Petite Perth Visit

[Lynda2475]

My sister and I took my parents to Perth last week to celebrate my Dad's 80th (a tad early), ideally I would have preferred to go first week of September when it would be warmer, not school holidays and actually his birthday, but the younger sibling always gets their way (which meant airfares cost us $349 more per person than it would have in September).

Was able to book A330 both ways (but different configurations), you really appreciate the extra leg room and used the Qantas apology Dom J lounge passes so all 4 of us could get J Lounge access (Platinum + 2 guests + pass) at both ends.

Wed 12th July, QF649 boarded on time with priority boarding well managed but then sat at the 20 minutes after the doors closed due to a technical fault, time was made up in the air so landed almost on time. Service was efficient but no WP welcome. We opted for 24 AB & 25 AB rather than taking middle block of 4; relatively full flight.

Meal shown here: Qantas domestic economy meals

We stayed at Novotel on Murray Street the review is here: How does Accor treat you as an Elite guest?

My parents prefer to do day tours rather than hire a car and self drive, so I researched a bunch of options, which again were more limited than had we visited in the summer), let the birthday man choose what he wanted to do and then played travel agent booking everything, and concierge ensuring they got everywhere they needed to be.

We went for a wander around the city, used two of our free drinks and had an early dinner. I noticed a lot of the restaurants are using QR codes which is great if you need to split bill not that we needed to.

There is lot of street art

 

[Lynda2475]

Thurs 13th July

We awoke to grey skies and after having the included breakfast at the hotel we set off on:

Perth Day Tour | Perth Highlights Tour | Perth Day Trips | Small Group Tour

Perth day tours with guaranteed small groups (max. 10 guests). See all of Perth highligths in one magical day including wildlife park tour.

www.bestofperthtours.com.au

which I had pre-booked directly a few weeks ahead to take advantage of a good discount offer.

Lucky for us no one else had booked so we basically ended up with a private tour and the lovely Tim let us decide how long to stay at each stop and made a couple of extra ones at our request.

First stop Kings Park, where it started to rain lightly

 

[Lynda2475]

Then 20 minutes later the skies cleared and the sun came out



this reminded me of a May Gibbs character



Shared a lovely cheese platter for morning tea, which I forgot to photograph before heading to the Swan Valley

 

[Lynda2475]

Next stop Caversham WildLife Park to say hello to some native animals.

If you are travelling with foreign visitors or kids this is one of the best value animal parks I've been to, whilst our entry was included I noticed only $30 for adults and less for kids and seniors.

You can have a photo sitting next to a wombat or standing next to a koala at no extra costs provided you have your own camera/phone, feed kangaroos and wallabies with the free provided food etc

 

[Lynda2475]

Couldn't resist making the parentals pose for a novelty photo



Lots of albino roos

 

[Lynda2475]

Next stop Mandoon Estate for some Wine Tasting and Lunch



Started with a Vintage Sparkling and then 5 more, they replaced the Chardonnay (yuck) with a Verdelho and replaced the Merlot (yuck) with the Shiraz





We could choose a full glass of wine, a beer from their onsite brewery, coughtail, mocktail or soft drink with lunch.

I had a Rose to go with my brisket burger with jalapenos (pictured below) which was delicious. My sister said the Mojito was nice. And I failed again to take pictures of the other meals which were woodfired pizza, fish & chips (enough for 3 people!) and grilled seafood salad.

 

[Lynda2475]

On request we made an extra stop (not included on the itinerary) at the Margaret River Chocolate company. Our guide scored us a free tasting platter of chocolate and after a few pieces each, the remainder deposited into a take-away bag for later.



Next door at Providore store I bought some delicious

Coconut, Caramel & Pandan Syrup - Providore

100ml

www.providore.com.au

and

Passionfruit Curd - Providore

330g Made with the luscious golden yolks of eggs from our own chickens and fresh passionfruit from a team of local growers this is our best seller by far. Spread on fresh baguette, sourdough toast or on crunchy meringue with whipped cream.

www.providore.com.au

and

Apple Balsamic - Providore

100ml

www.providore.com.au

 

[Lynda2475]

Next we headed to the coast to check out Scarborough Beach. I find it funny they say they are only OK, wouldnt a tourism campaign do better to choose another word to promote WA?

I know in Oklahoma they use OK but that is a pun on their states code, seems odd for WA.




I then met and had a chat with Miriam Margolyes (British Actress) at the cafe behind the above sculpture but cant post pic because they were filming her new travel series and was asked not to.

 

[Lynda2475]

Headed back to the hotel for a rest and a free drink before deciding to walk over to Northbridge and play a couple of rounds of mini golf at Holey Moley.

I thought the topiary out front was quite cute




Alas I did not win either set of 9 holes.

No one was very hungry, as lunch was so huge, so it was some dumplings for dinner.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Crikey - picture of the month


Well done

 

[Lynda2475]

Fri 14th July

Again awoke to grey skies but had already pre-planned a trip to Rottnest Island.

After breaky we caught an Uber to Freemantle, whilst we could have taken a boast from Perth (or even Hillary's) it was actually cheaper to go from Freo even factoring in the Uber costs and the 9am Sealink was better than departing Perth at 7:30am and needing to skip breakfast.

Plus with Sealink if you book 14 days in advance you get a 20% discount!

Boat departed on time, and despite the light rain the crossing was smooth.

Upon arrival we went looking for the Quokkas, they aren't as plentiful as in the summer months but spotted a couple trying to avoid the rain



Headed to the bakery for a warming coffee and donut. There were heaps more Quokkas hanging around the tables here eyeing off what ever goodies people were devouring.



My Mum got quite a scare when this guy jumped up onto the table to try and steal her raspberry jam donut. Took some convincing to get her to pose here

 

[Lynda2475]

At 11:15am we had booked the Grand Island Tour, as parentals too old to ride bikes or segways.

The bus circumnavigated the island, make stops for pictures but also to do a tour of the Gun and Tunnels at Oliver Hill. My Dad is abit of a military buff so enjoyed that immensely.

Our ride:



Quite a few shipwrecks little the coast, too cold for snorkeling though





When the weather cleared you could just make out the Perth Skyline across the water

 

[Lynda2475]

Our tour was supposed to include a train ride to Oliver Hill but the train was out of action so we were driven up in the bus



Local volunteers guide tourists through the Gun facility, ours was in his 80s and a real character

Underneath the gun



Inside the launching room



looking through the gun barrel



Outside

 

[Lynda2475]

In the ammunition storage rooms and tunnels under the hill

 

[Lynda2475]

Some more shots of Rottnest Island

 

[Lynda2475]

Returning to Freo we went for a wander looking for a suitable dinner venue for our fussy eaters



Ended up having Italian, quite enjoyed my Orecchiette with beef cheeks, roasted vine tomatoes, chilli and spring onions

 

[Lynda2475]

At 7pm we the did Torchlight Tour of the Freemantle Prison: Fremantle Prison Tours I Torchlight Tour

It is a fun way to visit this site as unlike the day time tours they have actors playing inmates and guards to tell stories whilst the guide provides the historic facts. You get to keep your torch as a souvenir.






Then an uber back to Perth and free drink before bed

 

[Lynda2475]

Saturday 15th July

Awoke to clear blue skies - yeah!

Original plan was to do a free walking tour of Perth City starting at 9am but lets just say 3 out of 4 wanted a sleep in.

So I went for a wander to find a decent coffee before meeting up for breakfast. Perth CBD is pretty dead on a Saturday moring.

 

[Doctore1003]

Next we headed to the coast to check out Scarborough Beach. I find it funny they say they are only OK, wouldnt a tourism campaign do better to choose another word to promote WA?

I know in Oklahoma they use OK but that is a pun on their states code, seems odd for WA.

View attachment 337134

Haha, this was done by the ”Perth Is OK“ crew - a popular local ”what’s on” / lifestyle website that launched a viral, semi-ironic #perthisok social media hashtag some years ago. It’s understandable that tourists don’t get it, but locals certainly do.

Perth is OK! | All that's good in Western Australia

Perth is OK! is an authentic local voice to inspire, excite, empower and bring together the people of WA through optimistic and actionable stories.

perthisok.com

 

[Lynda2475]

At midday we headed off of a Pinnacles Sunset and Star Gazing tour with Lumineer https://www.lumineertours.com.au/listing/pinnacles-sunset-stargazing-tour/

I had done this tour previously in 2019 when they were known as GPS adventures, unfortunately Gavin (the owner) wasn't guiding this day so no amazing photos of the night sky but still a fun day.

First stop was in small town of Lancelin to grab some lunch form the bakery, good old fashioned meat pies, sausage rolls, finger buns, apple pies and vanilla slices.

Here is a view of the beach from the look out where we ate lunch




then a stop at the sand dunes for optional sand boarding.

My sister and I hiked up the dunes with the rest of the group whilst the parentals observed from a far (see arrow below) eating cakes from the bakery!