Busselton

Busselton was the place we decided to base ourselves at to visit the Margaret River area.  There are so many wonderful locations in the area but the kids decided that one park in particular would be the best, Mandalay Top Tourist Park.  It was vote as one of the top 10 destinations for kids.  It is a well set up park with two pools, huge playground, jumping pillow, games room and large sporting oval and the cleanest most up to date toilets in all the locations we have stayed.  It was a great park for the kids but again the asking price of these caravan parks make you wonder how we are going to be able to afford such places in the near future.  They also like to dog tag my children, which is something I do not take to kindly too.  Oops breaking the rules again.  Naughty me!!!!

We took the first day at the park to catch up on some journal writing.  Kids are doing extremely well writing about each town the day after we leave it and it is keeping it fresh in their minds.  We caught up with the Pentland family again whom we meet in Perth.  The kids chatted and played and had fun with there three children.  We put aside the afternoon to visit the Ferguson Valley and Donnybrook.  While driving through the valley we came across the quirk but oh so funny Gnomesville.  It began as a protest to the council and has since become a novelty to add to the gnomes.  There are 1000's of the little buggers.  It took us ages to wander around the area finding them all.

Kaleb the biggest gnome of all.

So many of the little blighter's.

Oooohh this one's a little rude!

The kids found this one hilarious!

After our roaming for gnomes we head for Donnybrook where the biggest free park is located.   I think they might want to watch out, Mt Isa might be taking their crown away from them.  Mind you this little detail did not stop the kids racing from one ride/climb/slide to the next.  They had a ball.  Actually I quite enjoyed my swing also.  It was very pleasant enjoying the swaying motion.

This is weight assisted exercise.
I sit.... kids do all the work and I just
get .......heavier!

Then you combine it with a little swing and your well on your
way to size overweight!

Come help Jordan...Dad's too heavy to lift up!

Our next day was greeted with rain but this didn't stop the kids.  They spent most of it playing on the playground and jumping pillow and using the undercover pool.  They spent most of the afternoon in the pool.  I spent the afternoon email important documents off to my school and the kids school.

Our visit to the Busselton Jetty will be one of my highlights.  I really enjoyed all aspects of this tour.  The pier and its beauty was just stunning, the ride on the little train and the underground observetory.  I just loved how each window you visited just showed so my life and how interesting the pylons had become.  It really was a very pretty place.

We visited Dunsborough, Cape Nataulist and Yallinup.  We looked around each of the areas and enjoyed the spectacular coastline.  Yallinup is known for its surf and it certainly was pumping the day we visited.  We also visited  the Margaret River Chocolate company, Bettany Nougart and the Bootleg Brewery.  We really enjoyed the taste test at the chocolate factory.  Nigel I think went back to taste the chocolate chips at least 6 times with Jordan and Kaleb not far behind him.  We made many a purchase but the chocolate coated pistachio and berry nougart was what I was really looking forward to eating.  At the brewery we also had a taste of seven beers.  They start of light and got heavier as they went along.  I must admit I am such an uncouth bugger.  They were a little flavoured for my liking and very very very bitter.  I much prefer just having my Toohey's Extra Dry.

MMMMMMmmmm what to have???

Can I try this one Dad?

This one next Dad!

This one was a little bitter for our liking.   

The kids had their beer goggles on.

Augusta was the next place of interest.  On our way down we stopped at several locations.  Firstly the Margaret River Dairy Company.  Cheese and yoghurt tasting.  Yum!!!  I love cheese.  After find my five favourites I walk out a little heavier and a little poorer.  My how we are going to enjoy these cheese's.  The Candy Cow was next....you would never guess who picked to go there..........yes you got it......Nigel..oh and the kids.  They ran around looking at all of the packs and wanting to buy one of everything.  We tasted fudge and enjoyed roasted almonds and again came out heavier and poorer.

We still haven't made Augusta yet and only arrived in Margaret River at lunch time.  We were treated to thousands of Harley Davidson's.  They had their big ride that morning and were enjoying showing off their bikes to each other and interested passer-bys like us.  We also visited the Margaret River Fudge Factory and tasted peanut fudge, yum!! Chilly fudge, Yuck!  Okay finally we pulled ourselves away from the food delight and head for Augusta.  The kids full of sugar....me full of cheese.....Nigel full of shhhh   FUDGE!  We drove around Augusta which didn't take us long then visited Cape Leeuwin.  The kids were tired so they decide they did not want to get out of the car so I looked at the light house from the gated area and walked down to the Indian Ocean for a quick look.  I climbed back in the car and we took off completely forgetting to visit the water wheel.  One of the most photographed items in the whole of WA. Sound exciting doesn't it.  Late on though I really kicked myself.  I realised the importance of visiting Cape Leeuwin as this is the point where the Southern and the Indian Oceans collide.  Sadly I only saw it from the distance and did not take in the importance of it.  Oh well.  Now we really will have to come back and visit.  That's a shame isn't it....NOT! ;)

Southern Ocean

Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse

Indian Ocean.

My last shot of the Indian Ocean.
It may be a while before we get to see her again.

On our journey back to Busselton we headed along Caves Road and stopped in at Hamlin Bay.  We drove thorough the burn off's that later became a major runaway blaze taking 40+ houses with it.  We felt they did not have control the day we went through and that was 3-4day before the first houses were lost.  Why in heavens name would anyone want to burn off in November.  All they complete nuff nuffs.  We had one last stop before leaving the Margaret River region and that was a Driftwood winery.  We tasted sparkling and reds but end up with the port.  It was yum!  We should have bought a box.  We would have finished it in a month.

We packed lots into our couple of days in this area but I feel sure it would be a much better place to visit without kids.  They are really not that interested in the wineries and breweries.  We will need to come back here again.  Just the two of us for a lovely week away.

Julia and Duncan again joined us in Busselton a few days behind us.  We caught up for drinks and enjoyed their company and Julia also made tea for us.  Thanks Julia & Duncan you are champs, you keep us laughing all the time.  We love it.

Off to Pemberton, Walpole or Denmark tomorrow.  Lets see how far we get!