A Wild Adventure Ride!

Our second day in Perth, now that our laundry was done we took an excursion out to Rottness Island. 

We caught a bus just across from our hotel to take us to the ferry dock.  And we had a lovely ride down the Swan River to Freemantle and them

N a short ride to the island.

Rottnest Island (known as Wadjemup to the local Noongar people, and otherwise colloquially known as Rotto) is an island off the coast of Western Australia, located 18 kilometres (11 mi) west of Fremantle. The island covers 19 square kilometres 

Along with several other islands, Rottnest was separated from the mainland around 7,000 years ago, when sea levels rose. Human artefacts have been found on the island dating back at least 30,000 years, and the island is called Wadjemup by the Noongar people. Dutch sailors landed there on several occasions during the 17th century, by which time it was uninhabited. The island was named by Willem de Vlamingh in 1696, who called it Rotte nest ("rat's nest") after the quokka population.

Rottnest is perhaps best known for its population of quokkas, a small native marsupial.

They looked like rats to me, except they hop like kangaroos!

Going to Rotness, was like going back in time!  There are no motorized vehicles allowed on the island- only bicycles, scooters, skateboards.  There us one bus that does tours around the island.  It is a popular holiday spot.  The Friday we went was a long weekend for the school kids and the ferry was packed with families and bikes.

Getting off the ferry!  Can you see all the boats lined up on the front of the boat?

We thought we had signed up for the bus tour around the island!  Oh, no!  It was a wild adventure ride on a boat the rides into the waves and supposedly a nature sight seeing tour.  Ok, right!  They handed out spray jackets to put on once we got going.  All right, a ride around the island in a boat, not a bus! The colour of the water!  And so clear!

There is a light house on the island.

Yes, we saw seals sunning.

An osprey sitting on its nest.

Another seal on the opposite side of the island

And after reaching the Indian Ocean I had to get in and document it!

It was a pretty relaxing day, all in all!

And now we are under a winter storm watch!  After looking at these wonderful beach photos!

It has been raining most of the day, which is very much needed.  And maybe snow in the morning, we shall see!  The mountains for sure will be getting snow!

The City of Perth

Brought to an end our 18 day cruise aboard the Celebrity Solstice. It was a beautiful ship to enjoy this part of the world.

We decided to take an excursion off the boat finally.  It was costly to take a taxi into the city from where the boat docked.  The excursion included a 3 hour tour plus drop off near our hotel in central Perth.

Perth is known as the most isolated city in the world.  But it is a very progressive, modern city with lots of skyscrapers.  

Some of the old buildings in Freemantel, where the boat docked.  The building below is the old jail.

Then we headed to Kings Park which overlooks downtown Perth.

We were so happy to getto our hotel , where they had laundry facility.  It isn't great to not do laundry for almost 3 weeks.  The boat didn't have self serve landry service. And it cost $45 to send a small bag to their laundry!!  Eeekkk........thankfully another passenger gave us a coupon for $20.  Could at least get our undies clean.

This young gal, Anna, it was such a pleasure to meet the up with her and go out to dinner with her.  10 years ago she and Caitlin worked at summer camp together.  Quite a few of the councilors would come here on Saturday afternoons and do their laundry, fill up the jacuzzi tub and just relax.  She is originally from England, but moved to Perth a few years ago.  So, when I knew I was going to perth I contacted her to see if we could meet up.  It was awesome to see her again.  

Hello Adelaide!

We continued west along the southern shore of Australia to the city of Adelaide.  This was being a problem child for us.  The outskirts around Adelaide is big wine country.  Most tours involved a day of wine tasting and that is not how we wanted to spend our time.  Finally a tour came up and we snatched it up.  

We started with walking tour in the center of town.  Everything was closed up as it was Sunday morning.

     

We visited the Cleland wildlife park, where some of the animals roam free and you can feed them.

Below was the floor of their shop and restaurant.

Of coarse, there were koalas.  You could stand in line to stand beside one and pet it.  Lauree was waiting to hold one.

Emus are interesting birds.

Loikeets are so colourful and look like a rainbow in the sky when a flock fly overhead.

Cape Barren geese.

There were dingos here

We headed to Mt Lofty where you could have an overview of the entire city.

And we did make a stop at a winery.  Their wine was not that great.

Look at the colour of the water!  Unbelievable!

I spent the werkend at a scrapbook retreat.  I finished Cait's book on her high school trip to France. That was a big accomplishment.  And started a mini album on a 2009 cruise I had photos just sitting around.  

Today was busy- changed bed, washed sheets and towels.  Kirsten and I did some yard work.  Went to the grocery store. Cleaned bathrooms.  Picked up Harlee and soent time with the grandkids outside after school.

Our Next Stop was Melbourne

We continued our trip along the southern coast of Australia to Melbourne.

Here we planned to take a ride on the Puffing Billy steam train and then visit the Healesvilke Animal Sanctuary.  They were in the hills about an hours ride outside of Melbourne.  

Our biggest problem was finding our tour guide and van.  They were  not well marked when we got off the ship and never had a specific meet up local.  Frustrating and wasted about an hours of everyones day.

The skyline

They were getting ready for car racing in the streets.

Riding the Puffing Billy steam train

Through the ecalyptus forest, of which there are many varieties that I never knew.

At the Healesville santuary

See the baby roo in front of his mana.  Pretty soon the Joey climbed in the pouch which you can see in the photo below

Yes, I saw a plyatapus!  Too dark to get decent photos, though.

This is an echidna, which was in their animal hospital.

Mr. Koala, which are marsupials, not bears!

It was a wild ride back to town. The driver did not leave enough time to have a nice drive back.  Racing through the streets, running read lights and checking his phone for traffic updates in busY Friday evening traffic.  We made it with 15 minutes to spare. I don't like cutting corners that much!  

Yesterday, made a trip down to Helena with a friend and her sister.  Curtis was our chauffeur!  Their local unbox craft store is closing after 41 years of business.  I will truly miss this store.  It has a little of everything-art supplies, framing, material, wooden product, beads and of coarse scrapbooking.  They started their grand closing sale.  Who can say no to that.  A great day spent with friends.

Now I get to go scrapping for the weekend , if I can ever get packed up!