December Wrap-Up - Part 4

On the 20th December - the day after our return from Margaret River, we drove in two cars to Caversham Wildlife Park, about 30km (28miles) away.

This is a privately run wildlife park located in Whiteman Park, home to several Australian native animals like kangaroos, koalas, possums, wallabies, wombats, dingos and Tasmanian devils, and is wholly funded by the entrance fees and donations.

Jose stayed home as he had just returned from a physio appointment, having had sciatica pain for a few days while we were away, so he had to avoid walking a lot.

Karina, Isabelle, Max, Benoit and Thomas

Map of Caversham Wildlife park, the various koalas in the "Meet the koalas" enclosure

The park has various shows throughout the day, and the "Meet the Koalas" show was about to start, so we headed there and got into the long line to go and pat the koalas.
From the long line, each person or family go into booths with a koala and a keeper, and can stand next to a koala and pat its fur (not the head) and take photos of course.
Our koala was Eric, although truth be told they all looked the same to me. (4th one from top in the koala photo lineup).

Next we started following the path along the map to see as much as we could before the next show with the Wombats - the pelicans, kookaburras, owls, birds, penguins....




The huge kangaroo enclosure is one of the most popular, as the kangaroos roam around freely, seem to be quite pacific and patient with adults and kids who pat them the whole day.
There is a food bin, and I took a handful of food but the ones I approached just weren't interested in eating.  Most of them were more interested in having a snooze.




I was lucky to see a joey entering and exiting his mother's pouch, and managed to make a short video of him exiting the pouch. He seemed far too big to go in, but he did! 
Hope you enjoy it 😉

The next show we attended was the "Wombat and Friends" and while we waited for the doors to open we took photos in the photo booths.

At "Meet the Wombat and Friends" show

Closer to opening time we joined the queue but it all went very quickly. There were two keepers with two wombats and the families or individuals sat down next to them and could just touch the wombat's legs, the other keeper would take the photos, and out again.

Then we went around the barn looking at the exotic birds and small mammals on display. 

Various Australian birds on display

At Molly's Farm, which is open daily from 9,30 to 4,30h, they have farm shows like sheep shearing, crack a whip, lamb feeding, or sheep dogs mustering the sheep.

In the animal shed the chickens are running around, there are ducks, an ostrich, the llama ... very nice for young kids to see.

Chickens, the llama, a quokka, ?, camel

When we left the animal park we looked for a place to eat nearby and settled for Nando's Chicken , so Isabelle wouldn't have trouble with the food.

                  

Our next stop was the Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park Cemetery about 20min away.

Why the cemetery you might ask? Well, this cemetery is a very different concept to what we are used to in most countries. This one is just used for cremations, so there are no buried coffins, and families just have a little plaque with the loved one's name around the lakes, on a bench, or a tree.

A lot of ducks and kangaroos roam around, even though it's right next to the freeway.

No fresh flowers are allowed, as the kangaroos eat them.

It is not unusual to see people jogging, or walking around, even having a picnic on the lawns.

We ended our day with a visit to Hillary's Boat Harbour (and shopping centre) about 10min away.

It was a beautiful day and many people were still enjoying a swim on the small sheltered beach.

We had an ice-cream first, then walked around the harbour, and then back to the car to head home. 

Entry to Hillary's Boat Harbour

At Hillary's Harbour

Hillary's small beach

Back home we decided to order food from the nearby Japanese Restaurant - Yuki.

We love Japanese food, and so do Karina and Thomas who recently visited Japan, but Isabelle was not too keen. Luckily we still had leftovers from the night before, and I warmed that up for her dinner. It was a fabulous meal.

Delicious Japanese food for our dinner

Linking to Signs2

Linking to Saturday Critters

Monday Mural - At the Candy Cow

A quirky mural I spotted when we stopped in Cowaramup (Cow Town) for a coffee break on our way to Perth after our short holiday in Margaret River.
Found just around the corner from the Candy Cow lolly shop, on the side lane used by the delivery vehicles.  What a pity it wasn't more visible to all.
The mural portrays bees, cows of course, gummy bears, lollipops and other sweets 😉. 

Painted by Brad Loafer, also known as the Artful Yogi, it was painted in October 2018.
Brad moved from Fremantle to study art in the quieter country  town of Margaret River.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme is for you;

just follow the Linky steps below.   Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to your mural finds this week.  

Monday Mural Meme goes lives at 12,01am Perth, Western Australian time.

Thanks, Sami. 

  

December Wrap-up - Part 3

On Wednesday 18th Dec , just after breakfast we went to the beach, just for about 1 hour.
Back home we got ready to go out for the day and our first stop was at the Yallingup Cheese Company.
Their facilities are located in a stunning area, and you can sit in the wrap-around balcony with views of a lake.


Outside a couple of blankets and tiny wooden tables that hold wine glasses were spread on the grass if you wish to have a picnic. Such a welcoming sight.
Apart from cheese tasting, you can also taste wines, and they also sell local honey, olive oil and local crafts.

The wrap around balcony with views of the lake

                   
Next we wanted to show our visitors the grounds of the Laurance wines estate 
(3478 Caves Road, Wilyabrup), which I consider to be the prettiest winery in the Margaret River region.
When we arrived there we noticed the name had changed, it's now called Robert Oatley winery.

It still looks as beautiful as before - the long avenue leading to the imposing stone building with restaurant and cellar door and the beautiful rose garden.
The green lawn bordered by blooms surrounds a lake and in the middle the "Free as a bird" statue also known as "Chick on a stick", the controversial gold statue of a naked diver on a pedestal.

Free as a Bird statue

A statue of a red apple hanging from a tree

The foyer with a wine glass chandelier

Just as Laurance's celebrated their 10th anniversary in September 2016, the 40 hectare estate was sold for $20 million to a US entrepreneur, as the owner Dianne Laurance was at the time going through a messy divorce. It was then leased to New South Wales based Robert Oatley vineyards and Western Australia based Cherubino wines.


We then drove to the nearby small seaside town of Yallingup and stopped for a coffee just at the entrance to the town.  A few steps away, the well known German bakery - Yallingup Gugelhupf was still open and we bought a very tasty sourdough to take home and biscuits which were consumed with the coffee.

The park leading to the Yallingup beach, the beach, Gugelhupf -  the German bakery

Statues by the Yallingup beach park

After a quick stop at the beach for photos we climbed back in the car and drove to Canal Rocks 10 minutes away. 
Here the coastline has been chiselled by the crashing of the Indian ocean waves carving out a narrow channel between the granite rocks.
A timber walkway over the channel gives access to the rocks on the other side of the channel and views of the crashing waves. To the right you can spot the town of Yallingup which we had just left.




Our sightseeing was done for the day, and we drove back about 45min to get home just before sunset.
Jose, Karina, Isabelle and I went to the lookout above the beach where we usually went to, 
to watch the sun go down about 7,40pm.

This was our last night in the resort, and we had dinner at home to finish off all our bits and pieces from the fridge.

The following day, Thursday 19th, at 10am we departed Margaret River and stopped 20 minutes later in Cowaramup (Cow Town) to see some of the 42 cow statues, some of which were dressed up for Christmas.

At the Pioneer Park, local artist Ron Roozen erected "Free as a cow", locally known as "Rump on a stump" as a pejorative counterpoint to the  "Chick on a Stick" at the Robert Oatley winery.

Main street, tiny church in Pioneer Park and Rump on a stump statue

Our next stop half an hour away was Busselton.

This small city is known for the 19th century Busselton Jetty which at nearly 2km (1,24miles) is the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. 

There is a red solar-powered jetty train which is the perfect way to reach the Underwater Observatory from where life in a coral reef can be observed.
When we got there it was so windy that the train that was arriving would be the last one for the day.

Busselton Jetty and the beach

The solar powered train

Back on the road and 40min later we reached the town of Bunbury where we stopped for lunch at Vat 2 Restaurant. 
The restaurant was packed with people having Christmas lunches, but we managed to get a table for 7 shortly after our arrival, although we were told the food could take up to 40min to be served.
We were getting quite hungry by the time we got our food, but it was quite tasty.
The restaurant was next to the beach and while we waited I sneaked out to take photos outside as well as photos of the various murals inside the restaurant.

View from the front of the restaurant to the beach

Statues around Bunbury and the Dolphin discovery centre shaped like a dolphin

We arrived in Perth at about 5pm, dropped Isabelle, Max and Benoit at their Airbnb and went home. 

While Jose unpacked, Karina and I went to the supermarket to buy food for dinner.

Jose then prepared a prawn and fish curry, and the in-laws joined us at 8pm for dinner.

After dinner we walked two blocks to go and check one of the streets in the suburb which had 5 or 6 houses decorated with Christmas lights.

And then it was time to go and rest from our long day.

Signs - Cheese & Wine

Some signs seen during our holiday around the Margaret River area in the South West of Western Australia.

For other signs from around the world please visit Tom the Backroads Traveller.

At the Margaret River Cheese Company, the Cowntess - one of the cows from Cow Parade, had a sign not to climb on her.

The Margaret River Cheese Company with various cow signs

At the Yallingup Cheese Company, the picnic blankets could be used to lie down on the lawn and enjoy some cheese and wine.

The red and white wine that we tasted had some interesting labels on the back - Out and about on good behaviour - by Goon Tycoons, a winery in Yallingup.