The Great Budget 4wd Trip Around Australia – Week 21

Australia, Pinnacles

 


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So we finally decided that we’d had enough of the wind and it was time to hit Perth and Fremantle sooner then originally planned!

Distance Travelled:
712km

Spot of the Week:
Fremantle Markets

We loved this place and who wouldn’t with an eclectic mix of tourist trinkets, boutique clothing, chocolate shops, over 30 food stalls and fantastic coffee all under one roof.

It’s always busy, but it’s fun weaving your way through the vast variety of people from all manner of cultural backgrounds.

The sights and sounds of the Freo Markets are intoxicating and we can’t wait to make a visit there a weekly event.

Camp of the Week:
Discovery Parks – Coogee Beach

Only 10 minutes from the cafe scene of South Terrace and situated right on the beach, this caravan park  is one of the best locations we have stayed in.

Tip of the Week:
Prepare yourself for the end of travel! If you have been

If you have been travelling for a while, the return home or stopping somewhere new for a while can be very difficult and it does take time to readjust.

If you are returning home, maybe remind yourself of why and get back into a routine!

Some great ideas to help you do this include organising some regular activities before you get there like join a gym, a yoga class  or whatever it is you like to do. Having a connection when you arrive can alleviate some of the uneasy feelings of being new in town.

Having a connection when you arrive can alleviate some of the uneasy feelings of being new in town.

Disaster of the Week:
City traffic.

When you have been in the outback for months, you get very use to the idea of no traffic.

That changed in a hurry when we reached Perth!

Heading south into the city, the single lane suddenly became a double lane and the traffic increased rapidly. Then all of a sudden, we were on a 4 lane freeway with no idea where we were meant to be going and with cars, bikes and trucks weaving in and out of traffic all over the place.

Needless to say, it was a little stressful.

Through the good skills of G behind the wheel however, we made into the city of Perth safely

The Budget ($ AUD):
Fuel – $115.07
Groceries – $196.95
Coffee – $38.00
Total – $ 350.02

To be honest, we kind of lost track of the budget when we got to Perth!

 

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Day 1 – Geraldton, WA

After a few hours of being holed up in the apartment away from the wind, it was time to get out and explore some.

We headed for the foreshore where we could walk along the beach and explore more of what the waterfront here had to offer.

Of course, this led to sampling more of the great coffee on offer too.

Our favourite had to be The Quiet Life.

This is a great little sidewalk cafe with seating inside and out.

We couldn’t resist their incredible cold drip whilst sitting on a bench in the sunshine watching the world go by.

 

Day 2 – Geraldton, WA

We were supposed to leave Geraldton today, but the lovely hosts at Geraldton’s Ocean West Apartments talked us into staying another night!

The owners Minie and Dean here are just amazing here!

They were so welcoming and were super keen to help us explore the great little hometown, pointing out all the best places and things to do.

One of these was the Geraldton markets.

Situated in and around the old Railway Station, the Geraldton Markets boast a huge selection of fresh local grown produce and an assortment of jewellery, toys, old tools and live chickens and ducks.

Quite the experience!

 

Day 3 – Moore River Free Camp, WA

From Geraldton, we knew we only had a few days to get to Perth, so we set off pretty early to fit a lot in before finding our last roadside free camp for quite some time.

We hit the road south to see all the little towns along the way.

It wasn’t long before we spotted all the weird trees of Greenough, that have grown horizontal due to the fierce prevailing wind, so of course we had to stop for a photo!

Then we swung into Dongarra and Port Denison for a quick peak, before peeling off on the Indian Ocean Drive, taking in the stunning coastal views.

We detoured a little and made tracks for Stockyard Gully Tunnel, a great cave created by an ancient underground river. The trip in is definitely 4wd only and has some very soft sand patches.

While we were off the main road, we decided to venture a bit further into Lesueur National Park for a look.

The loop road through here is stunning and definitely worth the detour and it’s great to see the Park back at its best after a fire devastated large sections of it only 6 years ago.

After then popping into Jurien Bay to dip our toes in the water, we pushed on for Cervantes and to catch the Pinnacles late in the afternoon for the best light.

The pinnacles are a unique desert landscape where the weathered rock spires stand tall amongst the yellow desert sands.

The area is large enough that there is a sand track that weaves through the spires that you can drive on.

With loads of dedicated places to pull over and get out for a wander, you really can capture this vast landscape from some amazing angles.

 

Day 4 – Coogee Beach, WA

We took the tourist route into Perth and checked out some of the spectacular coastline and beaches of the Northern suburbs of Perth on the way.

The city itself has a pretty relaxed feel to it and reminded us a lot of Brisbane.

This was the end of the line for our travelling companion Kane.

After 3 months on the road with us, it was a strange feeling to be dropping him off for his next adventure!

We shared some great times with Kane and the movie nights with popcorn will be a treasured memory.

The afternoon was left for a quick look around Freo and then onto house hunting, 4 houses in about 3 hours and not a lot of time to decide.

After running around like crazy and getting lost several times we finally managed to check in to the beautiful Discovery Parks – Coogee Beach!

 

Day 5 – Coogee Beach, WA

It’s all been a bit of a whirlwind the last few days, but here we are in Fremantle Western Australia.

Today was all about where will we live, we had seen some great share houses and now we had to decide.

It wasn’t easy as every place had some serious advantages, however we went for somewhere that was the closest to town and where we felt we could get on with the other tenants the best.

Fingers crossed. I have landed a casual job so seriously need to buy some smart clothes after being in the sand and the dust for months.

 

Day 6 – Fremantle, WA

Time to settle into Freo!

After being on the road for the last 3 months it felt weird to be settling in for a bit, but it should be a fun ride and we have a great house to live in.

 

Day 7 – Fremantle, WA

After some unpacking of the car we headed our to explore Fremantle, including the fabulous markets here, Bathers Beach and the historic roundhouse.

After that it was lunch in a raw cafe, followed by checking out the local arts centre.

All in all, I think we’re going to be pretty happy here …. let the new adventure begin!!!

 

2 thoughts on “The Great Budget 4wd Trip Around Australia – Week 21

  1. Ralph Kiko says:

    I find myself unable to leave your blog! I can’t stop reading it! I must say you have a very unique voice in writing, which I personally appreciate. I am not a big fan of overly hot weather, can you recommend the best time of the year to try your itinerary? Let me know what you think. Thanks again Steph!

    • Steph says:

      That’s a great question Ralph and one I should have addressed earlier, so thanks for bringing it up. Seasons can be tricky things here in Australia, but generally, if you are looking to travel in the North / Centre of the country I’d recommend May-September, otherwise if you want to explore the South of the country, October to April would be best. Hope that helps 🙂

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