11 December - Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve and Brig Amity

11 December 2016 – 198 467

Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve and Brig Amity

This morning we went to Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve and visited Little Beach – this is a pretty beach, however it has hundreds of flies, so we didn’t hang around.  

https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/two-peoples-bay

We drove back to Albany to see the Brig Amity.  The Brig Amity is a full size replica of the boat that brought the first convicts and soldiers to establish the settlement that went on to become Albany.  This held sixty people and would have been extremely crowded and uncomfortable journey for all.  There was an audio tour of the ship, Hayden thoroughly enjoyed this and working the ship’s wheel!  

https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/greatsouthern/brig-amity

We then returned to the van for a relax and organise afternoon.  Albany is our last big town for several week, so time to restock.  We went to the patrolled beach at Middleton Beach, however there were no waves and the surf lifesavers are wearing full length wet suits – don’t think I would like the water temperature!

https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Attraction/Middleton_Beach/56b2672b7b935fbe730e66f8

9 December - National ANZAC Centre and Albany Heritage Park, Albany

9 December 2016 – 198 302

National ANZAC Centre and Albany Heritage Park, Albany

This morning we visited some beautiful lookouts with views over King George Sound and Princess Royal Harbour.  

https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Attraction/King_George_Sound/56b267c82cbcbe7073ae1ae7

https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Attraction/Princess_Royal_Harbour/56b267c8d5f1565045dab013

The National ANZAC Centre was today’s destination.  

https://www.nationalanzaccentre.com.au/

This is an amazing facility, with all the usual visual boards regarding the entire First World War from the perspective of Australia and New Zealand forces, particularly those that left in the first and second convoys departing from Albany.  There was also an auditory device that you could listen to additional material related to many of the visual boards.  Each visitor was given a card of an individual from either the  first or second convoys – these were inserted into a reader at various locations to give information on that individual’s journey and experience during the First World War.  There are also a number of spaces set aside in the area for sitting and thinking. Overall this is a fantastic facility and well worth the entry fee, however it would be great if this was federally funded and free to all Australians (and New Zealanders).  We also took a guided tour of the Princess Royal Fortress – this is beautifully maintained, in terms of both the buildings and the assorted weaponry, with the guns still being able to be swivelled and elevated.  

https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Attraction/Princess_Royal_Fortress_Military_Museum/56b2672ed5f1565045daa6ae

A short climb took us up to Padre White Lookout, from where the first Australian ANZAC service was conducted.

https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Attraction/Padre_White_Lookout/56b26bd0d5f1565045dada7d

8 December - Greens Pool, Elephant Rock, Madfish Bay and Waterfall Beach; William Bay National Park, and a Quick Departure

8 December 2016 – 198 137

Greens Pool, Elephant Rock, Madfish Bay and Waterfall Beach; William Bay National Park, and a Quick Departure

This morning

This afternoon

This morning we had a lazy start with the plan of an easy relaxing day.  Today’s destination was William Bay National Park.  

https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/park/william-bay

First up was Greens Pool – another spot where the local kids have swimming lessons, a beautiful sheltered area protected by rocks, while outside this the power of the Southern Ocean is on full display.  We sat high up on the rocks and watched the ocean smash and boil around the rocks below – definitely not a spot to be shipwrecked.  

https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/greens-pool

https://www.denmarkwesternaustralia.com/denmark-wa-travel-destinations/greenspool.htm

We then visited Elephant Rocks – this was a lovely little bay that you get to by walking between large rocks (several times the height of a person).  

https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/elephant-rocks

https://www.denmarkwesternaustralia.com/denmark-wa-travel-destinations/elephantrocks.htm

We then drove to Madfish Bay, this is again protected by rocks, but a small island in the centre gives twin beaches and a very protected swimming area.  

https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/madfish-bay

https://www.denmarkwesternaustralia.com/denmark-wa-travel-destinations/madfishbay.htm

Waterfall Beach was a little further east, and although not as pretty as the other beaches, it was special in its own way as it had a waterfall of fresh water coming out of the dunes and running down to the beach.  

https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/waterfall-beach

https://www.denmarkwesternaustralia.com/denmark-wa-travel-destinations/waterfallbeach.htm

We then drove back to Madfish Bay for a picnic and a swim.  Although the waves look very small, the volumes of water that the Southern Ocean moves means that they pull and push very strongly.  Drew and I waded out to the island while Hayden played in the sand.  We had the entire bay to ourselves, quite special.  We then returned to the caravan with the plan of a chill out afternoon.  

However nature had other plans.  Seeing the massive amount of smoke in the sky and how much closer the fire had come in the few hours we had been out, we decided that packing down and moving this afternoon, rather than tomorrow morning, was a good idea.  So we packed up and headed for Albany.  On the way, we stopped at Eden Gate Blueberry Farm for farm fresh blueberries – yummy!  

http://www.edengate.com.au/

We have booked in for the next few nights at Big4 Middleton Beach Holiday Park in Albany.

https://www.big4.com.au/caravan-parks/wa/south-west/middleton-beach-holiday-park