Perth and North

After a good meal out on the Sunday I used the efficient public transport network to get in to Perth on Monday and visit the Immigration Department. No extension of our current visa is possible but if we return home as arranged in September we will be able to come back in October for at least 3 months and request permission to stay longer so that is the current plan.

I enjoyed the botanical gardens of Perth before returning to Merriwa for a barbie.

Tuesday saw a set of tyres fitted to the van before I enjoyed the good beaches that run north of Perth and then called in on the friends at Kallaroo that we had made way back in NSW last November.
They gave me the locals tour of Freo including the Maritime Museum and Round House, coffee was enjoyed overlooking the harbour and we returned along the coast to admire the exclusive properties that now occupy the land looking out to Rottnest. We dined well at a smart marina and I picked up loads of sound advice for our journey north.
Thursday started with the collection of Sarah's repaired bike, a shop to replenish stores and a trip to the airport to collect the lady herself who arrived dead on time and was soon through the formalities. We then drove to a campsite at Guilderton which provided showers, laundry etc. and a good beach to walk on.

Our progress north took us up the coast with a visit to the remarkable and surprisingly extensive Pinnacles before we stayed the night at Lake Indoon a few miles inland which was completely dry - WA has been the driest part of Oz and is in need of substantial rain. During the night a possum ripped a hole in our canvas roof to steal a whole loaf of bread without waking us!

After visiting the heritage village of Greenhough we called in at Geraldton for lunch before visiting the excellent maritime museum with its displays relating to the sinkings of the Batavia and Sydney.

Coronation Beach was too busy for us but just a couple of miles up the road Oakabella station homestay camping was perfect - only two other guests, excellent facilities and a chance to repair the roof with spray glue and a recycled T shirt.

Today we have walked the Loop Track in very hot conditions at Kalbarri NP with 'roos, lizards, feral goats and a billion flies for company! It was an excellent walk around a large meander in the Murchison River flowing slowly through a deep red sandstone gorge.

Kalbarri itself provides opportunities for more walks and possibly some snorkeling so we may stay a couple of days.

Piccies as ever and locations as usual.

The return of the slideshow commences with the bottom end of NZ's South Island from 2010.