Margaret River - Day 1 Caves and Capes

Hello Folks - here I am playing 'Catch Up' again. Post dating my entries is not something I like doing as it throws everything out of whack, but it is what it is - so let's get on with it.

Margaret River was Soooo long ago I am really ready for another holiday - but réminiscences will have to do! 

We have a couple of Cafes within walking distance at home,  but not with a view like this - I wonder just how long it would take to tire of having breakfast here every morning?

No time to get sand in my shoes, we have to hit the road for our 9:30 tour of ^Mammoth Cave. Unfortunately, we were here at the wrong time of year to see the beautiful stream that flows through the Cave. 

Today it was just a trickle.

It is a Cavernous, easily accessible Cave that has beautiful Speleothems* (or Decorations) and includes bones and fossils of the Megafauna that once inhabited the area.

The Cave is 500 meters long and 30 meters under the surface, which is a little confusing, as you enter at the base of the cave and climb 540 stairs UP and exit into a Karri Forest walk back to the carpark. Not having time for the walk we returned via the 540 stairs and the Gift shop!

A quick taste and lesson on local honey production (something that was more interesting to those of us who have not kept bees) and we were back on the bus and heading for ...

a BUCKET LIST stop for me! 

The opportunity to climb a lighthouse. 

The Lighthouse at Cape Llewyn is the tallest on Mainland Australia, standing stoically at the end of a windswept cape and guarding the waters where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet. 

176 narrow steps hug the cool stone walls, it was a hard climb for me, considering I had just done Mammoth Cave, but I wanted, needed to do this.

Was it worth it? 
to climb through a small door onto the gangway at the top - 

TOTALLY worth it.   

And for this view, I am posting a rare uncompressed panorama photo.  

As the DIL says 'Pics or it didn't happen!'

The rest of the day was taken up with Lunch and a Wine tasting before ending back where we started to watch the sun set.

*ABC archives - Oz Fossils

^Margaret River Western Australia - Mammoth Cave

More on Cape Leeuwin

Margaret River - The Journey South

7:00 am  Another 'Up early and Off' day today.  

So Breakfast Pack in hand, we joined McLeod Tours and headed to Margaret River.

Our First stop was a welcome Coffee break, 87 km down the road at The Bay Cafe, Mandurah.  

With the Mandurah Estuary beckoning us and a Sunday Market in the adjacent Foreshore parkland, we could have happily stayed for a couple of hours,

 

But we had an appointment down the road at Australind Wood Gallery.

We listened to an informative talk on Western Australian Jarrah, and happily patted beautiful pieces of timber skilfully crafted into items that wouldn't fit in our luggage,

(and was respectfully requested not to take Photos of.) 

It was ok to take this photo to add to my collection of 'Interesting Signs'.

A lovely Lunch was followed by a 'short stroll' down the Longest Timber-Piled Jetty in the Southern Hemisphere.  

Yes, we made it to the end and back again a mere 3.7 km round trip.

If we are ever here again,  I would like to  explore the Underwater Observatory - One of only 6 in the World.

Breaking the tip, we stopped in at Gabriel Chocolates.
There was a Talk on Chocolate with Tastings and treats to bring home.

Specialising in Small Batch, single Origin chocolate, they were Western Australia's first Bean to Bar Chocolate maker. 

An unscheduled stop and a real treat for the Horse lovers on the bus, to briefly meet and feed some carrots to our Tour Guide's Horses, who enthusiastically met us at the gate.

The last stop for today was at the Saint John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Chapel in Prevelly.

Built by Geoff Edwards, in Gratitude for help received during the Battle of Crete.

I cannot write its story in just one photo so I am including links at the end of this Post so you can read about it yourselves.

Our 280 km road trip from Perth to Margaret River  concluded with a Welcoming Rainbow and a promise of a beautiful day tomorrow.

Click the Links to read Geoff Edwards Story

Prevelly Chapel

Monuments Australia - Prevelly

Day 5 - Into Perth

G'day it is Stowaway Frog here, am I am writing today's Post.

So, What can I write about today?

With no Off-Train excusions there really was nothing different to do from yesterday. 

Many just watched the scenery pass or rested while waiting for Brunch and Afternoon Tea to be served before disembarking at Perth.

But once we settled in to the Hotel, the Folks got all dressed up and we went out for Dinner - because TODAY was their 45th Wedding Anniversary.

We went to a fancy restaurant, at the top of a building and the floor kept moving - It made me feel a little greener than I normally am...

I don't think the Folks liked it very much, because they waited a long time after the Main Course,  and no one came to offer them Dessert or Coffee, so they left and went looking for Ice cream.

I hear we are not staying in Perth so I wonder what adventures we will have tomorrow?

Day 4. The Nullarbor

The Route from Adelaide to our first stop, if Trains travelled in a lovely sweeping curve would have been approx. 1000 km (653 mi) but they don't, and I "broke" Google Maps several times trying to follow the exact train line.

So overnight we travelled from Adelaide to Port Augusta then on between the Salt Lakes turning at Tarcoola and heading for the Nullarbor Plain.

First stop - the once thriving town of Cook.  

Current permanent population FOUR.*

As well as being a Diesel and Water stop for passing trains - Indian Pacific included, it is also an overnight stop for resting train crews.

For us it is a welcome opportunity to stretch our legs.  

Walking the full length of the train (twice) and of course taking a Photo of the Engine is definitely on the Must Have list.

Back on board it was time to pull out that book or craft you packed but didn't think you would need, while travelling the longest straight stretch of rail in the world and watching the endless nothing of the Nullarbor roll past.  

The sun sets in time for us to roll in to our next stop.  

At roughly 1,000,000 hectares (Approx. the size of Sydney) Rawlinna is the worlds largest Sheep Station and the venue for tonight's Off-train Outback Dinner.

It was a beautiful evening and the food - prepared on board the Train was extremely generous and perfect to share.

Dinner over and the Entertainment and Staff winding down after a very long day by dancing on the tables, 

we knew it was time wander back to our cabins, or look for a nightcap in the lounge.

*(Click Image to read Plaque)

Day 3 Broken Hill to Hahndorf

"Morning has Broken.. 

Like the First Morning" 

and If you are awake at 6:30 am you were treated to an Outback Sunrise.

By 7:30 we were already in Broken Hill and at our first Off Train Experience for the day.

And what an experience it was!  

An interesting and amusing talk on using Native Ingredients from the Chef at the Tipsy Camel.

Followed by Bingo and a Floor show led by Broken Hill's very own Shelita and Amanda - 

What They could do in 6" Platforms and even higher hair was amazing.

(Kudos to Them for being SO glamourous at 7:00am!)

By 9:00 am we were back on Board and off to Breakfast. 

Will it be a Full Breakfast, Scrambled Eggs with Hot Smoked Trout or something lighter? Crumpets with Fresh Berries & Mascarpone!

Coffee, Tea Fresh Juice anyone?

With nowhere to stop between Broken Hill and Adelaide, you chat with other travellers, join in a hand of cards or learn to play UNO and watch the scenery go past while enjoying a Cocktail.  

Here is 2 Challenges for you.

1.  Ask the Bartender to make an LLB that looks like a 'Grown-up drink' 

2. Try drinking this on a moving train and not spill any!

* * *

Finally arriving in Adelaide we were transferred to Coaches for the 30 minute drive to Hahndorf. 

It is Australia's Oldest surviving German Settlement.

First Stop for Wine & Cheese Tasting at The Lane Vineyard.

And Finishing off the Day with Bavarian Hospitality at HAUS.

Bring a sense of Fun and a Very Big Appetite!

Between courses we were treated to some Fun Facts about Bavarian Culture and a Performance from Uber Oompah.

And, of course Stowaway Frog made some New Friends!

(FYI- the cocktail of choice for everyone this trip? Espresso Martini.) 

Day 2 - All Aboard

12:00 Check in  

Lanyards & Room Numbers with Refreshments in the Eternity Lounge at Sydney Train Station before boarding. 

And Mr. S. Frog asked if he could have his own Lanyard, seeing he was coming as an invited guest this time.

Coffee & Conversation was enjoyed in the Lounge while we spent the afternoon watching the Sydney Suburbs & Blue Mountains roll past.

DH and I choose to Dress for Dinner on the First Night,  

(Not a lot of guests do, but the Staff appreciate it.)

And Dinner did not disappoint. 

Three wonderful courses served in the Queen Adelaide Dining Car.

Earlier today, there were some issues with the power and when the Cabin lights dimmed, we thought 'Oh-no, Not again' but, 

when the Staff started singing we realised they had found out about our Anniversary.

A special Celebration Cake from the Chef and Crew.  

They definitely surprised us!

And Our Dining companions happily helped us enjoy the extra dessert!

When it was time to head back to Our Cabin, knowing freshly made beds waited for us and .. 

Oh this is different!

No Chocolate on the Pillow tonight. 

Everyone got a special first night Treat.  

Pillow Mist and Sleep-easy Tea!

From Melbourne to Perth via Sydney

The look on my DB's face as he tried to work out how or why we were going to Perth via Sydney was priceless. 

But if you want the full Coast to Coast experience of the Longest Train journey in Australia, you have to start at the Beginning.  

And THAT, for this trip is Sydney. 

Prelude:

I read recently that "Melbourne doesn't have any  Landmark Building that you get that 'must have' Tourist photo taken in front of."  * 

Sydney however, has the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

So for the rest of our 'Arrival Day', Ice-cream in one hand and Camera in the other, we played Tourist.

Day 1.

I can't say that Sydney rolled out the Welcome Mat for us.  

More like a doormat with "Please Wipe your Feet" printed on it.

But who would have thought we needed to bring a brolly to Sunny Sydney?

So, instead of wandering the streets looking for more Iconic Photo ops, we spent most of the day at the Heritage Listed Queen Victoria Building. Opened in 1898 and Built in the Romanesque Revival Architectural Style.  

It certainly is beautiful.

Why stay so long?

Other than the rain, and a Coffee Meetup with an ex-work Colleague of DH's - I had forgotten to pack my belt, and spent all morning looking for one... heaven help if I had decided I also needed an Umbrella!

We did also Walk through Hyde Park and shelter in the Museum until they called time.

So, footsore and damp who was to argue with Hot Coffee and Chocolate drenched Waffles?
After all - We are on Holiday.

*Be warned - One day, I may just go out and take 'Selfies' in front of all OUR Iconic Landmarks!