Trip to SW Western Australia, March 2018

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Drove to Hamelin Beach for lunch. A lot of people around looking for rays. There was one swimming around, but you couldn’t get a very clear view of it.

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Arrive at our campground after lunch - a large area in bushland on top of a cliff. Disappointingly far from the sea.

I walked about 700 m along a track and hit the road down to the beach. Went into the bush a little way on the other side of the road and got a great view of cliffs, white sand and blue sea. Started walking down the hill towards the beach. Got about halfway when I spotted dark grey clouds heading my way and so headed back. 

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Rain started about 15 minutes after my return but didn’t last long. Now cooling down with a fresh breeze.

97 km

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Friday 16 March

Overcast start to the day and a slight mist, but the sun was out by the time we arrived at Surfer’s Point. Very crowded. Car park full of surfers and tourists.

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Side trip to look at Canal Rocks, large rocks separated by the titular ‘canals’ through which the sea surged. You could walk over a bridge to watch. Nice detour.

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Arriving in Busselton we did our shopping, had lunch and headed for the jetty. What we wanted to do was walk to the end of the jetty, visit the underwater observatory and get the little train back. This wasn’t an option - the only way to get into the observatory was to buy a ticket which included a return ride on the train. We had just missed the start of an underwater tour so would have to wait an hour before the next one. 

Decided to just walk out to the end of the jetty and back. This was enjoyable anyway. Information boards, artwork and poetry along the way and at almost 2km long a good stretch of the legs.

Booked in at a nearby caravan park. Crowded and cramped.

112 km

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Saturday 17 March

Went for a walk along the shore before breakfast. Left 9.30.

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Drove to the Dolphin Centre at Bunbury. Interesting displays inside plus a digital dolphinarium and tanks containing other creatures eg. octopus, turtles, clownfish.

Sadly no dolphins on the beach. The wildlife side of our trip hasn’t been blessed.

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Headed out of Bunbury and on to our campground for the night - Potters Gorge at the Wellington Dam Reservoir. Large campground amongst the trees. Very crowded - lucky to get a spot. Note on the toilet door advertising a kiosk selling refreshments nearby but we couldn’t find it.

Once the sun went down got very cold very quickly.

115 km

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Sunday 18 March

Very chilly start with a mist hanging over the reservoir.

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Drove up to the dam. Passed the infamous kiosk on the way. It was nowhere near the campsite. 

The reservoir had been created to provide drinking water but it was now too salty. Interesting information boards about the construction of the dam, including some about the lives of the construction workers and their families. The quarry used to provide the building materials was next to the dam and is now used for abseiling.

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Drove into Collie as we needed a supermarket. Nice little town and quite buzzing. While we were waiting for the supermarket to open Rob looked around a small agricultural museum and I treated myself to a cappucino from a converted railway carriage in the park.

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Passed a mining camp as we left Collie. Had lunch in the town of Williams. Soon after a swarm of insects hit the windscreen like bullets and left it covered with their obliterated bodies.