pp work on this blurring the edges and adding some grain and a sepia tone - what do you think of the effect?

From Life Images by Jill

Here's another view - no pp.

From Life Images by Jill

Margaret River is not just about surf and wineries, we are also going to go bushwalking. There are lots of bush trails in the Cape to Cape region - and a fabulous guide book you can buy. Spring is the best time for bushwalking while the wildflowers are out. Here is one of our stunning wild orchids - the leopard orchid - which we discovered along the Old Ellensbrook Road (the bushwalkers way into Ellensbrook). My husband has very good eyesight for spotting orchids, and I was thrilled he found this one, a Leopard Orchid, as it is a variety we had never seen before.

Leopard Orchid

Here is another photo, this one is of the coastline just near Ellensbrook Homestead - and part of the Cape to Cape walk.

From Life Images by Jill

Cape to Cape trail marker -

From Life Images by Jill

Week 7 / 52 - Margaret River wine region - time for grape crushing

Hi everyone, here we are into week 7 of our 52 week tour Downunder Western Australia. Thanks for coming along everyone - I hope you enjoy this weeks tour. I really appreciate you looking and commenting - for what is a tour without friends and fellow travellers?

Over the last few weeks I have been taking you down the coast from Perth through Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton and Dunsborough. We are still on the coast south of Dunsborough but this week I am taking you slightly away from the coast through the internationally acclaimed Yallingup - Margaret River wine region.

I think I am really lucky as this area is only about one hour from my home in Bunbury so it is a great place to take visitors, go for lunch, or spend the day touring or wine tasting. There is so much choice, you will always find something you like. You can also visit cheese factories, olive groves, chocolate factories, lavender farms, ice-creameries, galleries, handmade furniture outlets, and even a maze, as well as walk trails and lots of other activities for the family. It is a great place for a holiday. Sometimes we travel down after work on Friday and stay the weekend in a lovely place we found that only has 6 guest rooms. Relaxing and beautiful.

This is a shot of new growth....

From Life Images by Jill

I really liked the arrangement of these old vines on the side of this cellar door.

From Life Images by Jill

This is one of the many cellars. As well as wine tasting they offer lunches, dinners, coffees and like the one below, open air concerts. Some cellars also now combine wine tasting with boutique breweries.

From Life Images by Jill

And a view of some of the vineyards in the Yallingup region. It is February and it is time for the grape pick - or as we call it "vintage". A busy time for them as they need to get the grapes off when they are "just right" for the wine vat.

From Life Images by Jill

here is another one of our native orchids - this is a Rattle Beak

From Life Images by Jill

And some lavender from the lavender fields near Yallingup........I love the smell!....

From Life Images by Jill

Week 6/52 - Cape Naturalist and Busselton - longest jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.

Welcome to week 6 of my tour around Western Australia. Today we go south of Bunbury to Busselton. Only around 3 hours from Perth, Busselton is one of our most popular holiday destinations for families.

Gateway to the wine regions of Yallingup and Margaret River, Busselton is located on the white sandy shores of Geographe Bay and is the business hub of the region. It is home to the 2 kilometre long Busselton Jetty. Built 143 years ago Busselton Jetty is the longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere and is a focal point for visitors to Busselton.

Perfect for families and children for fishing and squidding (ie catching squid from the jetty), or just walking, the jetty is also a unique eco-tourism site. Situated at the end of the Jetty is the Underwater Observatory - presently closed whilst a refurbishment is underway, and due to open again in mid 2010. My husband's family spent many summers at Busselton and fished from the jetty every day. After we were married we continued to come to Busselton - I loved to go squidding. At the end of the jetty in those days was a fish and chip shop - great for a feed of chips after a fishing trip.

There are heaps of accommodation options - from caravan parks along the beach front to international class resorts - catering for all budgets.

When people think of Busselton, they think of the jetty so my photos today are centred around here. In the photo here you can see the information and interpretive centre and gift shop. This lady is enjoying just laying on the beach relaxing - looks like a great way to spend the afternoon.

From Life Images by Jill

Here is another photo as the sun is setting -

From Life Images by Jill

This massive Morten Bay Fig Tree sits near the end of the jetty in front of the restaurant and cafe. In the photo you can see a small jetty on the beach front. This is all that remains of a second finger of the jetty which was blown away by a cyclone in the 1970's. This part of the jetty used to meet the remaining jetty at what was called "the elbow".

From Life Images by Jill

And so the sun sets into the west after another perfect summer day on the beach....

From Life Images by Jill

Thanks for coming along everyone. I am not sure how this stitched image will reproduce here, and I know the waves aren't matching up in the foreground.....but I wanted to try and show you the length of the jetty. The jetty is a great place for a stroll in the morning or evening. The jetty is at the moment under a few repairs, but the train will be back up and running later this year.

From Life Images by Jill

So now we travel on southwards from Busselton along the coast to Dunsborough, Meelup and Cape Naturaliste.

The Meelup and beaches of the Cape to Cape region are some of the most beautiful in Western Australia. Only a couple of hours from our capital city Perth, this region has been a summer holiday destination for years for young people, surfies, couples and families. It is also a mecca for "sea changers" and artisans.

Meelup has lots of little bays and beautiful clear blue water perfect for snorkelling - what better way to spend a summers day. The main Meelup Beach is very popular with families as it is a safe beach for children and their is a shaded grassed area perfect for a picnic. There are also walk trails.

From Life Images by Jill

From Life Images by Jill

Below you see the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse, which is at the start of the Cape to Cape walk trail which winds for 135 kilometres south along the coast between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.

Of course you don't have to do the full Cape to Cape track. There are plenty of day walks, and walking guide books devoted to the entire Cape to Cape region. Around Cape Naturaliste itself are several walks and a viewing platform for seal and whale watching.

From Life Images by Jill

A view from the Cape to Cape trail - this is looking southwards towards Sugar Loaf Rock.

From Life Images by Jill

And some wildflowers from around Cape Naturaliste....so they are mostly low bushes that can withstand the coastal winds.

Southern Native Rose

Winged Clematis

Pixie Mop

Blue Fan Flower