Day 129 30/07/2011 Leeuwin Naturaliste NP – Pemberton via Augusta

Day 129 30/07/2011 Leeuwin Naturaliste NP – Pemberton via Augusta

With the wind howling around us and the rain sporadically falling we decided it was time to leave the Margaret River Region and continue the pilgrimage south.



We made it to the middle of the maze and eventually
escaped!!



As we were packing up though Pete decided that he would try to put the water jerry cans (40L plastic tubs) on the back of the van rather than in the van unfortunately there just wasn’t enough room and the pressure applied by squeezing the plastic jerry can between the bike rack and the caravan smashed Zac’s bunk window.  Oops not such a good outcome.  Oh well now we have a taped up window to add to the injuries the caravan has sustained on this trip.  We did though have one final cellar door that we wanted to stop at so after we taped up the window, we hitched up the caravan, tossed the kids in the car and headed off to The Berry Farm. As with all good plans though we got side tracked at the A’mazin Maze in Margaret River. 



Cape Leeuwin - the storm was coming



At A’mazin Maze we spent an hour working our way through a two metre high hedge maze, part of the challenge was to not only find our way out of the maze but to also locate 8 chairs hidden throughout the maze.  It was a great way to spend the morning and we felt very clever once we had worked our way through.  The kids were a little surprised that it was harder than they thought and each time they hit a dead end they were a little more surprised and bamboozled as we wound around and around in circles.

We extricated the kids when the rain started even they could tell it wasn’t much fun playing in the rain.  We then headed to The Berry Farm, this had come recommended to us by a couple that we were talking to yesterday so based on their recommendation we headed out into the Margaret River wilderness in search of the Berry Farm. 

The Berry Farm was amazing, they had yummy jams, conserves and chutney’s open for tasting the kids were in heaven and it was great to watch them again explore with different flavours.  Pete and I enjoyed tasting their liqueurs, even at 11am they were nice.  We left The Berry Farm a little poorer but happy. 



Cape Leeuwin



The road trip then headed south to Augusta, we weren’t sure if we would stay in Augusta or turn left and head to Pemberton.  Augusta was a significant spot for us to visit as it is where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet on the time of the Australian West Coast and it is home to the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia – Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.  Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse guards one of the world’s most dangerous shipping lanes.  Whilst we were is a spectacularly beautiful place it was horrendously cold and very, very windy, it was a challenge just to get the kids out of the car and when we did it was only for a few minutes before the heavens opened up and tried to drown us.  Based on the foul weather we decided that we would drive on to Pemberton, the foul weather is predicted for another few days so we thought we would skip whale watching in Augusta and look for a tour further up the coast.

The drive to Pemberton took us through some of the most magnificent country side that we have seen so far on this trip, the drive is world famous for its soaring karri trees and tingle forests, and the deep red timber of the jarrah trees, unbelievable just how tall the trees were.  We pulled up in Pemberton late in the afternoon and even though the wind was less ferocious it was still raining.

The rainy days and cramped conditions took their toll on everyone tonight, I guess there is only so much peace, love and happiness between five people when they spend days on end couped up together in a caravan and a car!!  Unable to get out and really explore, here’s hoping there is a break in the weather soon….