Perth to the Southwest - Day 6

We arrived the previous night at Ferguson Farm in the rain. The farm was big and easily accomodated the 2 families. Yvonne and Sophia went about preparing the food which we have bought at coles, while me and Charles entertained, and contained, the 4 kids in the room. And dinner of salad, pasta and soup was really good and aplenty.

The next morning, we woke up late, but just in time for the scheduled farm activities. Despite egging from me, Oliver still wanted to keep a distance from the pony.

The farmer, whose name slipped my mind now, drove out his tractor and loaded all of us up its carriage, and took us on a tractor tour round his farm.

Heidi displaying her affinity with flowers. Even her jeans has flower motifs.

After the tractor ride, we were left to explore the area when the animals were kept. Sophia wasted no time in going back to take the pail of waste from our kitchen and fed them to the ever hungry goats.

A photo of the place we stayed at before we left the farm.

We left the farm before noon at head for Mandurah.

This is the original Miami Bakehouse, which apprently many tourist guidebooks recommend you to stop by if you are anywhere near Mandurah. The GPS wasn't quite trusty and after driving around for a while, we finally spotted the famed shop.

Sophia bought 2 pies from the joint, one a spinach, one a steak pie. The steak pie was really succulent, especially as we were famish after the long drive. Definitely lived up to its reputation.

Soon we arrived at the Mandurah Terrace and foreshore, as Cicerellos at the Mandurah Peel Inlet is also famous for its fish & chips. But somehow I find it quite overhyped and not too healthy (not that they are anyway).

Inside Cicerellos.

Outside Cicerellos.

We decided to check in to the Seashells Resort earlier as the rain prevented us form taking the cruise out of Mandurah Bay. This swanky new place certainly outdo Abbey Bay Resort, and looks more like a showroom.

The room is tastefully decorated, there were 2 king size beds, 2 toilets, and a kitchen that resemble ours. And of course, the view is uber fantastic.

The sunset is a sight to behold and I really wouldn't mind spending more time in the room than outside.

It was diffcult to wake up the next morning with the comfortable bed and cool weather.

Perth to the Southwest - Day 5

Busselton to Ferugson Farm

Another great breakfast place, this time in Prince Street, Busselton. Unfortunately I can't recall what is the name of the place, googled and still can't find. Even google map showed a large tree covering the fascade of the place. I just remember it's called something on prince. Oh well.

At first, we alighted at the street not knowing where to find breakfast. There's a cafe called old chapel nearby near Coles, but only the name sound cool. So we walked along Prince Street and at first, this place didn't look very appealing on the outside and there were no one in the cafe. But after we came in a string of customers also started to roll in.

One good thing about this breakfast joint is that they allow you to customise your breakfast, which I did. Being a sucker for avocado, that was naturally on my wish list. Along with bacon, sausages, poached eggs, toast and cappucino. I could eat them all day.

The mushroom soup is also yummy! The food here is so nice that Sophia has to post 5 photos of the place.

Busselton Jetty

Just a stone's throw away is Busselton Jetty. At 1,841 metres, it is said to be the longest wooden structure in the southern hemisphere (so much for Changi Broadwalk)...

Because the shallow waters restricted the docking of ships and vessels in the 18th century, construction of the jetty started in 1853 to allow goods, especially timbre, one of the main produce of Western Australia, to be shippped via this jetty.

Over the years, the accumulation of drift sands had made the water too shallow for mooring. The jetty was continually extended until the 1960s when it reached its current length.

Even at the car park, we could feel the force of the wind from the sea, so I guessed it must have been quite tricky to build the thing in the past, without the help of cranes and whatnot.

The boatshed-style Interpretive Centre gives visitors a glimpse into the Jetty's rich past and its future. However, Heidi and Oliver were more interested in the many souvenirs and knick knacks that the shop offers. Especially the porcelain VW Beetle cars which I was worried that they might break anytime.

The jetty also features a rail line along its length. Oliver is seen here practising his hip hop moves.

The constant beating that the jetty took from the angry sea along its length meant that many Aussie dollars have to be spent on restoration.

Heidi wasn't about to be blown away. She just wanted to be carried as usual.

Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre

A short distance away is the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury. When we arrived, the sky was gloomy and both Oliver and Heidi were asleep in the car.

The Centre enables visitors to interact with Bottlenose dolphins in a variety of ways. There are more than 100 dolphins living in the Koombana Bay and groups of them regularly visit the shallow waters in front of the Centre. However, today wasn't our lucky day as the centre staff told us that it was very unlikely that any dolphin would appear.

But since we were already there, and it being our last stop for the day, we decided to wake the kids up and head for the centre anyway. The friendly centre staff more than made up for the lack of dolphins by showing the kids a variety of sea creatures in their aquariums. She explained why some of the fishes look and behave the way they do, and even scooped up starfishes, sea urchins etc and got the kids to touch them. This obviously made them very excited and squirmy.

The view from the seafront of the centre. The real thing look better than the picture.

But where are the dolphins?

We enjoying and withstanding the cold sea breeze.

Next stop, the farm.

Perth to the Southwest - Day 4

Margaret River to Busselton
Not wanting to go to the Berry Farm before the opening hours, we hang around Margaret river to do our grocery and pump our petrol. I was craving for a cappucino and went across the road to get one from this cafe called Sails.
The coffee was good and we decided that we should have our breakfast at the cafe as well, and thus my 2nd cup of caffeine.

The staff at the cafe were friendly, one even told me she was born in Malaysia but came back to Australia when she turned 4. The cafe is cosy, but what's remarkable is the fabulous breakfast of sausages, toasts, eggs etc. I am easily satisfied when it comes to big breakfast, and Australia probably has lots and lots of such cafe serving up such delicious brekkies.

Sails cafe is also child-friendly, with lots of crayons and colouring paper for the kids to distract them.

The Berry Farm

The Berry Farm is a misnomer. There are no berries nor farm (not one that is visible at least), it is just the name of the place.

There is a nice playground though and we spent most of our time there swinging the kids instead.

The main attraction is actually a shop selling wines and olive oils. So much for the Berry Farm.

Mammoth Cave

The Mammoth Cave is for cavemen and, erm, tourists. Proper broadwalk and steps lead us inside the cave, and we could see stalacitites and stalagmites everywhere inside the caves. The cave entry fees came with a portable audio guide, but Heidi and Oliver was making a nuisance of themselves and so both Sophia and me couldn't hear the narration, thus the meaning and history of the of cave was entirely lost on us. So much for cave exploration.

It was also at the exit of the cave that I lost my temper with Oliver, who kept running very close to the road despite telling him not to do so. I spank him, he cried, I let him, and that spoilt the whole morning.

Voyager Estate

This a huge wine producing estate that churns out 23% of Australia premium wine production each year.

We were greeted by this gigantic flag as we drove into the driveway. The whole place is like a huge garden with lawns surrounding the restaurant in the middle, very unlike other wineries.

Somehow, to make up to Oliver, I spent more time with him alone at the Voyager Estate, running around the lawns and knocking each other over. Our kind of playground.

Heidi with the huge Aussie flag in the background. She is becoming more photogenic.

The best thing, other than the lawns, about Voyager Estate for us non vineyard and wineries foks, must be the restaurant in the middle of the compound. It is quite posh and looked expensive too.

They are also kid-friendly with their ready supply of paper and colour pencils. And we tucked in for some fine food after settling down the kids.

Sophia ordered this Chenin Blanc steamed Donny Brooke marron thingy while I went for the safer choice, the char-grilled tenderidge eye fillet. Both were yummy.



This poached pear with champagne mousse dessert is really very tasty, although this picture made it look like some kind of tofu or sea anemone.

We spent the whole afternoon at Voyager Estate that by the time we head to this place famous for its olive oil, which I can't remember the name, it was just 5 minutes before closing time. I quickly grabbed a couple of bottle of olive oils that is mandarin orange as well as lime and rosemary scented.

End of the day and we ended up at the Abbey Beach Resort. Each room is huge and could probably fit in 2 families. It is well-equipped too with other appliances like toaster, dryer, and a jacuzzi as well.