30 November - Cape Naturaliste and Sugarloaf Rock, Cape to Cape Track; Upper Primary Celebration Evening

30 November 2016 – 196 876

Cape Naturaliste and Sugarloaf Rock, Cape to Cape Track; Upper Primary Celebration Evening

This morning I started the day with a run, followed by a swim in the ocean (unfortunately no waves though).  Hayden then spent some time finishing off school homework while awaiting his turn in the dress rehearsals for Celebration Evening (via FaceTime).  There were a few glitches while trying to work out the technology, but it is looking possible.  

Today’s destination was Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse – it is not as tall as Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, as it is on a much higher land point.  

https://www.margaretriverattractions.com/lighthouses/cape-naturaliste-lighthouse/

After a picnic lunch, we walked another section of the Cape to Cape Track – the Access for More Trail – which is wheelchair suitable and quite easy going as a result.  

http://www.capetocapetrack.com.au/

We then walked to the Whale Lookout – while we didn’t see any whales it was a very impressive view of a very large ocean.  

https://trailswa.com.au/trails/whale-lookout-walk/close-by/attraction/cape-to-cape-track

Our last walk was to the “Other Side of the Moon” – a very disused track over rocky limestone.  All up we walked about 11km in 3 hours.  

We had a quick shower and dinner on our return to the caravan park, to be ready in time for Celebration Evening. FaceTime for Celebration Evening went off without a hitch – Hayden received an Academic Excellence Medallion, a great payoff for all the hard work and effort he has put into his schooling while on the road – Congratulations!

29 November - Food and Wine Trail

29 November 2016 – 196 780

Food and Wine Trail

This morning we did odd jobs like washing and groceries, before having a meeting via FaceTime with Mr King regarding Celebration Evening tomorrow and how he plans to involve Hayden.  We had a stroll around Busselton – we even invested in a Christmas tree that is the perfect size for our van! 

https://www.margaretriver.com/towns/busselton/

We then headed out on a food and wine trail.  Stop one was Happs Winery as we had been advised they were the only winery in the region that had Grenache – Drew’s favourite.  

https://happs.com.au/

Stop two was Yallingup Cheese Company and Abbey Vale Wines – after tasting a variety of cheeses, I went with Conto, Drew was able to get an old bush vine Grenache that was very much to his taste.  

https://yallingupcheese.com.au/

https://www.abbeyvalewines.com.au/

Stop three was Bootleg Brewery – a tasting plate included seven different types of beer and a cider (1. Summer Ale, 2. Toms Mid, 3. Prohibition Pils, 4. Speakeasy IPA, 5. Raging Bull, 6. Choc Thunder, 7. ????? and Prinsep Cider).  

http://bootlegbrewery.com.au/

I then took over the driving as Drew had very much enjoyed his tastings, leaving nothing go to waste.  Stop four was Gabriel Chocolate – they make a variety of single origin chocolates with beans from various locations around the world.  

https://gabrielchocolate.com.au/pages/yallingup-shop

We then took a look through the towns of Yallingup and Dunsborough before driving back to Busselton.

https://www.margaretriver.com/towns/yallingup/

https://www.margaretriver.com/towns/dunsborough/

28 November - Conto’s Campground to Redgate Beach by the Cape to Cape Track

28 November 2016 – 196 710

Conto’s Campground to Redgate Beach by the Cape to Cape Track

http://www.capetocapetrack.com.au/

https://trailswa.com.au/trails/cape-to-cape-track

This morning we packed down and then walked from Conto’s Campground to Redgate Beach via the Cape to Cape Track.  The walk begins along the cliff top and gives spectacular views over the water and beaches.  There are still a substantial number of wildflowers on display – it must be very colourful in wildflower season.  The water again looked beautiful and clear with amazing volumes of water moving with each swell. The track wound through quite close vegetation in places, and under windswept gnarled trees in others.  The track had a short section that was very steep – requiring the use of a chain to safely descend this on the return journey.  Bob’s Hollow and Grotto were limestone cliffs that people were abseiling down and quite pitted with caves.  

https://www.margaretriverfindthefun.com.au/listing/bobs-hollow-walk/

Redgate Beach was again beautiful, with the southern end having a number of crystal clear rock holes and the ocean showing its power as it crashed into the outer rock island.  Today there were learn to surf classes on at the beach.  

https://www.margaretriver.com/members/redgate-beach/

We had a picnic lunch at Conto’s campground and then drove to Busselton.  We have checked in to Busselton Villas and Caravan Park for the next three nights.  Busselton has many caravan parks and yet several are around the $65 per night for mid-week – the dearest we have come across.  After setting up, we took a walk along the beautiful beach of Busselton.

https://www.margaretriver.com/towns/busselton/

27 November - Margaret Rivermouth, Eagles Heritage Wildlife Centre, Lake Cave and Redgate Beach

27 November 2016 - 196 625

Margaret Rivermouth, Eagles Heritage Wildlife Centre, Lake Cave and Redgate Beach

This morning we started the day with a visit to the Karri forest just south of Conto’s Campground – it is amazingly pretty, like something from a fairy-tale.  

https://www.margaretriver.com/members/boranup-karri-forest/

We then set off to explore the Margaret Rivermouth area and watched some of a surfing competition at Surfer’s Point.  The coastline here was once again stunning.  

https://www.margaretriver.com/members/margaret-river-mouth/

https://www.margaretriverwesternaustralia.com.au/locations/surfers-point-prevelly

We then met the Turnbull’s at Eagles Heritage Raptor Wildlife Centre – the kids all loved this, with both boys being big fans of birds of prey.  The flying display included the opportunity to have a Masked Barn Owl (called Ivy) to sit on your arm.  

https://eaglesheritage.com.au/wp/

We then went back to camp to have lunch, before heading to Lake Cave for a guided tour.  This was a long way down – 68m!  

https://www.margaretriverattractions.com/caves/lake-cave/

In the bottom of the cave is a lake and suspended above the lake is a platform held to the roof by two pillars – a most unusual formation.  It was a picturesque cave with beautiful formations.  Hayden was very excited to have his photo taken with Brad Hogg (cricketer who happened to be on the tour) after the tour.  

To finish the day, we visited Redgate Beach – finally, finally some body surfing!  The water was cool, but not freezing, and the waves were very ridable without dumping.  The sand on the beach here was incredibly soft as well and again, beautiful beach to look at.  What a great way to finish the day!

https://www.margaretriver.com/members/redgate-beach/