Bullsbrook, Fremantle, Perth, Rottnest Island, Mandura

Mandura and Fremantle
We left Bunbury around 11am after collecting our cute little bubble car - a Suzuki Swift. We now head to Bullsbrook via Mandura and Fremantle. We follow the coast road to Mandura where we stop for lunch at jetty fish and chips. Mandura is yet another beautiful inlet area along the coast with spectacular waterways and beautiful homes and is fast becoming the Gold Coast of the west with many Perth residents making this their holiday getaway destination. Being just over and hour from Perth it makes for an easy weekend away. We end up here again on Sunday when we visit Richard & Karen Slingsby who take us for a tour around the area and point out the fast growing areas and massive development that is currently occurring in the area.

Fremantle is the main port area of Perth and is largely industrial although over the years tourism has played a much larger role in its development with many restaurants, cafes, markets, museums and boutique breweries springing up around the wharf precinct area. Many of the houses along the main road in reflect the history of the area and are quite cute and well preserved. Fremantle is the home of Australia II and hosts hundreds of avid boaters as it is just an hour by river to Perth and 30 mins to Rottenest Island.

Bullsbrook
Terry trusty GPS finds a track for us to follow to Bullsbrook which is inland somewhat. Here we stay with Pat & Bernard Herrera who have been friends of my family for a very long time. Pat & Bernard have a 300acre property here where they once raised prize winning Charolais stock. Bernard has now downsized his Charolais operations and is now more focused on raising thoroughbred horses which he is having some success with. They have a large clay mine on their property for which they receive tidy royalties and Bernard also agists another 150 acres of a neighbouring property. He has developed a great working relationship with the mine and with his neighbours which works well for everyone concerned. Out here John is in his element as he and Bernard talk all things farming and we both enjoy the country air and the space. It would have been great to spend more time here but time is something we are fast running out of now.

Perth
On Thursday we head back into Perth again with the guidance of the GPS. This time it takes us through the Swan Valley and more wine country. Here the wineries are much more compact and closer to each other. We drive through the valley with wineries and cellar doors on either side of the road complemented by museums, cafes and unique food factory outlets - jams, preserves, fudge, chocolates etc. We don't stop and eventually arrive in Perth around 4.30pm where we check in to the Hilton and freshen up before going to Peter &Mary de Verteuil's for dinner. Peter is my cousin and it is good to catch up with him and the latest family news. We have a yummy Chinese meal at their home after reviewing their various home renovation projects and a drink or two. More chatter and John & I finally get back to the Hilton around midnight.
Friday is a beautiful day, warm and relatively calm and we head off to Rottenest island on the ferry from Perth. The one hour cruise down the river is very enjoyable and is complemented by an interesting commentary from our skipper. The wealth of the region becomes very obvious as you cruise down the river with its million dollar mansions on each side and hundreds of yachts and boats of every shape and size dotting the waters around the many yacht clubs. The most expensive home on the river is now up for sale and at a price tag of $85M will be the most expensive private residence ever sold in Australia when it eventually changes hands. The Swan River inlet really is a beautiful area and is every bit as picturesque as the Sydney Harbour with Perth being infinitely more livable than Sydney in my humble opinion.
We finally get to Rottenest around 12md which gives us very little time to explore the island and we instead settle for a wander around Thompson's Bay. We have a delicious lunch at Dome Cafe before heading back to Perth on the 2.30pm ferry. We had left our car at the Hilton and as we were checking out and moving across to The Melbourne hotel we didn't want to over stay the 24 hour car parking period. Our room at the Melbourne is very comfortable and will be home for the next 3 days. We settle into our room and collapse onto the bed after a long hot shower where we make the most of the movie channel and totally veg out. It is nice not to be going out for a change and we make the most of the room service on offer.
Saturday is spent with more of my family friends. We drive out to Jackie Knox's where we are shown around the retirement complex before being joined by Jocelyn and Michelle Herrera. The Knoxes and Herreras used to live very near to us in St Joseph's Village in San Fernando before we all eventually migrated to Australia in the 1960s and early 1970s. It was great to catch up with them all and I am sure it was an interesting day for John as the only male in the bunch. Jackie drove us around the area and we eventually had lunch at one of the newer marina complexes on the north coast which was very nice. After lunch we drove around a bit more and stopped in at Michelle's caravan set up on the beach before ending up at Hillary's Wharf complex for a bit of shopping and a delicious Italian ice cream. Once again the wealth of the region is plainly obvious. We drive back to Jacki's via her son Ian's home where we call in for a quick hello before passing by Jocelyn's son Phillip's home. Back at Jackie's we relax with a cup of tea and recover from all the chatter and laughter of the day before heading back to our hotel. As it is still light we head back via Kings Park which is some 400hectares of parkland on the banks of the Swan River. John & I wander around the botanical gardens and stroll across the treetops walk enjoying the cool of the evening before getting back to the hotel around 8pm. Once again we relax in with room service.
Sunday we catch up with Helen & Mark for breakfast before heading down to Mandura to visit Richard & Karen Slingsby. Helen & Mark had been in Perth for the cricket on Saturday and it was great to catch up with them again if only for a brief moment over breakfast. We walk down Hay street Mall and then up Murray Street Mall before finding somewhere for breakfast. It strikes me how quiet Perth is in the City on Sunday morning and eventually it dawns on me that Perhaps the people of Perth realize that there is so much more to life than shopping prefering instead to make full use of the wonderful parks and waterways on offer.
In Mandura it was lovely to catch up with Richard & Karen and to meet their two girls. We get back to The Melbourne around 7.30 and begin the task of sorting out our stuff ready for our return journey home on Monday night.
Monday we do the tour of the Bell Tower which I found very interesting before catching up with Jenny Herrera during her lunch break at work. It was lovely to catch up with Jenny after so many years. Our walk back to the hotel took us through Hay Street mall once again and this time a totally different picture was presented as we were swallowed up by the sea of people rushing around in their lunch hour finishing last minute xmas purchases and finailising business deals before the xmas break.
After lunch we headed up to Kings Park again where we drove around a bit more before finally settling for an ice cream on the lawn over looking the river.
We enjoy sitting in the sun (me) and shade (John) soaking in the symphony of the city with the traffic on the freeways below blending into the background as the breeze sings through the trees and the birds join in with their chorus amidst the chatter and laughter of those lucky enough to be enjoying this beautiful summer's day in the lead up to Christmas. On the rivers below others are making the most of the summer's breeze sailing in the more sheltered parts of the bay and all the while many are caught up in the mania of city living, constantly rushing here and there, not daring to stop least they might have to spend some time with themselves. Here in the park life takes on a different meaning as those who care enough take time out to stop, relax and spend time with their favourite people. Sisters play ball, children run and explore, friends share a bottle of wine and chat over a meal while somewhere else lovers walk hand in hand. All enjoying the majesty and beauty of this special place on such a beautiful day. For John & I it is a time to chill out and enjoy the solitude after three hectic weeks in West Australia before we head home and back to the reality of our lives. It is so nice to stop and relax and reflect on how blessed we are. The holiday has been great but now we are looking forward to heading home and to spending time with our family and friends until our next adventure.