Having enjoyed six months in New Zealand, relaxing on beautiful Waiheke Island and tripping around the North Island to visit family and friends, we are now back in Australia, setting off on our last leg of our ‘circumnavigation’. Easter Saturday, April 4 we flew back to Perth, enjoying the city’s hospitality for the evening. We knew we were back in the west – just look at this amazing sunset! After a morning city walk we embarked on our ride, in our delightful storage host’s vintage truck (Jane sitting on the engine casing in the middle of the front seat) back to Northam where both Winnebago and Suzuki have been safely housed. Thankfully (and much to Steve’s relief) both fired up with the first turn of the key, and off we set…..down the road to a quiet spot to get everything shipshape, do the big shop and be ready to hit the road first thing on Easter Monday.

What had struck us both as soon as we left metropolitan Perth on Sunday, and through our 230km drive on Monday was just how dry the countryside is. What a contrast to the green of NZ (despite four months of stunning summer weather). When we were in the Avon Valley in September it was green, with flourishing crops of grain and grasses for hay. Today the grass is white, sheep are almost grey and most noticeably, there is a total absence of wildlife, including road kill.

Dry WA countryside

Our first day went very smoothly, and amazingly there was almost no traffic on the road which delighted Steve.

Our plan was to head south and then make our way west, back to the coast to Bunbury, which is some 175km south of Perth. Our first stop was Wagin, a small somewhat sleepy agricultural town of around 1500 people, some 225km south-east of Perth. We stayed the night in the local showground, which is very central and quiet. Wagin’s main industries are wheat, hay production and sheep. And just to make sure you understand what Wagin’s industry really is, there is a rather large giant ram (13x9x6m) in the middle of town that you literally have to fall over.

The Giant Ram in Wagin

From Wagin we headed west in somewhat inclement weather, to the coal mining town of Collie, which is 59kms inland from Bunbury. In winter and spring this would be quite a beautiful area to visit. Wellington Dam is an excellent boating and camping spot, as are Stockton Lake and Mungallup Dam, all very close to the township which is located on the junction of the Collie and Harris Rivers, in the midst of WAs only coal fields,

Looking out the window at significant open cut Collie coal mines

which were discovered in the early 1880s. Many of the 7000 local folk are employed at the mines and local electricity plants. Despite the weather we ventured out for the afternoon, exploring the local sites.

The weather cleared on Wednesday for the quick drive to the coastal town of Bunbury. As we got closer to the coast, the vegetation changed to more Aussie bush, and a green tinge in the land before changing to more lush green fields near the coast. We decided to base ourselves here for five nights as the annual Bunbury Show was on in the weekend, and this trip is all about experiencing and learning about what Australia has to offer.

Unfortunately we have had a tail end of a cyclone sitting across the southern half of the state for days, and so our time here has been somewhat frustrated with the wet, but we haven’t let that stop us getting out and about. The port city of Bunbury is the 3rd largest city in WA (population 68,000) and was initially a military post in the early to mid 1800s. As you would expect, all services you would experience in major cities are based here. The port services mining, timber and farming. There are beautiful beaches all the way along the coast

Bunbury’s coastline on a grey day

and its easy to imagine what this place is like in the height of summer. There is a look out tower in Marlston Hill, very close to the central retail district. The views from here are vast, providing a panoramic 360 degree spectacle.

On Saturday we joined many locals at the Bunbury Show, which is really an equestrian eventing show that has grown to include artisan stands, rides and games for kiddies, agricultural events and machinery and of course various food stalls to feed the hungry. I have to say, we really enjoyed ourselves, particularly watching dressage and show jumping. Our favourites – the draught horses dressage.

The winning draught horse

These are really powerful beautiful specimens and do their owners look after them! Pampered and groomed so that their coats are soft and gleaming. Quite stunning. It was great to see so many people supporting the towns major annual show and celebrating the country. A highlight was the re-enactment of the 7th lighthorse regiment, a tribute to world war one veterans and the importance of Anzac Day.

The Light horsemen re-enactment

Today has been one of those days….showers (yes the cyclone aftermath is hanging) have meant we can’t enjoy a long walk or a bike ride, so its been designated a chore day before we set off south tomorrow to enjoy the delights of Busselton, Geographe Bay, the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and Dunsborough.