Western Australia !!! - tomrendell
My trip To Australia starting in Perth on the west coast and heading North !

Visiting Jules & Pascal
Perth, Australia
Monday
So I arrive in Perth after flying over from Hong Kong on the Sunday night, a 8 hour flight this time, and I got some extra leg room as I was sat in the emergancy exit area so that was pretty cool, the girl at the desk said I could sit there if I helped out in an emergancy, I thought I’ll probably be asleep the whole way so who cares!
The only problem was it was an old plane so no interatve movie choice this time!
Anyway I get to Perth, and Julie comes to pick me up at the airport and head back to their place, I didn’t sleep much on the plane nor on my last night in HK so Im very tired, but Battle through the day to go to bed at a normal time…
That first day is spent with a whirl wind tour of Perth, which is a really nice city, really clean and looks great!
Then I attend the wedding rehersal with them out in Swan Vally where they are getting married, Its so hot and im so tired, Im beginging to think Its all gone a bit pear shaped,
But in no time we are in a brewery called Mash which is great beer brewed on site which is fantastic, and some great food…Im realy falling asleep now though.
That night I sleep for 13 hours…about time too !
Tuesday
Today we shoot off to one of their local beaches they seem to live between Perth centre
and Freemantle or Freo as they call it.
This is a really chilled out bohemian quarter…. imagine Princess Ave with all the new bars but scrap the other side of the road and stick an amazing beach there instead…ideal !
So first swim in the sea, at Cottosloe beach really warm with fine golden sand, and clear warm water, Great!
We finish the day with a traditional Aussie Barbie…but not a shirp in sight, just steak & beer…by this time im beginging to think their beers kick ours into touch!
Wednesday
Do nothing as I feel like crap, didn’t sleep to well the night before, and did a work out leaving me feeling awful all day, so im in the lounge with the air con, and a few dvd’s 
Thursday
The others arrive from England mainly from Hull…so spend the day chatting to them and having a few drinks.
The wedding pace is picking up so its fever pitch with Best men and Bridesmaides flying about the place!
The bride to be and all her entourage disapeer leaving the boys to have a mini bucks night with menay beers and another Barbie.
Friday
The Wedding….all get up about mid day and get ready…
It all kicks off at about 4, so it’s started to cool off a touch; the wedding is pretty good, with the service on the lawn at a big country house next to the river…nice spot!
The Groom
Then we board this huge boat for the reception wich is realy cool…free beer too!!
So it’s a great party and we al have a really cool time, and Im chatting away to everyone, having quite a lot of beers.
Even met a really cool girl there who I was having a laugh with pretty much all of the night!
Sunset on the Swan River
Kannara, Donna & Julie
Saturday
Head off to the beach with the girl I met at the party, she drives us up to Scarbrough beach, a far cry from Scarbrough on the East Cost of England, this one is is like fistral beach in Newquay and is hot..damn hot!…Fish and chips arnt bad too !
Me at scarborough beach
Life Guards at the beach
Scarborough Beach
Anyway later that evening we drive out away from the coast and go to a Rodeo night, like a litte bit of the Wild west in Australia! didn’t think they had that stuff over here
Anyway tomorrow we are off to Kalbarri I’ll update you on that soon enough!
written by  tomrendell on November 13, 2006 from Perth, Australia
from the travel blog: Western Australia !!!

Up the west Coast !!
Kalbarri, Australia
As we head up the coast towards Kalbarri, looking at it on the map..looks like you'd be there in a couple of hours but its over 6 hours later that the convoy rolls into town after one burst tyre and several service stations later !
We set up camp at a beach front campsite, really nice place, in this sleepy beach front town on the edge of the outback,
Its very green for such a dry place, really nice and warm too ! approx 28C
That evening is spent with a few beers round the camp with fish and chips,
the next day we shoot off in the cars down a 30 km dirt track to the gorges,
Z Bend Gorge
This however is hot ! I reckon its 40 over in the gorge, away from the coast...Im almost passing out !
Natures Window
At the Gorge
After an hour of checking this place out we drive back up to the coast to find a great beach where we play beach football and go for a swim...nice to think I'm doing this while your all shuffling about in the rain !
That evening we all go out for a spot on meal, and have all sorts...crock....kangaroo etc !!
Julie & Pascals Friends
First thing in the morning, we pack up our campsite, and they all get ready to head back to Perth, they drop me off at the sea front, and as they drive off leaving me looking out over the sea, for a moment I just stood there thinking..sh1t I'm completely on my own in the middle of nowhere !
But I find the hostel in no time, and waste no time checking in, and getting my bunk sorted.
Within an hour I was chatting to some guys in my dorm, a couple of Sweedish guys and a German, after chatting for a while discovered we were all making a similar journey up the west coast, they told me they were going snorkeling, so I tagged along..bought a snorkel along the way and headed out to the Blue Pools, some large rock pools just a short walk down the coast, an amazing deserted beach where we dived into the pools and started checking out the marine life trapped in these large rock pools.
Me Snokeling
Where the river meets the sea
...anyway so after a bit of that, we walked back down the beach back to the hostel.
where I chilled out most of the afternoon chatting some other travelers...Julia a Liverpool Fan informed me Liverpool won and Chelsea lost so that put a smile on my face...shame I wasn't in the office to rub Kev's nose in that one !!
Blue Pools
That eveing I had a couple of beers with Torston the German guy on the beach... really feel like im traveling now,
The next day I pretty much stayed out of the sun and just read my book, the heat was pretty unbearable today, I packed my bag as I was heading up the coast to Denham later,
With that the bus was here, and I was leaving Kalbarri !
Kalbarri Sunset
written by  tomrendell on November 19, 2006 from Kalbarri, Australia
from the travel blog: Western Australia !!!

Dolphin-tastic
Denham, Australia
So I arrive in Denham quite late on Wednesday night, So I hit the sack as its an early start to Monkey Mia in the morning !
7.45 the next moring we are on the local bus with the Sweedish guys to the place known as Monkey Mia, where they feed and research the Dolphin from this beach front national park,
I got the chance to take a fish out into the bay and feed one of the dolphins, this was really amazing !!
Dolphins
The Dolphin I fed !!
There is sorts of wildlife in this place I saw Pelicans on the beach and saw a stingray in the sea while I was snorkaling...
Pelican
Amazing Beach
...Anyway seems like a long day as you have to wait unitl 4pm for the return bus, but get back to the hostel, and meet up with a bunch of people from another coach tour that I met the previous night in Kalbarri, Its about this time, I notice the Sweedish guys have no sense of humor so I kind of give them the slip and have a few games of pool and a few beers with a few guys and girls staying in the hostel!
they show a film each evening in this open air cinema, at the hostel, everyone was pretty shocked to see them put on Wolf Creek, a pretty gory horror film about backpackers..not the best chioce !
the next day I do some serious chilling out ! just lounging around watching England getting a schooling in the Ashes, and go for a quick snorkel, before the bus comes to take me up to Coral Bay at sunset!
Denham Sunset
written by  tomrendell on November 22, 2006 from Denham, Australia
from the travel blog: Western Australia !!!

Coral Bay !
Coral Bay, Austria
About high time I updated you on Coral Bay…pretty much the last leg on this trip and the furthest point north I will travel for quite a while
Leaving Denham to come to Coral Bay was ment to take about 7 hours, however due to Greyhound buses being driven by complete monkeys, we arrive 11.5 hours later…(that’s longer than Manchester to Hong Kong)
This includes a stop at a Road House (service station) for over 2.5 hours at 2am…& as this place is away from the Coast…its damn hot, even at 2am its almost 30C
Anyway finally get moving, and arrive in Coral Bay at 5.30 am…
At this point I just need to sleep, so I find my room…a 4 bed dorm with 3 girls in it asleep….I have to make the top bunk while a girl is asleep below…I’m thinking
“if she wakes up and I’m stood at the foot of her bed this is really gonna freak her out”
So I basically don’t make the bed very well, and clamber all over her as there is no ladder…clearly waking them all up in the process…but who cares…I’m finally in bed
So Next day up about 11, go for a little explore, check out the beach, the pub, etc, all looks nice, Beach looks like the best so far…
Spend most of the day just reading and chilling out, and rustle up a spag bol.
Later on the People I met in the previous Hostel arrive on their bus, so we have a few beers in the evening, and then later head on down to the beach about 11pm armed with a box of beer and spend the next couple of hours sat by the waters edge drinking many beers and having a good laugh!
All the kids..
The next day I’m pretty hung over so miss the morning at the beach with the rest of the gang, I prefer to stick on the air con, draw the curtain and roll over!
I finally get my self up and about in the afternoon, Meet up with them down on the beach, we walk down the coast to a shark nursery where the young sharks seem to “hang out” there’s probably about 50 of them in a small concentrated bay, as they are all reef sharks and fairly harmless we wade into the water scaring most of them away, but as we stand still, in time they swim back around us…being surrounded by sharks is pretty freaky even if they are reef sharks…. later we find out threes the occasional Tiger shark in there with them…Doh!!
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That evening we head back down to the beach at sunset to check that out before we walk back to the Hostel and prepare out massive BBQ…
The Gang at Sunset
Chris.....putting another shrimp on the barbie
Everyone getting stuck in at our BBQ
A few beers, burgers and hotdogs later…. We are down on the moonlit beach again…you’ve guess it…. having some more beers…
The next day we had decided to do a Manta Ray tour, we are taken out in a boat a mile or so of shore, while a spotter plane locates a Huge Manta Ray, when spotted we dive in with our guide and snorkel over to them, unbelievable creatures, never seen anything like it…the huge Manta is jet black and over 4 feet wide…(No Owstie that’s not your friend Zit)
Manta Ray
Me...looking like a Pro !
Swimming just above them was awesome, the most amazing thing ive ever done, even surpassing the off shore swimming we did in Greece a couple of years ago
After swimming with them twice, we sailed over to a turtle sanctuary, and then out deeper to a dense coral reef where they let us snorkel for another hour or so…saw some amazing colours in both the coral and a thousand type of fish, even saw a reef shark vanishing into the abis…and clown fish like Nemo…think its safe to say everyone was in awe of the ocean that day! !
Nemo
Some Fish
The next couple of days was spent chilling out, with a bit of a swim and run down the beach late on around 5pm after it cooled down…
Sun set over Coral Bay
The day after that I was off back to Perth…only 2 of us on the bus, my self and Bonnie, A long 1 and a half-day journey ahead. at least we had a laugh though.
We spent the night in Spooky Geralton, not the best place in Australia, very creepy town, even the people in the hostel were o
written by  tomrendell on December 5, 2006 from Coral Bay, Austria

Back in the Big City !
Perth, Australia
Riffled back down to Perth…to spend a few more days checking out the big city.
The trip back was the equivalent of Lands end to John O Groats
It really is a fantastic city, not too big, very compact, but has the High Rise look of Docklands in London, but right in the heart of the city centre…its unbelievably clean, has a enormous & impressive river called the Swan, which they make the most of, unlike the rather grim looking River Hull
Park in the City Centre
View from the clock tower over the Swan
Friday evening. Just back in Perth, and head up to Kings Park with J&P went up there with some KFC and a couple of beers, to watch the sun set… makes for a great picture.
Perth at night from Kings Park
Tree in Kings Park at Dusk
Had some drinks out in the garden with some of their neighbours...Ironically one of them looks just like Toadie!
On Sunday I spent some more time with Kannara, we went over to the movies, and saw Borrat. Matt – Great recommendation, I’ve never laughed so much in my life…. that’s probably to do with watching virtually no TV for a month though!
Couple of days later…
I’m up in Perth. And I catch a sightseeing tram begin to regret it immediately, as it seems to be full of 70yr old pensioners…and to make matters worse…the bus driver thinks he’s funny, the only thing worse than that was the pensioners were lapping up his crappy jokes…I got off the tram pretty sharpish… (I can Imagine Helen laughing at that one)
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City and Trees
The Bell Tower
Spent the next day up in Perth centre again…just get back in time to turn the TV on see Hussy riffle off a shot to claim the winning run in the 2nd Test!
Spent Friday day in Fremantle, went to the harbour and went on a submarine! And to check out a Shipwreck exhibition at the near the beach…later I shoot off to the beach with Pascal and go body boarding …Surfs up…I catch a few decent waves, but also get wiped out by an absolute massive ‘un
Boadyboarding's cool...but its no football !
Julie comes to meet us after we’ve finished, and we grab fish and chips on the seafront,
Back to house...Pascal as per usual cracks opens the beers…happy days!
Saturday we go out for some drinks in the evening, have a good laugh; even meet some English people…always good to chat about the football!!
Sunday morning…more Bodyboarding at 8am..most of you lot are still in V Bar…I’m hitting the waves…some excellent conditions make for the best Bodyboarding yet…at a place called Secret Harbour!
Yesterday, head up to Kings Park again, this time with Kannara we took some food up there for lunch, and just chilled out all afternoon in the shade. Later on we wandered down to Matilda Bay, a cheeky little bay where you can hang out on the bank of the river…ideal with a cold one!
Kannara Vs the Magpie
Kings Park
The Park
That brings me up to date…
Tomorrow, I leave on another leg of the trip from Perth round Via Dunsborough, Margaret River, Denmark, Albany, Esperance and everywhere in between, and yes that’s the same Esperance where some fifteen year old kid had his leg bitten off by a great white last week..
Adios.
written by  tomrendell on December 12, 2006 from Perth, Australia

Bunbury and Bussleton
Bunbury, Australia
Bunbury & Bussleton
I arrive in Bunbury mid morning and grab the last dorm in the hostel...bit of luck as I hadn't booked !!
after checking in I have a chat with some of the people in the hostel, bit of a mixed bunch, bit of an older crowd than the 20somethings in the previous hostels up the coast, this is pretty much a working hostel so most of the people are there long term as they have jobs in the town, which makes for a good atmosphere in the place as they all have a good laugh with a few beers in the evening. all sorts in this hostel, French, Spanish, Korean, American, Australian..etc...I feel I'm the only English person there baring Jenny from Newcastle.
After a movie night in the Hostel everyone gears up for the weekly karioke sesh down the local, I sail on down the pub with them, and roll out my crowd pleaser Johnny B Good...a classic from the uni days....Remember those quality Karioke nights at Uni Rich ;-)
the next day went to the beach with my French room mate Xavier, went for a snorkel, but didn't see much, so just ended up swimming !
Pool competion in the evening crashed out in the 2nd round though...no suprise there !
Next day up early doors, went down to the beach with Jenny to see the Dolphins, as they came in early each morning, bit like at Monkey-Mia up the coast.
chilled on the beach after that, and cooled down with a swim !
Got pretty wasted in the evening a cheap bottle of wine, then a few beers playing pool in the pub finished me off, cant remember getting home !!
Next morning jumped on the bus...adios Bunbury !
Busstleton..
The shocker...checking into to this hole is not exactly what I had in mind, what are Lonely planet thinking, they make this place sound tip top, using words such as "comfy", "cozy", "welcoming"...yeah for the Mice maybe !!
but as the old chestnut goes..."Its not where you are its who your with" and I was with about 10 Japanese people in this place......a bit overwhelming at first, but basically I've never met a group of people who made me feel part of their well established group so quickly.
within half an hour I was rocking up to the beach with them and was swimming about in the amzing sea down there, we swam out to the jetty and dived off, having a great time, wanted some pictures of that, so went back, walked back down the pier with my camera, and got these...I had such a good time this afternoon !
later that evening again went back down to the pier with the Japanese kids and went fishing we caught heaps of fish, and the next day they cooked it all, the best fish I've ever tasted, they sure knew what they were doing.
Its not the easiest thing in the world having a conversation with someone if there is a big language barrier, a lot of people will give up to soon, but these guys have taught me that its worth the effort. Special mention to Shizuka thanks for the origami crane fly :-) hi to all the others Yoichi, Mio, Vanessa...and Tomo thanks for the fishing lesson :-)
All this plus the good weather and scenery made up for the grim hostel !! as Shizuka called it...Bed bug backpackers ha-ha
Anyways...just like some sort of mysterious helpful dog...I disappear into the distance almost as soon as ive arrived...
written by  tomrendell on December 13, 2006 from Bunbury, Australia

Surfs up
Dunsborough, Australia
I Arrive in Dunsbourgh, hoping the hostel is a better bet than before...but if the Hostels were Football teams this would be Liverpool, making the previous hostel Macclesfield...
What a choice for Christmas, this place is the business, I could actually live here !! its big, clean, full of cool people who are also staying till Xmas, has Skysports, free bodyboards, and the back garden meets the beach...Ideal...
...
Spent 9 days here, have just left Dunsbourgh, and had the best time possible, I was gutted to leave the place, everyone was so friendly & chilled....well and truly had the time of my life !!
the kids in the hostel
Me Bobby and the girls !
Spent Most of my time with Adam, Heather, Bobby, Will, Debs, and Mikeo..
Debs, Adam & Heather
Bobby, Lauren, Ruth, Heather...off to catch some waves
Anyway...Most days we would jump into the car and roll down to the surf beachs either Smiths or Yells early doors around 8, as Adam had to be at work for 12, so we'd get chance to catch some decent waves before lunch....
Adam and Me ! on a wave
Some dude on a tube (is it Adam)
That left the afternoon free to chill out, in the hamock or watch a DVD...or in Wills case..sleep all afternoon !
Heather & Dave
One afternoon we pilled down the beach and went to Yallinup for the first time, the surf was of this world...never seen anything like it....didnt stop Me, Adam and Bobby from getting wiped out big time on some killer waves. Miko and Heather got no further than getting their feet wet ! dont balme them really !!
Me and Bob !
The next day Dave took us on a tour of the cape, where we got to see the dolphins again, Heather just saw them diving through the waves as we were driving away, an amazing sight, almost better than seeing them up close they were better at catching the waves than us !!
the coast
the cape..where we saw the Dolphins surfing the waves
Surf master Dave then took us back down to Smiths beach where we tried to learn to surf, Bobby, Heather and Myself had a go out on a long board...didnt really get it though, Heather was trying to show us how to stand up on the board, but kept falling off herself ! some teacher :-) we just got back on the bodybords for some user friendly action !!
Ruth and Lauren gave it a miss...I think they thought it was too cold..ha..ha
That day evening we had the BBQ at the hostel, and discovered our cheapo way of drinking, value box's of wine...5 littles for $10 thats about 4 quid !! ha-ha we got lashed !!
Christmas kind of crept up on us, as there is not much of a build up here, like back home..so before we knew it it was Xmas Eve, but it was just another day down the beach...pretty cool xmas eve though !!
We had a massive Chritmas eve meal that evening in the garden with everyone !
Then the following morning, we were all up and on the beach which is just 5 secconds from the hostel garden...to have our Christmas brunch on the sand...the classic Aussie Xmas !
Ruth, Heather, Lauren on xmas day
Ester & Heather xmas day
Pretty warm xmas day...think it was 32 in the shade at about 11am...
After the food I went back in side to cool off...and as the premiership highlights were on foxtel !!
Everyone xmas day
Happy Days !
Anyways...Spent the rest of the day with the gang, ended the day playing cards...with a very pi$$ed Bobby and Miko..
Heather, Adam, Me, Bobby, Miko on xmas day
Boxing day we spent...yep youve guesed it at the beach, with Adam, Debs, Heather and Dave came over to join us too ! Shame though as there were no waves even at Yells..the place where the monster waves were only a few days before...
And as it was my last night in the beach house hostel, we had a bit of a massive night out !
the Gang in the 3 bears
Debs took one for the team and took the car so we didnt faff about with cabs...(what a trooper)
We all had a great time, even though Dan the cave man was there !! #@#% YEAH
I can just see Adams face when we saw Dan on the dance floor !! haha !! what a muppet !!
everyone down the pub on my last night
Back at the hostel after the pub, finished off the last of the wine, not a good move when I had to be up and ready in the morning,
anyway, Big thanks to the beach house for being the best hostel in WA, everyone who does this coast should stop over here,
Ill miss all the beach house kids heaps...Adam, Bobby, Heather, Miko, Will, Dave, and all the others that were there for xmas, Even Dan (haha
written by  tomrendell on December 21, 2006 from Dunsborough, Australia

Wine Region !!
Margaret River, Australia
27-29 Dec
Moving on anywhere after Dunsbough was going to be a hard act to follow, & Margaret River with all its hype was no exception.
Didn’t think to much of the place at first, your based in the town and its simply one long street of tourist style shops and pubs, your 10k from the beach, and the “Margaret River” is nothing more than a small stream!
The Margaret River
So its not going to blow you away like some of the other places on the coast or in the forest.
They were pushing wine tours at the hostel as the place is Australia’s famous wine region, but as that’s no fun on your own, I didn’t bother.
Spent the day wandering around didn’t get up to anything interesting...and didn’t meet any interesting people in the hostel, apart from one English guy, who I watched some of the cricket with until his nagging wife dragged him away !! : Note to self!
Saw the beach on the way into the area though as the bus stops their briefly and we had chance to check it out, and its the West Coasts No.1 surfing location, you could tell that back up the road in Dunsbourgh/Yallingup but down here the waves are even bigger.
"The Box" Surf spot
Surfers Point
Didn’t get chance to sample the waves personally just shot them from the shore this time!
The next day got ready and moved on to Augusta where I was to meet up with Kannara again for a few days, So I waddled out of the hostel with my ever increasing luggage…I need to ditch some stuff.
Some cheeky cove
written by  tomrendell on December 27, 2006 from Margaret River, Australia

Happy New Year !
Augusta, Australia
29 Dec -2 Jan
Arrived in Augusta to find the Baywatch YHA…expected to see the Hoff running the place, but no such luck!!
I get here before Kannara, So check in, Check it out, grab some food, the Youth Hostel has won best Hostel in Australia every year since 1997 so you know its going to be good!
It’s more like a hotel compared to some places.
I cooked us steak which she rated at only 6/10!! The cheek!!
The next day checked out these famous wineries as Augusta is so close to Margaret River, We went to a few, and a few wines, they taste so much better than some of the rats pi$$ we’d been drinking the week before in Dunsbourgh. Checked out a few of them and a brewery in the area, The Bootleg Brewery…which did some great beers! But all this alcohol was a bit much in the afternoon! Spent some of the late afternoon at Hamlin Bay!!
Hamlin Bay wines
Hamlin Bay Beach
Took a forest drive felt like the absolute middle of nowhere they could have filled Return of the Jedi here, Kept thinking the Ewoks were going to come crashing threw the trees !
the forrest in Augusta
More Forrest
Even more wine first thing! Bought my first bottle of decent wine at Hamlin’s! Superb!….Mum; Ones in the post!
Then a afternoon on the beach, we found one called “cozy corner” its not so cozy on the 6km unsealed road to find it !
the path to the beach
Cozy Corner beach
Worth it when we got there, hardy anyone else there, was really nice with loads of mini islands a few hundred of meter into the sea, made for good snorkeling, although my mask is pretty crap think I need a new one!
Spent New Years Eve in the hostel with some of our wine, can’t believe how quiet this hostel was, It was more of an old peoples home, compared to the Holiday style resort of Dunsbourgh over xmas.
But that didn’t matter as we had a great time anyway, Had a really cool time here and a really good laugh, but it was a good job we had the car here, as you need to drive a bit to see the bits and pieces!
Top of the world !
View from the lighthouse
Anyway the next day, checked out the lighthouse, and the point at which the two oceans meet, you can see the waves crashing against the rock in different directions so you can see the exact location, was hoping t would have been a calm bay so I could have swam across two oceans…but far too choppy !
Me and Kannara at two oceans point
Southern ocean to the left Indian ocean to the right !
After Lunch Kannara had to shoot back up to Perth, So I was home alone, Literally, felt like I was the only one there after that, but was moving on first thing in the morning so hit the sack early doors as I needed a good nights sleep!
Cape Luewin
written by  tomrendell on December 29, 2006 from Augusta, Australia

in the Forest
Nannup, Australia
So Nannup… 2nd-4th Jan
Its basically the furthest inland ive stayed so far, its based in the middle of the Blackwood forest, a little town about pop 400.
The place I stayed was called the Black Cockatoo and is an “Eco Retreat” with no internet or TV it’s a hippy’s paradise, there is a huge organic garden, and its very green !
The Hostel
It wasn’t like the other hostels I’d stayed in, I was pretty much the only backpacker, there was a hypnotist with his 5 yr old daughter, a weird bloke who looked like Bad guy from Ghostbusters 2 and he had this spaced out hippy in tow, couldn’t figure them out, He said they were friends, but they seemed very odd, but harmless…
An enormous old English guy, who was an ex chef and basically lived there, he insisted on cooking everyone’s meals…fine by me !
And then a couple of friends from Sydney, who drove over during their Uni summer break…
Lucy and Duncan, they were sound, I went out on the Blackwood River with them in some Canadian kayaks which was great, even though it was a fairly cool day.
Kayaks
We also found a massive spring water pool that had eucalyptus trees all around it so the water was mixed with that…the area surrounding it smelt amazing!
We dived into the pool, which we were later told is bottomless, I kept diving in to try and reach the bottom, but to no avail !
The Spring Board
It was really friendly and everyone sat around the fire in the evening having a drink together playing a few games, really different from some of the previous hostels.
This place is very cool, very chilled, it was really relaxing, when I was just hanging about it felt ok to jut laze around, If you get the chance spend the night there…very unique place
Lucy, Me, Porcha & Duncan
written by  tomrendell on January 2, 2007 from Nannup, Australia

Vally of the Giants
Walpole, Australia
4-6 Jan
My trip to Walpole or "the vally of the giants" as its called due to some of the worlds largest trees being in the surounding forests..
Left Nannup on the EasyRider bus, got picked up around 10, Bobby who I met in Dunsbourgh over xmas was on the bus heading to Walpole with me which was cool !
The bus took us into a Winery on the way, I tasted a few wines, and felt a bit ropey right away, think it was to close to breakfast time !!
Me and Bobby at the winery...to early !
Another stop of on the way was the Gloucester Tree, the world largest climing tree at over 60 meters, the driver told us only 2% of people who intend to climb the tree actually do it...I wasnt letting that stop me, even though about half way up the tree starts to sway as the weather was pretty grim, very windy, had to pass a few people fozen with fear about 3/4 of the way up...anyway worth it when I got to the top, amazing views of the forrest. it used to be used as a fire lookout, so its the tallest one for miles.
Gloucester tree
View from the top
our first night in the hostel was pretty messy, we endned up sharing 4 bottles of wine, Im not used to wino hangovers, the next day we both felt like absoloute death so just watched premiership re-runs on foxtel all day...
Had a tee-total night the evening, couldnt even look at a bottle of wine without feeling sick :-(
the next day, went on an eco cruise, which everyone was raving about, even lonley planet gave said it cant be missed, so we gave it a shot.
The guy running it was a total comedian, it was like a comedy show and eco tour at the same time !
another bloody beach
at the Beach
Saw the Walpole inlet, which is amzing and untouched by the logging industry.
the inlet
The boat took us the most stunning beach, (im running out of superaltives here) unreachable by foot, not a sole on it, the waves were some of largest ive seen, and the forrest came down to meet the cliffs !
Amazing Beach
The Beach
After the cruise, spent the afternoon at the beach topping up my amazing tan (yeah right)
The tan or lack of it...what a joke, 8 weeks in Australia and I still look like the milky bar kid !
at least I havnt burnt though..unlike some people, Ive seen a few people who needed hospitalising...grim...
The River
Me and Bob on the tour !
anyway, that evening one of the girls in the hostel had a party, for her 19th, so we had a few drinks...quite a few..
tried to stay up for the football, Liverpool Vs Arseanl, swapped the wine for the coffee at about 2.30am, waited for ages for it to start, then must have passed out, woke up to see them go 2-0 down, then must have passed out again, woke up in the morning to find out they lost 3-1, not the best !
anyway the next day rolled on to Denmark.
written by  tomrendell on January 8, 2007 from Walpole, Australia

At the river
Denmark, Australia
Denmark 7th-11th Jan 07
On the way from Walpole to Denmark we visited the Valley of the giants Tree Top Walk, which was pretty cool, but not so good with a hangover from last night,
Tree top walk
its tough at the top
Walked through a walkway suspended above the Karri Tree forest,
up top
up at the top
This was another stop off on the Easy Rider Bus, something I would have missed otherwise !
Next stop the best beach so far…Greens Pool, for a quick swim…and diving off the rocks, then look at Elephant Rocks.
Greens Pool
Elephant Rocks
A really nice spot, great swimming area, and top rocks to dive off, if your feeling brave
After that the bus rolled on into Denmark where I was the only one jumping off, which was fine as I wanted a few days to chill out and rest up again.
Ate fish and chips by the river as I was far too tired to cook !
The next day relaxed by the beautiful Denmark river a minute away from the hostel, and did a little chilled out river walk.
At the River
Up the creek
Got a call from some friends I met in Dunsbourgh that they were coming over to Denmark for a night, so that evening met them in the pub, Adam Heather, Debs and Jo.
The next day was pretty ropey, dark and gloomy, hammered it down with rain in the morning, we went out in their car to Greens Pool for a swim, and were the only people there as the weather kept changing warm and sunny one minute, cold and grim the next.
Greens pool/ Elephant rocks
The Sea
At one point had to dash back to the car during a torrential downpour, see the three drowned rats in the car
the gang
3 drowned rats
Escaped the English style rain with a cup of tea in a random café that seemed to pop out of the bushes when we needed it most, even if a weird guy was running the place trying to sell us the contents of 5 years worth of car boot sales junk as well as a pot if tea !
get the kettle on
Denmark River
After that in the howling wind, we walked up the track to Monkey rock ! With some stunning views, well worth it
Adam, Heather, Jo, Debs & Me @ Monkey Rock
View from Monkey Rock
then we found some horses, in a random Field !
Debs with new pal
Jo & Heather
Drove back through to Denmark and with that the gang had to move on to Albany, I could have gone with them but wanted to stay and explore Denmark and to find time to relax for at least 5 minutes..which is proving harder than I’d thought !!
The next day awoke to find Bobby and his girlfriend had arrived and had hired a car and wanted to go out for the day…so no rest for the wicked! Off out on another day trip….
Went to some feeble zoo with them both, now wouldn’t have chosen to do this on my own, but felt I might as well, it was pretty lame, and couldn’t get out of the place quick enough…feeding muesli to donkeys not quite what I had mind when I set off travelling!
But …got to see a Koala…albeit asleep….so not all bad…that’s another box ticked !
Felt I needed some exercise after seeing those caged donkeys…So got Bobby to drop me off near the beach and I ran the 6k back to the hostel…running the only thing that comes close to fill the big void of playing football, I’m really missing that (Dan cant wait to set up our new team when I’m back)
The next day explored some more beaches, Waterfall beach…with the most pathetic waterfalls I’ve ever seen, but a really nice beach, water was a bit rough for swimming though!
Next morning shot through to Albany.
written by  tomrendell on January 9, 2007 from Denmark, Australia

Deep South !
Albany, Australia
Albany 12th-14th Jan '07
Struck gold as I checked into my room, met a girl from Scotland who had a car and was about to go out on a mission exploring the area…so I rolled out for the day with her and saw some pretty amazing places,
The Blow Holes, a Geezer style thing that blew water out of a hole on the cliffs.
The Gap !
Albany
The Bridge a massive natural beam of rock suspended between two points.
The Bridge
Mind the Gap
The Gap, a huge gorge caved out by the unbelievably powerful waves.
All good…then drove quite a way to Two Peoples national park to find a “Little Beach” probably the most amazing beach ive seen to date.
Little Beach
Little Beach - Amazing !!
Little Beach - Albany
...and then on the way back some sort of feeble thing called Dog rock, see for your self !
Dog Rock
Went for a walk yesterday with Bobby & Miko a 15K round trip in preparation for the hike up we have in store in Stirling Ranges national park in a couple of days… walked to the top of Mt Adelaide great views of Albany!
Spent an hour trailing the pubs trying to get one to put the Liverpool v Watford game on Fox Sports, no one was interested….nightmare, ended up just watching a movie at the hostel!
written by  tomrendell on January 14, 2007 from Albany, Australia

Stirling Ranges
Wooganup, Australia
Stirling Ranges 15-16 th Jan 07
Moving on from Albany on the bus, Bobby, myself and a few randoms headed to Stirling Ranges National Park to climb the infamous Buff Knoll, the highest peak in Western Australia,
It’s quite a drive to the National Park, so we get there early afternoon and head on up the peak, its not such a hot day, which makes the climb pretty good fun.
On the way !
Bluff Knol
Although 20 minutes later everyone’s roasting as we start to warm up on the steep climb!
Greg our ever-dependable guide is lagging behind, we can see him haling his fat ass up the Montanan so we keep going!
The views are amazing, really enjoying the hike, gives me a taste for potential hikes in New Zealand.
View from Bluff Knol
Stirling Ranges from Bluff Knol
As we start to get to the top the clouds start coming in, and rapidly cools down
so its on with the fleece, and keep pounding away until we reach the top.
Feels really good to be out hiking again, makers me realise this sort of stuff is why im here.
At the top we chill out (literally) get some food, and catch some more awesome photos of the National Park…and wait for Greg to meet us up at the top!
at the top
Me and Bobby at the top
On the way down, its worth taking your time to appreciate the view…don’t think I’ve seen anything like this before of my any of my other hikes from the past!
As we gat back to the bus, we roll a mile or so down the road to a café and have a well earned Jim Beam and Coke! Bliss!
Then we check into the hostel across the road, have a swim to cool down, and then cook and eat…and watch the best sunset yet…over the mountains!!
Stirling Ranges at night
What a great day!
written by  tomrendell on January 15, 2007 from Wooganup, Australia

Wave Rock
Hyden, Australia
Hyden - 16th Jan '07
A quick trip to this place called “Wave Rock” in my opinion a massive pointless detour, but it’s on the lientery, so we stuck to it,
Basically a huge rock shaped like a wave formed over thousands of years over water running over the edge and running down. Not sure where this running water is, this place is dryer than your mouth on a Sunday morning after a massive night out.
There was a dam, which held a massive amount of water for the local inland, totally arid area! Aparantly back in the day little kids used to swim in it, now its all fenced off and secure! Water seems more valuable the gold around here.
Precious water @ the Wave rock dam
Anyway quick photo op, and a quick shufty around and were back on the bus headed for Esperance…
Me & Bobby @ Wave Rock
Greg showing us the way
written by  tomrendell on January 16, 2007 from Hyden, Australia

Esperance
Esperance, Australia
Esperance 16th - 21st Jan '07
The Diving Board
Stuck in a moment
Arrived in Esperance and we immediately went to Twilight cove, a popular beach in the town area, but was deserted at 4pm when we arrived, maybe thats because of the alleged sharks..
Swam straight out to the huge rock a couple of hundred meters off shore, climbed up and jumped off a few times, slowly at first, but the three of us we were doing triple jumps from the top, really good fun especially id you land in a wave as it passes by…
Managed to get a action shot, see the 3 figures caught in mid flight, see above.
Spent the evening eating the biggest portion of fish and chips, with a few beers & playing pool.
Easy Rider Bus
Frenchmans Peak
Greg climbing Frenchmans peak
View from Frenchmans peak (Cape Le Grande Nt Park)
Next morning at 7am we shot out to Cape Le Grande National park about 30km out of town, climbed Frenchman’s peak, a steep climb, but not as tough or as long as the hike the other day up Bluff Knoll…but not before I set fire to my socks first thing trying to dry them out in the microwave...DOH
Lucky Bay
Hellfire Beach
Learning to body surf
Awsome Waves - Hellfire Beach
After that we hit Lucky bay for a look at this sunning beach, but choose to spent our time at Hellfire beach had lunch, and Greg taught a few of how to body surf…the next best thing when you don’t have a body board!
After that the Easy Rider Bus rolled on, but as I was staying in Esperance I had 5 days to my self until the next bus…
Beach side bike ride with Helen.
Beach
During which I did the great ocean drive, but on a mountain bike with a Helen a French Canadian girl from the Hostel, brilliant cycle track right along the coast, 20k return, went all the way back to twilight cove for a swim…and a dive.
Woddy island cruise
Did a cruise to Woody Island one of over a hundred islands that form the Recherche Archipelago, basically these islands helped two French ships shelter from a storm back in the day, and then allowed them to discover Esperance! Saw sea eagles and sea lions and heaps of other stuff on this cruise and did a short walk on Woody island.
Went running in the evenings along the coast, chilled out, watch Liverpool Beat Chelsea 2-0…basically had a great time !
Esperance at dusk
written by  tomrendell on January 17, 2007 from Esperance, Australia

Theres gold in them there hills
Kalgoorlie, Australia
Kalgoorlie at dusk...cool at last
Spent almost all day driving from Esperance to Kalgoorie, get there around 6pm, and went out and had some dinner and a few beers in the pub! It’s a bit of a rough and ready place full of miners that look like they could wrestle a bear, and full of girls that look like they do anything for money.
Money talks in Kal, the gold mine is the biggest open cut goldmine in the southern hemisphere, and makes almost $5 billion dollars year so the workers who work in this red hot inland desert heat trap are paid very well.
In the wild West
Kalgoorlie
We had a look at the Super pit at night and during the morning, as it runs 24/7 churning out gold non stop…
Looks miles wide, impossible to photograph in one shot !!
All the equipment is massive, bigger than anything ive seen before…
All the pubs in Kal have topless barmaids, and later in the evening are simmering bar room brawls waiting to happen, and look like something out of the Wild West!
On the Scoop @ the goldmine
"The Super Pit" Gold Mine
It was great fun, as there was a few of us, and we had some drinks then went back to the hostel to have a few more, before bed, then off early doors as it’s a full day drive back to Perth, but pretty hellish when the air-con conked out mid morning!
written by  tomrendell on January 21, 2007 from Kalgoorlie, Australia

Back to Perth...again
Perth, Australia
Got back to Perth and among other things have celebrated Australia day in 41C with hair dryer heat style heat wind & watched the fireworks but they were over shadowed by a lighting storm at the same time, (no rain of course) needless to say I cant claim credit for this first picture, spent most of time back in Perth with Kannara, went up to Hillary's boat harbour last night with her...ultra posh area and had top seafood...happy days !
Me !
Kannara at Hillarys boat harbour
Kannara
fire works and lightning storm
Lightning vs fireworks
written by  tomrendell on February 2, 2007 from Perth, Australia

Perth

The Groom

Wedding

Julie and her Sister

Sunset on the Swan River

Kannara, Donna & Julie

Boys at the Wedding

Scarborough Beach

Life Guards at the beach

Me at scarborough beach

scarborough

Rodeo

Z Bend Gorge

Natures Window

At the Gorge

The Gorges

Julie & Pascals Friends

Blue Pools

Where the river meets the sea

Me Snokeling

Kalbarri Sunset

Dolphins

The Dolphin I fed !!

Pelican

Amazing Beach

Denham Sunset

All the kids..

Sun set over Coral Bay

The Gang at Sunset

Chris.....putting another shrimp on the barbie

Everyone getting stuck in at our BBQ

The Ningalo Coral Reef @ Coral Bay

Me...looking like a Pro !

Manta Ray

Reef Shark

Some Fish

Nemo

City Centre

Park in the City Centre

The Bell Tower

View from the Clock Tower

View from the clock tower over the Swan

View From Kings Park

Kings Park

The CBD

City and Trees

The Park

Kannara Vs the Magpie

Perth at night from Kings Park

Tree in Kings Park at Dusk

Me Bobby and the girls !

the cape..where we saw the Dolphins surfing the waves

the coast

Adam and Me ! on a wave

Everyone xmas day

Heather, Adam, Me, Bobby, Miko on xmas day

Me and Adam catch a wave

Xmas dinner on the beach

the kids in the hostel

Taku and Me

Heather & Dave

Me and Bob !

Surfs up

the cape

everyone down the pub on my last night

the Gang in the 3 bears

Ester & Heather xmas day

Debs, Me, Heather, Ads..no waves at the mo

Ruth, Heather, Lauren on xmas day

Bobby, Lauren, Ruth, Heather...off to catch some waves

Debs, Adam & Heather

Some cheeky cove

"The Box" Surf spot

The Margaret River

Hamlin Bay Beach

Hamlin Bay Wines

Surfers point

The bech

the path to the beach

Cape Luewin

Kannara's trusty tin can

Me and Kannara at two oceans point

Top of the world !

Southern ocean to the left Indian ocean to the right !

More Forrest

the forrest in Augusta

Lucy, Me, Porcha & Duncan

View from the top

Gloucester tree

at the Beach

Me and Bob on the tour !

The Beach

the inlet

The River

Me and Bobby at the winery...to early !

the gang

get the kettle on

View from Monkey Rock

Adam, Heather, Jo, Debs & Me @ Monkey Rock

Jo & Heather

Debs with new pal

The Sea

Up the creek

At the River

Denmark River

Albany, Australia

Me at the blow holes

Dead Trees

Albany

Mind the Gap

The Bridge

The Gap !

Greens Pool

Elephant Rocks

Brunch !

up at the top

its tough at the top

Tree top walk

Bluff Knol in Stirling Range

Greg the monkey

On the way !

at the top

Me and Bobby at the top

Stirling Ranges from Bluff Knol

View from Bluff Knol

Bluff Knol

Top of Bluff Knol

Precious water @ the Wave rock dam

Me and Bob at wave rock

Greg showing us the way

Wave Rock

Twilight cove

Esperance at dusk

View from Frenchmans peak (Cape Le Grande Nt Park)

Hellfire Beach

Lucky Bay

Awsome Waves - Hellfire Beach

Learning to body surf

Frenchmans Peak

Easy Rider Bus

Beach

Beach side bike ride

Woddy island cruise

Kalgoorlie, Australia

In the wild West

Digger at Night

On the Scoop @ the goldmine

"The Super Pit" Gold Mine

Greg Hasslehoff

Me & Bobby @ Wave Rock

The Diving Board

Stuck in a moment

Kannara

Kannara at Hillarys boat harbour

fire works and lightning storm

Lightning vs fireworks

Rangitata