Before cruising with @eco_abrolhos we visited the shipwreck museums in both Fremantle & Geraldton and as we drove across the Nullarbor we listened to Peter Fitzsimons account of the shipwreck of the Batavia - quite incredible how big the spice trade was back almost 400 years ago. We were very fortunate with the weather & tides to snorkel at the wreck site & see cannons and the anchor of the Batavia, as well as loads of coral & fish. #travelwesttours #ecoabrolhoscruise #tourismwa #bataviashipwreck #peterfitzsimons #amazingexperience #justdoıt...
Just had to dedicate a post to the fabulous food on our @eco_abrolhos cruise - fishing trips available every day & you can watch the crew `pull the pots` full of crayfish......we also dined on fish caught by Graham, Terina & many others (unfortunately not Deb but pretty happy to experience deep sea fishing). Liam & Ford are on the fishing boat/tender to bait your hook (😀) & help you reel in your catch (or get you off a snag) and Jaynie, Jack, Mitch & `Dave` prepping the fish to be cooked up by chef Tom - simply delicious!! We were lucky to get to Traitors Island for some delicious freshly shucked oysters by Graham & other passengers.....I can`t shuck oysters & take photos as well!! #travelwesttours #ecoabrolhoscruise #crayfishing #seafood #freshlyshuckedoysters #sunsetdrinks #seeaustralia #deepseafishing #tourismwa...
The @eco_abrolhos has two great glass bottom boats (`glassies`) for coral viewing & transporting us all to the smaller islands, like Morley Island. On arrival we met our first sea lion & this cruise also is great for birdwatching - the smaller grey bird is a Lesser Noddy, & the other with chick is a Caspian Tern. #travelwesttours #ecoabrolhoscruise #birdwatching #sealions #tourismwa #abrolhosislands #crystalclearwaters #seeaustralia...
Our 5-night @eco_abrolhos cruise took in all three island groups. Post Office Island was where we met up with Jane Liddon of @liddonpearls & learnt about growing pearls on the Abrolhos. Jane`s home had some real quirky artwork & then we went to her studio to see the beautiful finished pieces of jewellery. The monument remembers many of the old crayfishermen & the lagoon is a favourite for their ashes. Check out the Dhufish caught by the lady standing next to Ford, the great deckhand on the fishing boat. Sunset drinks & nibbles - perfect way to end the day! #travelwesttours #ecoabrolhoscruise #tourismwa #coralreefs #deepseafishing #crystalclearwaters #seeaustralia #abrolhosislands #liddonpearls #iceplant #wasunsets...
The Abrolhos Islands off Geraldton WA was once where Graham worked some 50 years ago as a deckhand on a crayfish boat. We chose to join an @eco_abrolhos cruise and it was the very best way to experience this special part of Australia. Besides plentiful amounts of seafood, this cruise exceeded our expectations. Jay & his crew were very hospitable, entertaining with stories, guided walks, snorkelling trips & hearing more about shipwrecks off the Abrolhos, especially the shipwreck of the Batavia, on 4 June 1629. #travelwesttours #ecoabrolhoscruise #abrolhosislands #geraldtonwa #bataviashipwreck #tourismwa #seeaustralia #washipwreckcoast #birdwatching #crayfish #sunsets #sealions...
Heading south from Kalbarri, both sides of the road had some beautiful wildflowers & then we went around a bend in the road and there was the Pink Lake - stunning! Best viewing along the road into Port Gregory. #travelwesttours #pinklakehuttlagoon #portgregory #tourismwa #seeaustralia...
Sadly, we could only spend one night in beautiful Kalbarri and will return one day to enjoy more of this area including the National Park. Great view from our motel and the Murchison River was simply magnificent! The skill of the crayfish skippers was amazing to watch as they navigate their way through ocean waves to the Gantheaume Bay channel & into the calmness of the river. #travelwesttours #kalbarri_wa #tourismwa #crayfishing #murchisonriver #shipwrecks #seeaustralia...
Time to head into some WA Wildflower Country & although the season is almost over we still saw plenty of magnificent sights including lots of wheat & canola crops almost ready for harvest. Some of the country reminded us of the Lilydale Hills near Winton Qld - stunning countryside. #travelwesttours #wawildflowers #tourismwa #bigtractor #hawesarchitecture #mulewa #mingenew #seeaustralia...
Checked out some bars includung the recently opened @bertscitybeach, Margaritas, sunsets & a great lunch @roseandcrownguildford. A visit to Fremantle, was where we continued our interest of shipwrecks on the WA Coast....lots more on this will come soon. #travelwesttours #tourismwa #seeaustralia #washipwrecksmuseum #scarboroughbeach #bertscitybeach #roseandcrownguildford #wabeaches #lovethebeach #bataviaship...
We`ve been enjoying some special time with family, long cuppas by the lake, sitting around the campfire, strolling through the cute town of Nannup. Great lunch @nannupbrewingco, more wildflowers & relaxed drives through the countryside south of Perth. #travelwesttours #tourismwa #seeaustralia #wildflowers #mosaics...
We have just visited Graham`s hometown of Kojonup & took a drive through some of the property once owned by his parents. The crops in the area are excellent & all should have a great harvest soon. Now in Nannup with family & enjoyed a beautiful walk to town via some beautiful wildflowers, crossing over the Blackwood River & look at the pic with flood levels...look right up top at the 1982 flood! #travelwesttours #kojonup #ryansbrook #lucindaseverlastings #nannup #blackwoodriver #tourismwa #wawildflowers #seeaustralia...
We had a wonderful 2 nights in Maleeya`s Studio & really enjoyed a walk around the property meeting their chooks & pet Highland Cows & Peter (our host) joining us to introduce us to them & give them a comb. The property commercially grows Bamboo & the other trees & surrounds are beautiful. We look forward to returning one day, spending longer to enjoy the national park walks, local wineries & cafes. #travelwesttours #maleeyasthaicafe ##porongurup #porongurupnationalpark #stirlingranges #granitewalk #freerangechooks #highlanders #tourismwa #seeaustralia...
We left the beautiful coast & headed inland via Ravensthorpe for lunch and then onto our property stay at Maleeyas Studio Accommodation....didn`t look too flash from outside but it is very tastefully decorated & comfortable with views of Porongurup National Park....loved the fire! A bonus was having a Thai Restaurant on-site. Thai born Maleeya & Swiss born Peter are fabulous hosts. #travelwesttours #porongurup #stirlingranges #maleeyasthaicafe #tourismwa #porongorupnationalpark #seeaustralia...
The Great Ocean Drive is a 40km circular loop out of Esperence to explore the coastline. Amazing colours and some massive waves. It`s a very beautiful scenic drive but not a good day for a swim, although we did spot a couple in the water! #travelwesttours #esperence #greatoceandrive #tourismwa #seeaustralia...
For a long time, I`ve wanted to come to Esperance & swim in the magnificent turquoise waters but it was too cold & signs about sharks! The colours are truly beautiful & some places reminded me of Norfolk Island with the pine trees. There are some fabulous murals around town & the whale tail sculpture has a lot of coloured glass detail that is hard to capture in a pic. #travelwesttours #esperence #tourismwa #turquoisewaters #whaletailsculputure #murals #tankerjettyesperance #seeaustralia...
Departing Caiguna we began the drive across the 90 Mile Straight! After Norseman, the trees by side of the road were quite spectacular....pics taken as we drove the road to Esperance. We finished the day with a delicious cocktail & jagged watching a magnificent moonrise. More pics of beautiful Esperence to come! #travelwesttours #90milestraight #beautifulopenroads #flora #esperence #seeaustralia #tourismwa...
Travelling across the Nullarbor was a rainy day & not good for capturing good pics.....so we`ll try again on our return to showcase the Great Australian Bight! We went from Penong SA to Caiguna WA - easy going thru quarantine when you remember not to bring `food stuff` inc honey with you. We stayed at the John Ayr Motel (part of Caiguna Roadhouse) that was built in 1962 to offer accommodation for those travelling across the Nullabor for Perth Commonwealth Games. Wasn`t sure looking from outside but rooms spacious, very clean & comfy....even had undercover parking! Fantastic dinner & service. #travelwesttours #nullabor #nullaborplain #caiguna #seesouthaustralia #seeaustralia #tourismwa...
Leaving Orroroo, we dropped by to see the Giant Red Gum, the Goyder`s Line plaque, & then enjoyed beautiful countryside before travelling through Horrocks Pass. The other side of Horrocks Pass takes us through Port Augusta & a massive change of scenery with all the wind turbines! The solo tower is quite amazing as it is a major piece of infrastructure for Sundrop Farms a major supplier for Coles Supermarkets - a high-tech, solar-powered greenhouse that uses concentrated solar power and a desalination plant to grow high-quality truss tomatoes year-round using sustainable methods, reducing the need for fossil fuels, fresh water, and fertile soil. We then went on to overnight at Penong & watch the Broncos 🥳 #travelwesttours #giantredgum #goydersline #portaugusta #sundropfarms #kimba #bigpinkgalah #penongwindmills #seesouthaustralia...
It was a lovely drive to our overnight stop at the pub in Orroroo.....scenery stunning & yes, we`re loving all the wildflowers & wild gazanias! We enjoyed a stroll up & down the main street and chatted to the local policeman`s wife, who is Dutch & besides growing beautiful Lavender, has planted some tulips! #travelwesttours #orroroo #flindersranges #seesouthaustralia #gazanias #wildflowers...
