Where to go next?

So the plan was to stay here in Perth for a while to earn some loot before heading off to explore/experience the rest of Australia, which is so much bigger than I originally imagined. However we have decided to cut our time here shorter, as the pay is good, we've had plenty of hours and we have many places we want to see. 

So yesterday we handed in our week's notice and we will have both finished work by Monday 5th May.

After spending some time with Judi, Arthur and their daughter, Philippa they have convinced me that the left hand side of Australia is the best side (much like the competitiveness of the North and South of the UK)! Most people I know of that have travelled Australia have spent time driving the East Coast, so it's all that I really heard of doing! However there has always been a niggling at the back of my mind to do the none touristy spots. Which has now been enlightened by my recent discussions with Philippa.

It seems that Ningaloo (10hours north of Perth) is the untouched, untouristy version of the Great Barrier Reef. And rather than having to get a boat out like you have to at GBR you can apparently snorkel right off the beach. She also explained that the weather the further north you travel is so much better whereas now in Perth, the weather starts to get more 'wintery', however I'm not sure we have the same understanding of winter. After looking at a few guide books we have also discovered that this is the time to go swimming with whale sharks! Eek! 

So the plan is to travel to Exmouth and stop at the Pinnacles, Monkey Mia, Shark  Bay, Coral Bay, Cape National Park and Ningaloo. We will travel there and back via campervan in just over a week. The plan is then to fly out to Bali for a few days or so and then back to Perth for a quick stopover before heading to Adelaide via flight then driving up the East Coast to Cairns. 

Any tips on places to visit or see would be appreciated!! Thanks. 

Xoxo

Margaret River road and camping trip

So after numerous people recommended Margaret River to us we knew we had to go. We waited until we had 2 consecutive days off together and booked a little car, a campsite and a wine tour.

For those of you who haven't heard of Margaret River, it's 3 and a half hours South of Perth and is famous first and formost for it's wineries and there is also breweries, cheese factories, chocolate factories, etc. Basically anyone who likes consumable goods mainly wine head to Margaret River. 

We left early on Tuesday morning in our little Hyundai arriving in Margaret River at lunchtime. It was Nath's first time driving in 5 years so it was a huge occasion. I now know Mum and Dad the stress you probably went through being in a car with Adrian and I for the first time!! Although all went well, thankfully! 

We could only check into our campsite at 2pm (which is slightly closer to the coast in Prevelly) so before heading off to do a food shop for the few days and a bit of an explore, we drove along the sea front and stopped by a few view points.

On our way back to the campsite we discovered a wine estate so we decided to stop by and see what it was all about in preparation for our tour. We stopped at Cape Mentelle which was amazing! The location was lovely and during peak season (summer) they offer an outdoor cinema. We missed it by a week and were gutted. 

After having a few tasters including an incredible dessert wine that tasted and smelt just like apricot we decided it was probably time to pitch our tent.

Now I consider myself an expert campsite and Nathan and I both like to be right all the time and prefer not to admit defeat. I thought I'd just mention this so that you know Nathan's expertise does not lie in tent building, however he is learning. Leave it to the expert. 

Tent courtesy of Philippa and Marika, so thank you.

Soon after we were pitched and had showered it started to get dark. Thankfully the campsite provided bbqs and an outdoor (with a roof) eating area. We BBQed ourselves a feast of sausages, beef burgers with salad and sweet chilli cheese and drank some pink bubbles.

The good thing about camping is that your pretty much guaranteed an early night unless you have cards or something to entertain you. 

The next day we embarked on out Bushtucker Wine Tour (recommended via an Aussie friend) at 10am and we had a super confident, full of jokes your guide. 

We visited various wineries including Adifern Estate and Knotting Hill, a liqueur place called The Grove, a brewery called Cheeky Monkey, the Margaret River (personal favourite) and Jam, oil and chocolate liqueur place. It was a fab day, where we drank too much wine and are some great food including kangaroo and crocodile. I also signed up to eat an Aussie grub, yuck! (Picture I follow). The majority of people on our tour were from Melbourne but we had 2 girls from Ireland and some more local people from Perth.

Enjoy the pictures.

The grub!

When we got back it was late and we had a quick BBQ before heading to a place nearby that had live music we then had an early night. Because the following morning our alarms were set for 4.30am to put down out tent and say goodbye to Margaret River. 

Leaving at that obscene hour was worth it to see sunrise.

Xoxo

Sunsets in Western Australia

Those of you that follow me on Twitter and Instagram will realise that I have a slight obsession with a good sunset or sunrise. I'm hooked and what a great obsession to have!

I also thought I had experienced some great sunsets, but I'm not sure I've seen anything that can compare to those of Western Australia. I literally become entranced, I can't stop staring at them. Poor Nath has to deal with me stopping every 2 seconds to take a picture. I like been able to watch them all the way through the motion! From the slightly pinky tinge to the sky and the warmer evening sun, to the bright orange sky and the purpley clouds! 

So before I continue to blab on about my love of sunsets, I'll share with you a few photos.

These next few photos were taken the other evening when Nath and I stopped on our way home from work for a sunset swim! Note: always kept your bikini on you!

Xoxo

New job in Oz

We have got ourselves a job!!! Woo!

It's called the Breakwater and is located at Hillary's Harbour. Google it! 

I work in the restaurant upstairs called Ishka (upmarket and lovely food) and Nath works in the Breakwater bar (still upmarket, great cocktails and a dress code) downstairs.

It's location means if we are working around 5.45/6pm we get to see the most incredible sunsets.

And then we get to see it the entire 4 mile cycle home.

I love this place.

The only downside is that it is a long cycle to and from work! However this has a positive as it seems to be working in our favour as we both weighed ourselves on arrival in Perth and again 2 weeks in and all the cycling has seen Nath lose 7kg and we are still eating the same if not more with lots of ice cream. Go us! 

Hillary's Harbour is home to loads of food that I want to eat all the time, including about 10 ice cream shops. Nom nom nom. 

I'm also trying to get Nath into a new routine of eating brunch every Sunday. This 'routine' started when we left the UK and in Singapore we had the most delicious brunch at Sentosa Island Beach Club, then on our first Sunday in Perth, we cycled a huge amount of miles to Fremantle to more pancakes, then our second Sunday in Perth we went to Hillary's Beach Shack (my suggestion) and I also had work at 12 so it was more convenient. 

Anyway it was great! All the tables were coloured in different pastel colours, with cute little pot plants. The 'shack' itself is gorgeous, all white and quaint, a cross between Californian and British seaside. So I fell in love. Plus the food was amazing and they do juices and it comes in jam jars! Could it be anymore perfect. 

We shared blueberry pancakes (sounds healthy) and a B.E.A.S.T sandwich (bacon, egg, avocado, spinach and tomato).

Anyway I realise I have gone slightly off topic. Maybe next time I'll dedicate a post to brunch or just food! 

Xoxo