Perth - Geraldton

You know those days you get up and no-one seems to be going anywhere fast, that’s today. The plan was to be at the Perth Zoo already but the girls are still in their PJs and Ben is pacing somewhere nearby. I suggest to Ben that the weather would be better for the zoo tomorrow and he looks relieved, he’s dealing with some work stuff so we disappear to the playground for an hour. We have a few issues with the van so we decide to use the afternoon to get them looked at and sort out a Telstra sim before heading into the wilderness that is the Northwestern Coast. As we head across the city the temperature hits 32 degrees, then 36. Its freakishly hot inside while they run a diagnostic which reveals nothing definitive, we borrow their breaker bar and when it comes time to sort paymemt there’s some confusion and they suggest a box of beers would suffice. The poor guy who did the work doesn’t drink so Ben throws in a bottle of coke for him.

Tonight we’re stopping in Perth Hills at Ben’s Uncle Scott’s house. Pearl and Paige have popped Easter bunnies around the house and the girls are delighted to run around discovering them all. Paige has the girls snuggled up on the couch watching Hop for the evening. The weather is perfect and we spend the afternoon chatting as the sun sets over the valley and we are treated to a lovely bbq and salad dinner. In the morning the girls disappear, over at the house I find their shoes and there on the table are their empty breakfast bowls and curled up on the couch with Paige is where I find them, they love having a cool cousin to hang out with. They’re also delighted with the easter treats that Pearl hands them as we say our goodbyes and our thank you’s. 

Getting to the zoo is seamless, the traffic isn't bad, there’s ample parking, the doors open as we approach - so we’re in before you know it and Alila is head down in the map planning out the day. We head to the Aussie loop - the wombat is recovering from surgery so we don’t see him, but we do see a koala, make that two very sleepy koalas, but the girls are stoked. We walk and walk and thoroughly wear ourselves out, its a fabulous zoo. 

In the afternoon we roll on up to Kings Park where we meet up with Brad and his mum Carol where there’s a great view overlooking the city, I can't believe it's been 12 years or more since we've seen him. After chatting for awhile we all head down to the pub at Elizabeth Quay for a drink. The kids devour some food then they’re almost asleep at the table so we have to call it a night. 

Swan Valley is flat but picturesque with its grapevines, and is the perfect spot for meeting up with Ben’s cousin James and his kids. We set up at a corner table outside and the kids are off on a scavenger hunt. They reappear momentarily for food, then ice cream, before they’re gone once more to pedal the water bikes across the lake and play on the playground. Too much fun.

After leaving the Winery we secure a spot in Lancelin. Its grey and blustery when we arrive there at 5pm but there’s enough time for a swim and some math with Dad while I whip up dinner.

What is the best way to get sand Everywhere? Why, sand boarding the Lancelin dunes of course. Our first stop of the day, there’s a little drizzle which I think slows the boards down but we have a blast rolling around the dunes for an hour, its a beautiful spot so we get some drone footage.  

We hit the road and 2 hrs later we’re at the Pinnacles, it’s hot out and we are following the walking route as our vehicle is too wide for the rock lined driving path.  Ben is in the lead when he suddenly jumps back ‘ROO!’ he bellows, “ít almost jumped me”.  The Pinnacles are rock formations which haphazardly poke up out of the dirt. It’s a very unique landscape. 

Later in the day we stop for gas, how much further shall we go? We’re not up for much more driving so we ring around nearby Dongara/Port Denison and find a spot for the night. Ben and the girls head to pub for tea but we’re still on some distant timezone and they have to wait 40min till the kitchen opens before they can order. I’ve eaten and cleaned the van so I head down to join them. There’s a few groups here and it feels like a quiet local spot. 

 

Its A.M. again so we roll out, grab a coffee and head to Geraldton, where we stop at the local museum. The girls enjoy the displays and searching for the letters in the word hunt. We stop by Kmart to restock our art paper then head north to Hutt Lagoon to glimpse the pink lake. The lighting isn’t ideal but we can see the pink hue caused by the algae which is harvested for its beta carotein used to colour food. 

Back on the road, its getting to that time where it feels like you’ve driven all day when we spot a dingo, no no that’s a fox. The girls miss seeing it but there that night in The Gruffalo is the fox haha! I point, look it’s the fox I saw today. Even funnier as I write this we are driving and Alila is perusing a Nat Geo Kids mag and there on the page is a cute fox cub and Ben and April are in the front playing true and false and the question is about a fox. Too weird. 

Kalbarri here we come.