The Great Ocean Road (GOR) along the south-eastern coast of Victoria is a 243 kilometre (150 mile) stretch of road that is majestic and awe-inspiring in its rugged beauty. It is also the world’s largest war memorial. Between 1919 and 1932, the road was built by returned soldiers and dedicated to their comrades who were killed during World War 1. There is a sense of freedom as you travel this road, a connection between you and nature. As you travel along the winding road throu

In Kalbarri, I decided to do something new - lobster fishing. It was a fabulous adventure and I am very glad that I got the opportunity to experience it in this part of the beautiful coastline of Western Australia. Meeting Kalbarri Rock Lobster Tours at 7.30am, I was greeted with a smile and a welcoming cup of coffee by Rose. Rose and her husband Vaughn were great hosts. Three other guests were aboard that day as well and we all chatted to each other as if we were old friends

As the sun sets in the west, we get a chance to admire the beauty of Mother Nature every evening. I had the pleasure of visiting Kalbarri recently. Driving into town just before sunset, I felt compelled to pull over and enjoy that evenings spectacular show. You stop still and be "in the moment." There is a sense of peacefulness and serenity as you watch the sun descend into the horizon. The next evening I went on a Sunset cruise with Kalbarri rock lobster tours and charters.

Another item I was excited to check off my Western Australia bucket list was to visit Kalbarri. Situated on the Coral Coast, this town boasts crystal clear swimming beaches, fishing opportunities, spectacular sunsets, and the breathtaking Kalbarri Gorge. The Kalbarri National Park covers an area of 186,000 hectares. The Murchison River flows through here. It is 820kms long making it the second longest river in Western Australia. Its catchment area is larger than the whole of

Linga Longa offers accommodation in the form of farm cottage or campsites at Lynton. There is much to see here even if you are not staying overnight. Lynton is 7kms from Port Gregory and was the site of Port Gregory Convict Hiring Station in the 1850s. It is now a heritage site and worth a visit. “We invite you to explore the only remaining site where it is still possible to view how a convict hiring depot was laid out and functioned in the 1850s in Western Australia.” The ru

Hutt Lagoon, also known as The Pink Lake, is a beautiful place to stop on the road from Geraldton to Kalbarri. At 14km (8.7miles) long and 2.3km (1.43miles) wide, this salt lake takes on different pink hues depending on the season, water levels and cloud coverage of the day. The pinkness is due to the presence of the carotenoid producing algae, Dunaliella salina. This algae is useful. It is a source of Vitamin A in cosmetics and supplements. It is also used as a food colourin

I love country towns. Places that others may drive through on the way to somewhere distant really intrigue me. There is almost always a story in a small town. 52kms (32mi) drive, about 40 minutes north of Geraldton in Western Australia, the small town of Northampton definitely has an interesting tale, or should I say tail, to share. Ewe Turn is a community arts project established in 2018 to create unity, a vibrant local attraction and the recognition of the sheep industry of

I had been told the best fish and chip shop on the Turquoise coast was at Leeman 44km drive north of Jurien Bay. This is a big call as coastal towns abound with fish and chip shops. Leeman’s store lived up to all recommendations and expectations. The meal was perfect, one of the best serves I can ever remember having. The chips were the right chunky size, not a French fry at all. They were crispy on the outside, light and fluffy inside. This is the perfect way to cook chips.

Jurien Bay is a beautiful town located 2 hours drive north of Perth. I had the absolute delight to spend an extended stay here, and really get to know some incredible sights that are usually reserved for locals, and tourists if they go seeking them. 1. Bike trail The Turquoise Way Trail is a 12km well maintained bitumen path from Jurien Bay southwards to Hill River. It is used for walkers, joggers, runners, prams, wheelchairs, scooters, skateboards and bike riders. No cars al

Swimming with sea lions was one of my bucket list items and I had the pleasure of fulfilling this dream recently with Kane and Laura from Turquoise Safaris at Jurien Bay, Western Australia. Fitted out with wet suits, snorkels and flippers, we sailed out to Essex Rock. We also learnt a lot about these magnificent marine mammals. The Australian sea lion is different from a seal. Sea lions have ears on the side of their head and seals ears are internal. Sea Lions can vary from 3

Cervantes is a town worth visiting on the Turquoise Coast of Western Australia. Situated just 199kms (67miles) north of Perth, it has a lot to offer. In 2016 the population was 527. 1. The sculptures A lot of the street names are in Spanish. The town is named after the American whaling ship Cervantes that blew onto an offshore island near here in 1844. The ship was in turn named after Miguel de Cervantes, the author of the novel Don Quixote. Hence, the Spanish street and park

Visiting Stockyard Gully Cave is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon with Kaas and Michael from Jurien Bay Adventure Tours. Jurien Bay is located 2 1/2 hours drive north of Perth, Western Australia. The track to the cave is by 4WD only, so it was best to go with the experts. If you have your own 4WD, you can do a drive along with your own vehicle. Long ago, stockman would use the gully as a holding pen for their cattle overnight on the way from Guildford, near Perth, to Ge

Perth to Jurien Bay along the Indian Ocean Drive takes about two and a half hours to drive north straight there. Driving straight there means you miss out on some great lookouts. Each one can be investigated in a short, brief stop. But you can really learn a lot and appreciate this part of Western Australia if you spend more time at any of them. All four of my recommendations below have easy access, so if you are towing anything, you can drive in, park, then drive out again.