Southwest Western Australia
791 km/492 mi.: 7 – 11 October 2002

“Every Australian child knows the story of Dirk Hartog who, on 25 October 1616, nailed a pewter plate to a post at Cape Inscription and how, 80 years later another sailor, Willem de Vlamingh, took it down and returned it to the Netherlands”.

It would be 213 years after this first landfall and the first colony in Western Australia. How could they have missed “one of the most beautiful areas in Australia, south-west Australia is characterized by white beaches, aquamarine seas, impressive rugged cliffs, towering trees, attractive villages and towns.” It’s an area of timber, mining and fishing (and wineries on the Margaret River!). Detailed first-hand reports to follow in the daily journals.

• Perth: 1.3mm people in a modern city
  
  “Try as you might, it’s hard to get excited about Perth, although it’s lack of urban grime creates a favorable first impression.” Perth has melded with Fremantle, home of the 1987 America’s cup – said to be charming except for when the “unmistakable ovine pong settles over the whole town when a stream of “baaing” road trains loads up Arabia-bound sheep freighters.” Rough Guide
  
  More on road trains later.

• Bunbury: “One of the most attractive towns in Australia, with abundant parks and gardens, interesting historic buildings, and a very handsome beachfront.” Globetrotter

• Margaret River: “Though this wine growing region only began in 1967, it has developed an enviable reputation. The town has extensive accommodations, excellent restaurants and a bike shop.” Hemmings

• The Tree Top Walk: “Beginning at the Tingle Shelter, you can walk along a 420-metre-long steel-truss walkway which leads over a deep, red tingle gully. Because it is built on the side of a natural valley, the walkway rises up above the forest floor on a gentle grade suitable for kids, people in wheelchairs and the elderly. The highest point in the 600-metre loop is about 40 metres.”

• Albany: “There are a couple of quite up-market restaurants in York. St., as well as pizza places, Chinese restaurants of varying sophistication, the usual global fast food chains, counter meals, hotel dining rooms and more.” Duckworth