Go West Young Man

Basil Faulty · Guru

Go West Young Man

dave06 · Guru

make sure you drop a bit below perth Basil, lot of good country with fantastic scenery down there, down through bunbury and around through albany and around bridgetown for great rainforest scenery

JRH · Guru

G'day Basil,

If you have the time try to visit Nanup and Bailingup, both not very far from Bridgetown.

Nanup is on the Blackwood river and Bailingup has the largest arts and crafts store in the West at the old cheese factory, the Birdwood Winery where they produce some very nice fruit wines is just around the corner.

Pemberton would also be a good place to spend a day or two and the tram ride out to the cascades is great.

Best Regards and Safe Travelling.
John

Cruising Granny · Guru

What they said, but the Busselton Jetty and underwater observatory are mesmerising, at the end of a 2km walk, and the 60 steps down to the bottom.
Then there's Walpole Inlet, the Giant Tree Top Walk, and the Albany Whale Station. And that is but a few.
The scenery between Busselton and Dunsborough is overpowering driving down an avenue of giant, huge, tall trees, if you get my meaning.
While you're over there you might as well have a good look.
Even inland from Mandurah, Ravensthorpe I think, in the forest up there is soooooo nice by the Murray River, the WA one. It ever flows - with fresh, clear water. If crossing the Nullarbor between June and Sept check out the southern right whales, there are hundreds of them in the nursery at the head of the Bight. You may see Humpbacks in WA on the western coast, and SR's on the southern coast, south of Dunsborough.
Safe and happy travels. Stay upright.
Cheers Granny

dave06 · Guru

oh boy, I'm writing, I'm writing !!!! cant beat the locals!!!

Bridgee · Senior Member

yes all of the above places in the Blackwood River region are magnificent, beautiful, lush green rolling hills, exquisite shops, wineries, crafts, breathtaking river views, oh and the people, well what can I say............ border on perfection!!! of course we are not biased just because we live here!!

All thes places are really nice BUT I would not recommend any of these during the summer months, the lush green rolling hills become brown hills, doesn't have quite the same ring.  I would suggest May to October where the whole south west is normally green and at it's best.
Of course any where coastal in summer would be perfect.

Walpole, as Cruisin Granny said, between Bridgetown and Albany has some magnificant giant trees, known as the Valley of The Giants.

Busselton also a great place as Cruisin Granny said the drive between Dunsborough and Busselton is great same as drive from Bridgetown to Nannup during the winter months. So many places have the 'wow' factor, you just drive around a corner and the view, just breathtaking.

Pemberton also very nice and yes would recommend the tram ride and the beautiful forest.

Albany is also beautiful all year round beautiful coast line, can be a bit bleak in winter.

Margaret River area is known for it's wineries and Augusta for it's coastline and the Jewel Cave.


Could go on and on and will no doubt add to this also any West Aussie out there who can recommend some 'not to be mssed places'. I have mentioned the south but WA is huge and so much to see. As Cruisin Granny said may as well take a proper look whilst you are here.

Basil Faulty · Guru

All good stuff, Why wasn't I told about the Pemberton Tramway?????
Already sent off for approval for Gracie to accompany me....
Keep it coming, I have never been to this part of the world.
Hoping to travel in autumn as I gather in winter this place can get damp & cold...

Bridgee · Senior Member

Mid to late Autumn would be perfect, if not then, mid spring, the Blackwood Valley (Balingup / Bridgetown/ Nanup)has many events in spring including Blues at Bridegtown (second weekend in November) and Festival of Country Gardens early November. But nature has it's own "festival" between August and October, the wildflowers in the forests are a blaze of colour at that time and all the rivers and streams are usually flowing strongly.

And yes you are right, our winters, although not cold by Victorian / N.S.W. standards, are very wet, we get most of our annual rainfall (30 to 50 inches) between mid May and Mid September.

We're wondering after promoting WA with such enthusiasm, there might be a cheque in the mail from Tourism W.A. !!!!

Bridgee · Senior Member

Mid to late Autumn would be perfect, if not then, mid spring, the Blackwood Valley (Balingup / Bridgetown/ Nanup)has many events in spring including Blues at Bridegtown (second weekend in November) and Festival of Country Gardens early November. But nature has it's own "festival" between August and October, the wildflowers in the forests are a blaze of colour at that time and all the rivers and streams are usually flowing strongly.

And yes you are right, our winters, although not cold by Victorian / N.S.W. standards, are very wet, we get most of our annual rainfall (30 to 50 inches) between mid May and Mid September.

We're wondering after promoting WA with such enthusiasm, there might be a cheque in the mail from Tourism W.A. !!!!

Don't know what happened to make this post go through twice!?

-- Edited by Bridgee at 17:13, 2008-12-14

dave06 · Guru

I must need new glasses, I keep seeing the same post over and over and over again, senility kicking in I assume

Smokeydk · Guru

Something wrong with the forum lately.lot of double posting or tripple in my case

Have a good and safe trip over Bazil..when ever you go

Dave

Pam · Guru

Hubby and I are heading West too mid March. Hope to cross Nullabor ,head to Esperance and around to Perth. We will have 6 weeks holidays 'our longest so far.

Cupie · Guru

Hi ....

South West WA is one of our favourite areas .. The spots mentioned all bring back great memories ... Maybe I missed it but did anyone mention ...

- The wildflowers & flowering trees?
I recall a grass tree that unlike our common eastern variety 'black boy' with its long flower spike, this one had a lot of small knobs .. can't recall its politically incorrect common name... maybe picaninny?

- Beautiful Esperance with its clear emerald water & granite bolders going into the ocean. Of course the nearby Cape Le Grande NP (with caravan facilities) is not to be missed .. some early Aussie history there too. Take a walk up the Mountain for a great view. (Lots of history at Albany too as a WW2 troop staging post. Impressive memorials on the headland)

- Did anyone mention Wave Rock. Certainly worth a look & walk/ride past the mearby salt lakes & see the early skinny twisted rose wood? fence post thru the lakes. I still have a bit of cleaned up Mallee? root that acts as a bookend sharing pride of place with a bit ofweathered Huon pine that I picked up in Tasmania.

- What about the climb up the Gloster Tree at Wallpole .. not for the faint hearted.

- But then I loved Wikepin too. General area of Facey's 'A Fortunate Life' ... Get a copy B4 U visit the area. Gives an appreciation of the area in the early days.

That's enough from me .. the typing finger is getting sore!

Bridgee · Senior Member

dave06 wrote:

I must need new glasses, I keep seeing the same post over and over and over again, senility kicking in I assume

Yep think you do need new glasses,..........................

I can't see where it's repeating

I can't see where it's repeating
I can't see where it's repeating

Bridgee · Senior Member

Yes I mentioned before WA has got some great places as Cupie has mentioned however, the Gloucester tree is actually in Pemberton, I have been told the view from the top is magnificent but you will have to take it from someone who has climbed it........and that's not me ! Walpole is famous for its Tree Top walk where you are 40 metres above the ground amongst the tree tops, again not for the faint hearted especially when it is swaying in the wind but I actually did, this compared to the tree climb - piece of cake!

Basil Faulty · Guru

Gracie will be allowed to travel on the Pemberton Tram....

Cupie · Guru

Bridgee ..

My apologies .. of course the tree is at Pemberton.

I must have been pondering the Wallpole Tree Top walk. I was wondering how many of these walks there are around the place. I went on a similar one near the Great Ocean Road recently & I've heard of one in Tassie but don't know if this is so. There is an older less spectacular structurally one (but no less amazing) at O'Reilly's in Qld's Lamington NP. It started as a suspension bridge up into the canopy with a really scary climb up a tree trunk to the top of the canopy. I'll take a trip up there for the cool weather over the summer & check it out in its upgraded form.

dave06 · Guru

graham the one on the great ocean road is in the otway forest it is called the otway fly and it is absolutely amazing, it soars to a dizzying 45 metre lookout and with a springboard cantilevered walkway that stretches another 60 mtrs out from that, now you talk about sway, if you dont have a head for heights or you get sea sick dont do this one, but if you can then place it on your absolute must do list the views are nothing short of stunning

I have not ventured too far south down the west coast, when we hit perth we turned right and raced to our dreamland, heaven by any other name would be as sweet

Cruising Granny · Guru

RE: Go West Young Man (& woman)

dave06 · Guru

RE: Go West Young Man

Basil Faulty · Guru

Cupie wrote:

Bridgee ..

My apologies .. of course the tree is at Pemberton.

I must have been pondering the Wallpole Tree Top walk. I was wondering how many of these walks there are around the place. I went on a similar one near the Great Ocean Road recently & I've heard of one in Tassie but don't know if this is so. There is an older less spectacular structurally one (but no less amazing) at O'Reilly's in Qld's Lamington NP. It started as a suspension bridge up into the canopy with a really scary climb up a tree trunk to the top of the canopy. I'll take a trip up there for the cool weather over the summer & check it out in its upgraded form.

The road to O'Riellys is spectacular enough with out the climb up the tree....

Pam · Guru

Is there a way to book mark topics? I will want to read all this in Feb when planning our western journey.

Wheels · Veteran Member

Don't forget to turn off at Norseman and head down to Esperence for a few nights and then on to Albany. If time permits as mentioned Wave Rock is worth a look (the pub for meals are great).

From there, back to the coast head north following the coast a night at Hamlin Bay is worth a stay to see the sting rays and don't forget Margaret River

Have a great trip and drive safely especially across the Nullabor

Graham