AUSTRALIND - BUNBURY

Here we are parked across the road from the Leschenault Inlet with our lounge window overlooking the water with all the bird life feeding.

Pelicans, egrets, sea gulls and herons abound here.

The Henton Cottage was built in 1841 as the "Prince of Wales Hotel" now is full of old collectibles.

The Church of St Nicholas is reputed to be the smallest church in Australia.  It is only 3.6m wide and 8.2m long.

The roses around Henton Cottage are so beautiful with colour.

Saturday was cold and a strong blustery south-westerly so we took a drive over to Bunbury.  The city of Bunbury known as the "City of Three Waters", as it borders along the Indian Ocean, the calm waters of Koombana Bay and the tranquil Leschenault Inlet.

These views are from Marlston Hill Lookout

We climbed the Marlston Hill Lookout with its spiral staircase gives 360 degree views.  Whew, quite a fete in the wind.

Bunbury Lighthouse served the port for 33 years until 1903 and moved from Marlston Hill to its present site in 1971 to create a prominent Bunbury landmark.

LESCHENAULT WATERWAY DISCOVERY CENTRE and JETTY WALK

We unpacked our bikes and hit the footpath along to this area.  The weather has warmed up and is getting up to 28 degrees so rode all the way out to the jetty where we sat and pondered the day!   As I was attempting to get a decent photo of the white faced heron, I noticed the undergrowth and sand being disturbed and found it to be a huge stingray about one metre wide.  Wow.  I was fascinated so stood watching it and as locals came out on their walk, also stopped to watch.  Interesting talking to locals about different places they and we have travelled.

Wayne at the end of the jetty - smoke very low ad dense here today from burn-off's further inland before the summer.

Look at those huge eyes starring up at me.

Very smokey today.  Looking back towards the caravan park far right at the light coloured building.

Large smoke clouds

As you can see the black smoke clouds looking towards north-east.

Amazing sunset tonight.

PINJARRA

Driving east from Mandurah, we strolled through this historic homestead of Edenvale with its historic buildings and tranquil gardens beside the meandering Murray river with the swing bridge built by the army.

The vehicle bridge in Pinjarra of the Forrest Hwy. still has the original timber pylons and joists as well as timber planking.  (what you see from the path under the bridge)

My darling needed a rest after walking not more than a kilometre!!

Enjoyed our lunch at "Dome" for a trio of meat-balls - tomato chutney, chicken fingers - aoli and salt and pepper squid - sweet chill sauce.

Nice food and nice coffee.

These "Dome" restaurants are throughout WA it seems.

MANDURAH RIVER DOLPHIN CRUISE

 Not feeling the best as both Wayne and I have come down with sore throats and a head cold so spent a couple of days out of the wind and cooler weather.

Ventured out for a drive to the Visitor Centre and managed to book a cruise which took us through the Venetian canals where we caught our first sight of dolphins and further around the magnificent canal homes, historical pioneer sited and a great informative commentary as we cruised the inland waterways where we experienced the dolphins surfing in the wake of our vessel.

Mother and baby dolphin

Dolphin surfing the wake of the vessel

CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS - NOT HOW WE FIRST PLANNED

Kwok-Sun Family.  Oh what a tremendous time we shared with Shona, Peter and four of their daughters and grand daughters.  Did not stop laughing as we caught up with times gone bye and seeing their families together makes us feel a little "home sick" to see our own families.

Peter and Shona are flying back to Brisbane Sunday and their vehicle and caravan are being trucked back over to them as they have had to stop their travelling for the moment.
We spent lunch the following day with Peter and Shona down at Rockingham foreshore where a local recycle/old statues exhibits in the sand and foreshore were on display.

Spot the old men sitting in the sun!!!

We headed on down to Mandurah to stay for a week

BACK TO NATURE CARAVAN PARK

After calling into Lancelin for fuel for the truck and our tummies we continued on to this caravan park.  Thanks to Glenda mentioning this property we spent the night here and enjoyed a stroll up the hill to snap more wildflowers and look out over the surrounding countryside.  Very peaceful  -  BUT  -  too many flies!!!

PINNACLES DESERT

The Pinnacles desert covers an area of approx 400 hectares and contains aeollian-limestone standing up to 3 metres high

You can drive through a loop road for 4km or park/walk a shorter loop as we did today

Unfortunately, even these 30,000 year old  pinnacles do get damaged with humans climbing on them!

We started our day visiting the Pinnacles Desert in the Nambung National Park.  The Pinnacles were mistaken for the ruins of an ancient city by Dutch sailors off the coast in 1700.  It is hard to believe that they are only 6 klms from the coast and so we stopped at Hangover Bay for lunch and enjoyed the beauty there.

You cannot be mistaken - you are on the Turquoise Coast for sure.

Pure white sandhills inland where wildflowers abound.

More White sand dunes along this coastline.

All of a sudden while travelling south we came across heaps of these blackboy palms all with new shoots.

Pulling up at a rest area for the night, I baked Wayne some peanut cookies before taking a stroll around as I noticed several bushes with different flowers.  Wow, little did I know that I would find more new flowers etc plus kangaroo paws.