Western Australian travel update 2020

 Welcome everyone to the update of our Western Australian travel in 2020. It has been a strange year for everyone around the world with the Covid 19 Corona virus spreading rapidly across the world and curtailing domestic and international travel. And the many people who have fallen ill or died from the virus, and those who have suffered the loss of loved ones. 

When  it first hit Australia back in March our state borders between the states were closed, as well as International borders. Anyone returning home from overseas were required to do mandatory 14 day hotel quarantine. And those wanting to travel interstate had to seek special approval. Even within our state of Western Australia internal borders were imposed between regions. 

In many ways it was a good time to stop and reflect. Spending quiet time away from crowds

This of course severely restricted travel even within our own states. However when the WA internal regional borders were reopened, but the state borders were still in place, Western Australian's got out and travelled within their own state even more than before. I heard people saying they didn't realise how beautiful our state was! These were people that usually travelled overseas. 

Well I've always known how beautiful Western Australia is, hence this blog. Unfortunately for us in 2020 I had an ankle operation in March, and then broke my wrist in September. This curtailed our travel, however we still managed a few getaways. 

The best way to keep updated with travels and other topics is to go to my main blog - Life Images by Jill - or to check the index. I am wondering if this index should actually be alphabetical? What do you think? As it is a combination of posts on this blog, and posts on my main blog. Hmmm...

I also started a Covid photo a day project in March 2020. Now in January 2021 it is still going! and I have no idea when it might stop. Covid photo a day project - December 2020

But back to travel.......  

We were encouraged to Wonder out Yonder in Western Australia - so I did an A-Z of Western Australian travel

I went back to revisit the Explore the Painted Silos Trail

We went on a two week trip to Coral Bay, Exmouth and Kalbarri - Travelling north

I have just realised I didn't go back to share more of this on my blog. I must get back to it. 

We went hunting for wild orchids and wildflowers in the Stirling Ranges National Park in thegreat southern region of our state, and saw first hand the devastation of the January bushfires.

We went up to Wellington Dam near Collie to see the progress on the Wellington Dam wall mural

And we had a long weekend with my family in the Western Australian wheatbelt weekend

Amongst all that we also did quite a bit of local walking in bush reserves. Summer colour in the south west of Western Australia

I sincerely hope that you and yours are safe and well and that there might be something on here to temp you to wander out yonder. My full blog where I blog every week can be found at Life Images by Jill

Thank you for visiting. I hope to hear from you. Take care and stay safe. 

Travel Western Australia - 2017 update

Hi everyone, it's the time of year again when I update my blog with my travel from the past year, 2017, with the travel posts you will find on my main blog - Life Images by Jill.
I hope you will visit me over there for lots of travel, inspiration and other stuff as well!

4 Wheel driving on Bob's Track to Hamelin Bay, Western Australia 

The Old Timberline Trail, St Johns Brook, Nannup, Western Australia

A walk by the River, Leschenault Inlet, Bunbury, Western Australia 

 Autumn at Balingup Tree Park, Western Australia

The Wool Wagon Pathway, Murchison, Western Australia 

 Lake Dumbleyung, Western Australia and Donald Campbell

 Down in the Woods Today, Gnomesville, Ferguson Valley, Western Australia

 What do Gerald Durrell and Nannup have in common, Western Australia

 Crooked Brook Forest, Dardanup, Western Australia

Hunting for Wild Orchids in the Western Australian mid-west 

 Kennedy Ranges, Pilbara, Western Australia

 Camping at Potters Gorges, Wellington Dam, Western Australia

Puzzle This -Amazen, Margaret River, Western Australia 

Farm Gate Art Trail and wildflowers, Ravensthorpe, Western Australia 

 Biodiversity Hotspot, Fitzgerald River National Park, Western Australia

And some travel from the other side of Australia.....

Icons of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

10 Things to Do in Sydney, Australia 

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