Swan Valley - wine and chocolate tours

Located just 30 minutes east of the city of Perth, Swan Valley, an area settled in 1829, is home to quite a  few award-winning wines and restaurants.

In February, just before leaving for Europe I had to use up a voucher given to me for my birthday the previous year, for an afternoon delights tour by Swan Valley Tours.

I took the train into the city and with some time to spare walked around the area surrounding the main railway station at Wellington street.

Old and new architecture side by side

At the arranged time, 11,50am the bus driver picked me up as well as a few of my fellow tour takers from the bus stop close to the station, and after he introduced himself and told us about the tour we drove to the Swan Valley area, where wines have been produced for the past 180 years.

We drove past the gateway to the Swan valley - the historical village of Guildford, settled in 1829 by the European, the village still has a lot of interesting old buildings, antique shops and cafes.

This area is also known for it's arts and crafts markets, art galleries, fresh produce road-side kiosks, wildlife parks like Whiteman Park, plus of course the many wineries, breweries, fine restaurants and accommodation.

Our first stop was at the Houghton Estates where we were give an array of white and red wines to taste ranging from Verdelho (a Portuguese white grape also grown in this region) to Shiraz. I'm not a great drinker at all, so I limited myself to 2 tastings and then perused the interesting shop and went into the garden.

Houghton shop at the Cellar door

Gardens at the Houghton wine estate

Next stop was at the Windy Creek Estate - again about 17 different wines were lined up to be tasted. I wonder if anyone actually manages to taste them all? 

This time I tasted two of the fortified wines - an Old Tawny (type of Port wine) and a Liqueur Muscat - actually the type of drinks I like are the sweet ones like liqueurs, so I liked these and bought a bottle of each to take home.
Here we were served some crackers with cheeses and preserves - "Wicked stepmother", which were also very nice.

Rows and rows of vine and mountain in the distance

A few of the tour takers were already in high spirits and we went back to the bus to visit the third winery of the tour, the family operated Swanbrook Winery.

I loved the old truck at the entrance, and they had a beautiful gift shop, a Cafe and a well cared for garden.

An old farming truck at the entrance of the winery

Gift shop and Cafe at Swanbrook winery

Outside in the shaded garden there was a big cage with a Galah, and a little boy informed us that it's wings were broken so he couldn't fly. He was aggressive though if anyone tried touching him...

Our next stop was a the Mash Brewerie , where they have a range of beers and ale.

We were all entitled to one free drink, everybody going for beers of course, but I hate beer, just don't like the smell of it, so it was a soft drink for me.

A very interesting venue where you can see the brewing tanks behind the counter. They also sell snacks as well as meals.

Mash Brewerie

The menu had some interesting beer quotes

- Milk is for babies! When you grow up you have to drink beer! (Arnold Schwarzenegger)

- You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. (Frank Zapa)

- Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder. (Kinky Friedman)

- Beer - it's the best damn drink in the world. (Jack Nicholson)

Some people went for a second round, paid for this time, and the guide took some photos of the group for their site.

On our way again, to the Margaret River Chocolate factory.  Yummi!!  Alas, chocolate tasting was a bit restricted, a handful of chocolate chips and then we could choose one chocolate from their gourmet range. The chocolates are great, a bit on the expensive side though. Nowadays they also have a shop in Perth's city centre.

Chocolate factory

Across from the chocolate shop, at Providore - they had tastings of chocolate liqueurs, as well preserves and chutneys. They had containers with all sorts of goodies and you took a tiny disposable spoon and tasted what you wanted. The liqueurs were really nice! 
The shelves were full of lovely  jars of preserves, olive oils and other gourmet goodies - all very appetizing.

Providore - gourmet foods

It was around 5pm and time to return to the city, where the bus driver dropped us at various spots according to what suited us best. 
I was dropped near the train station in the city so I could catch the train home.

It was a wonderful afternoon with a handful of people from 5 or 6 different countries, who all had a good time and a few laughs. Pity I couldn't eat more chocolates....

Perth city skyline at one of our stops

Wednesday, 11th February 2015

A Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers of the world!
Enjoy your special day. Well, I know in Europe it was celebrated last Sunday, but here in Australia and some countries in the Southern hemisphere it's celebrated on the second Sunday of May.

Playground with a view - Heathcote Reserve

The best children's playground south of the River is probably the Heathcote Reserve in the suburb of Applecross, at 56 Duncraig Road, just minutes from the Canning Highway exit of the Kwinana Freeway.

Also known as the "Pirate Ship playground", because of the it's main feature -a wooden ship that kids can climb up and down - there are also swings and other equipment for toddlers.

The Pirate ship

Set high up on a hill, with 180 degree views over the Swan River, the park also has one of the best views over the city of Perth across the river, as well as other upmarket suburbs surrounding the           river.  There is also a walking trail close to the water below.

Views over Perth city CBD, across from the River Swan

There are small "ship like bows" from where you can sightsee

Views of the coast towards Applecross

Restaurant and Coffee shop

Formerly housing a mental hospital that operated from 1929 to 1994, the buildings now house the Heathcote Cultural Centre, and The Heathcote Museum and Gallery, a wonderful restaurant - Bluewater Grill, and a kiosk selling take-away coffee and food, with an outdoor eating area overlooking the playground.

The parking lot is limited, specially during restaurant opening times, but parking is also available down the hill.

Apart from the kid's playground, there are gas barbeques as well as tables and chairs available for those who like to picnic under the shady trees.

Barbecue and in the distance you can see one of the ship "prows" from where you take photos

The late Hollywood actor Heath Ledger, grew up in this neighbourhood, and in the park you can see a memorial plaque placed by his family.

Roundabout at the entrance to Heathcote with a nice "flower" sculpture

Sculpture of an Octopus that can be seen on the mast of the Pirate ship

Outside wall with interesting brick rope work

In the parking lot, on the trees above the cars the birds greeted us with their loud shrieking.

It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon spent enjoying the outdoors with visiting friends.

Hope you also enjoyed seeing the pictures of another one of Perth's beautiful places.

Sunday, 26th April 2015

South or East, Perth is beautiful!

It was my friend Bebe's second visit to Perth, there was a lot I wanted to show her, but time was short. I opted to drive her to some of my favourite suburbs - South Perth and East Perth.

From both you get river views, views of the city's high rise buildings, lovely neighbourhoods with low buildings, parks...

We first drove to South Perth, to the waterfront (South Perth Esplanade) near the spot where the ferry departs and arrives from Barrack Street in the city - just a 10 min trip across the river Swan.
There is a huge park along the river with barbecues, children's playground, bike and walking paths... we could spend hours there soaking up the Autumn sun.
The park is also the venue for Australia Day, New Year's Eve fireworks and other major events.

Perth city skyline, taken from South Perth

South Perth skyline, taken from  ferry stop at South Perth Esplanade

Back in the car we crossed the "Causeway" to the suburb of East Perth.

Originally an industrial area, in the last 20 years this prime area next to the city centre has been redeveloped into an up-market residential suburb near the river, with a few restaurants and coffee shops, lovely park...

Many boat owners moor their boat at Claisebrook Cove (now an artificial inlet of the Swan river), enjoy a meal or a coffee at one of the restaurants, and continue their journey.

There is a pedestrian footbridge - Trafalgar Bridge - crossing the cove, and joining the houses on both sides of the margins.

One day, when I win the Lotto, I'll buy a house or apartment here... just the perfect village life next to the city!

We walked around admiring some of the little buildings, through Victoria Gardens where families were having picnics and enjoying a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and then we had a coffee at one of the restaurants in the Cove.

Time flew by too quickly as we had to rush to join my son and daughter in law at their house for a late lunch barbecue.

Families enjoy themselves around the Cove

Trafalgar Bridge crossing the Claisebrook Cove, with the city centre in the background

Restaurants and Bars at the end on the left with some boats moored


Moored boat and restaurants 

As we left a kids party was being set up by "Cinderella", a "Pirate" and "Dorothy" of the Wizard of Oz in Victoria Gardens.

After our lovely lunch, we returned home via Port Coogee Marina, just 5km from Fremantle, to check on the progress of the new suburb, and just in time to watch the sun set!
Time for a coffee at the Dome Cafe in the Marina and then we finally headed home.

Sun set at Coogee Beach Marina

Fremantle - Grand tour

Following our visit to the War Memorial in Fremantle (my post about Anzac day in Fremantle) my friend and I walked to the harbour to admire the statues in that area. 

The "Fishermen" statues were our first stop. You can read about this monument and many others in Fremantle here. 

The Fishermen's Memorial to Fremantle fishermen who lost lives at sea

Names of Portuguese fishermen who lost their lives at sea

Across the street, Blondie, the metal dog was wearing a blue scarf protecting him from the cooler weather.

Blondie, the dog

Bathers Beach just across the harbour looked bright with the deck chairs ready for the brave Autumn swimmers.

Bella, a cute statue of a female swimmer outside Bathers Beach was sculpted by Greg James in 2011. The inscription on the bench read - "The freedom to be who you are and to enjoy what is!"  

We walked then to Fremantle Prison where we were joined by my daughter in law, for a tour.

The prison was built between 1851 and 1859 with limestone quarried on site, by the British convicts sent to Australia.

This prison was know to be unfit for the prisoners, the cells were tiny, restricted diets,

corporal punishment, solitary confinement, no toilets in the cells - buckets were used right to the end, electricity was only installed in the 1920's...

In 1988 there was riot by the prisoners, guards were taken hostage and fire was set to part of the building causing a lot of damage.

Still it operated until 1991 when it closed and reopened to the public for tours.

The building is now on the World heritage list.

Between 1888 and 1984, 40 prisoners were hanged!

Fremantle Prison with the Warden's house on the right

Uniforms and artefacts used in the Prison

The top floor of the building to the left is the Prison church

One of the cells with painting by the prisoners

The hanging room

 Although the tour lasting about 1 and half hours was interesting, the tour guide - a former warden- was quite humorous too, but I found there could be a bit more information on the activities of the prisoners - they were taught a trade while inside - but there was nothing in display about that.
There are 4 different tours, so maybe that was part of another tour...

We had lunch at the Fremantle Market - an interesting place to visit for fresh fruit and vegetables, lovely bread, and many other things like clothing, art, crafts, souvenirs...

Fremantle Markets

On a wall across the Market - a  mural of a wombat by the artist ROA

We then went to Many 6160 which I've mentioned in my blog before, so I could show my friend what had been done for small businesses, and I noticed that the artists participating in this year's FORM 2015  had already been busy in Fremantle. I'll have to go back to check more of their art.

This wall in Many was painted by Hiroyasu Tsuri, known as  Twoone, a Japanese born artist living in Melbourne. Certainly brightens the building, hope it brings in more customers too.

Twoone  mural at Many 6160

 On our way to the Round House, we came across another mural in a parking lot.

A mural on a wall on our way to the Round House

The Round House is the oldest building in Western Australia, built in 1830, and used as a prison until 1886. It's opened for visits from 10,30 until 3,30

A cannon at the back of the Round House

View from the Round House to Bather's Beach and Marina

Before we left, I took a few photos of some grand old buildings in Fremantle.

These narrow houses remind me of the narrow houses of Amsterdam

A building that is part of the University of Notre Dame

It was a most enjoyable visit to Fremantle, and my friend loved it too.

Friday. 24 April 2015