Continuing on with our road trip to Kalgoorlie, we left Northam around 10 a.m. after breakfast. Our first stop today was a small place called Meckering.
Meckering
The most famous thing about this town is the earthquake in 1968, with a magnitude of 6.5 and injuring 28 people. We stopped to look at one of the houses that suffered, the remains have been left as a memory. I don’t suppose for a minute that Mrs. Snooke would have imagined an earthquake in this rural town.
Meckering dates back to 1898 with a population of 225, today it’s not much more at 265.
We had chosen the worst day to travel with dreary grey skies and constant rain, my dear hubby wouldn’t leave the car!
Cunderdin
A very brief stop in Cunderdin for a coffee at the Ettamogah Pub. A traditional country pub designed on the ‘Etamogah’ cartoons by the infamous Ken Maynard. Etamogah means ‘Place of a good drink”.
We couldn’t wait to get back in the warm car after a coffee in this very cold pub!
Cunderdin Town Hall
Merredin
Merridin was next on the trail and fortunately it’s on the silo art trail. The art on this silo was created by urban artist Kyle Hughes-Odgers and extremely impressive.
Time was ticking by now and we really needed to get a move on if we were to arrive in Kalgoorlie before dark.
We stayed at the Rydges Hotel which is about five minutes away from the main town. It seemed to be the best hotel on offer and we had booked two nights here. Tomorrow we will be exploring Kalgoorlie and driving further afield to a ghost town and mine!
Some of the roads we travelled on were indeed under construction!
During our short stay in Stanley we visited Highfield Historic Site. I love a historical house, more so when it has an English background in another country.
Highfield was built in 1826 in the Regency style of 1811 – 1820, by Edward Curr. Mr. Curr was the newly appointed manager of Van Diemans Land company that had bought 250,000 acres in this region. He and his wife Elizabeth had 15 children, most sent away to school during their early years.
I was fascinated by this house and all the gruesome history that went with it. Being built by the hands of the convicts that were being transported from England at the time. It was a very harsh and rugged terrain and many ventures failed due to the inclement weather.
Highfield House
The Stables
They made sure they were warm with all these beautiful fireplaces. One in every room.
The Dining Room
One of the conversations written down for prosperity!
The Drawing RoomThe Gallery
Upstairs Bedroom
Dressing Room
Room with a view
We had a wonderful time exploring this house, with all the in-depth information available. There are portraits on the wall of everyone who has lived here and some background history, extracts of diaries from the ladies of the house as well as detailed goods that were needed to run such a busy household.
Of course it must be remembered that before this settlement was built it was home to the diminishing Tasmanian Aboriginal People. With the contest for these lands between the Company and the Indigenous People came many violent deaths and massacres.
By the time we had reached our hotel in Stanley it was past 7.30 pm. The reception was closed so I headed into the bistro attached to the hotel. It was noisy, lively and full. One of the bar staff checked us in and gave us a key to our room. When I asked about the possibility of dinner, she said they were completely full and the only other option was the seafood restaurant down in the harbour. She kindly made a quick phone call and booked us a table, last orders were at 8pm. Not sure of our bearings we drove the two minute drive!
A view of the setting sun through the window and hubby’s dinner
The Stanley Hotel where we were staying for two nights. We had a wonderful room with a sea view
The next morning we walked just a few minutes up the road to a lovely little cafe Touchwood, where we had breakfast with a sea view. Most places in Stanley would give you a sea view.
Tasmania
Stanley
Breakfast for two
After breakfast and a walk through Stanley, we headed to The Nut. I wanted to take the chairlift up and hubby wanted to walk, but I said he had to come with me and could walk later!
The Nut Chairlift was designed and manufactured in Austria It traverses a distance of 250 meters, rising 95 meters. After a leisurely five minute ride to the top of The Nut, you can explore the plateau, soak up the incredible views and take advantage of the superb photographic opportunities. Source: The Nut Chairlift. The Nut is the remains of an ancient volcanic plug with a large, mostly flat surface that can be circumnavigated on foot (hence its original name, Circular Head).
Going Up
Going down
At the top
I think this is a crocus, growing out of the rocks
Stanley is such a peaceful little town and so well kept. It reminded me of places in Devon and Cornwall with its quaint harbour, shops and cottages.
St. Paul’s Church 1887
Town Hall
A building from 1840
Joe Lyons’ Cottage – Tasmania’s First Prime Minister – 1932 – 1939
Down by the harbour
The lighthouse above was used in the filming of “The Light Between the Oceans”
Later that afternoon we drove out to Highfield House and also stopped at Anthony’s Beach. Hubby’s namesake!
Hubby on his own beach
We both loved Stanley and had a fabulous two nights here. I guess because of Covid many places have shut down, leaving limited options for eating out at night. We had dinner on both nights at Hersey’s Seafood and enjoyed the food and especially the wine!
I was very excited to see this town, a whole place dedicated to murals. I find murals very intriguing as there is so much to see in them. Like an outside art gallery. It is the mural capital of Australia and it is modelled on a similar place in Canada. As we were still driving…
After almost a year without taking a plane anywhere, we bit the bullet and decided on a road trip around Tasmania. It took a while to persuade hubby but with much cajoling he finally agreed.
We flew straight to Hobart from Perth for the start of our trip. I had booked three nights at Grand Chancellor right on the waterfront. It seemed like everyone in Australia had the same thought. Hobart was buzzing and almost every restaurant was booked solid. Luckily I had prebooked a couple of places before we arrived.
Great views from our roomUp on Mt Wellington
We did the blue bus tour to Mt Wellington with a very chatty knowledgeable driver. On the way back he dropped us off at the Cascade Brewery for lunch and a pint. We then hopped on the red bus back into town.
Click on a photo for slide show On the top deck with the wind in our hair
This was just part of our first day in Hobart. Posting from my iPad which isn’t my favourite way to post!
We decided to get away again for a couple of days to go up North to see the wildflowers, or what was left of them! Our destination was Dalwallinu which is just over three hours from Perth. Anthony wanted to take a less than direct route so we travelled up the coast to Cervantes where we picked up the Indian Ocean Road. This road is dotted with huge white sand dunes along the way, and you can see glimpses of the miles and miles of the West Australian coast. Taking this route did put some extra miles on the clock but we were in no hurry.
We stopped for a bite to eat and stretch our legs at Nilgen Lookout.
looking out over the Indian Ocean
Banksia flower
Banksia flower
We stopped once more in Badgingarra for me to take photos of the endless green wheat and bright yellow rape fields.
Badgingarra Nature Reserve
Endless wheat fields everywhere you look, with grain bins edging the fields
Arriving at the Dalwallinu Wheat Motel around 5 pm, we checked in and then went for a walk into “town”. This takes around ten minutes from start to finish. It only consists of one main street for shops with houses around the back of the main street. There is a bakery, cafe and tavern. We had a quick drink in the tavern and headed back to the motel for dinner. The motel has a fairly large restaurant and the menu boasts Asian and Australian food. Not too bad for a small wheatbelt town.
There were many couples like us out for an evening stroll and then back to the motel for dinner.
Dalwallinu
Nearly every country town in WA has old and rusting farm machinery on display, at least it’s put to good use!
Having a pre-dinner drink at the local.
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The next morning we ate breakfast in our room and then had a walk to the bakery to pick up our lunch. The bakery was doing a roaring trade as everyone else had the same idea!
Our first stop of the day was Xantippe! I was super excited as I thought great, my X place for my A to Z travels. Disappointment soon set in, there’s nothing in Xantippe except a large concrete water tank which we missed anyway and by the time we had travelled so far down a dirt track we gave up. Not such a great start.
There are maps of the wildflower trails which take you around a loop, but I also wanted to get off the beaten track to look at some other “attractions” that were listed. From Xantippe we drove back over to Wubin and then up to Perenjori.
An old rusty Holden
The Old Covent, established in 1923. In 1933 it became a Catholic girls boarding school. It was never a covent!
Some of the many wonderful flowers along the way
Alpacas, goats and more wheat bins
Our next stop was Buntine Rocks. There is a large granite rock here that gives amazing views from the top. I surprised myself and managed to climb to the top!
Along the drive the railway line cuts back and forth between the road, we only saw one train. There are no level crossings, you just have to look both ways before you cross!
Just checking!
Okay, all clear
Some of the places on the map don’t have anything there at all except a few rusty farm machines, like Maya. It was once a thriving community with an estimated population of 140 in the late 1930s to 1940s. It had a post office, a store and a school plus a cricket and football team and tennis courts. But times change and people move on.
We finally reached Perenjori late afternoon and I asked my dear hubby if he was getting tired of all the driving, but he said no it was good to let the car stretch its legs.
We then headed up to a placed called Camel Soak. This was a man made watering hole for the men and their camels to have a drink in the 1900’s whilst building the rabbit proof fence
The road leading here is full of pot holes and ridges in the dry earth, then once you park the car it’s a bit of a walk and climb, but we both thought it was worth seeing.
Backtracking then to Perenjori to see the famous wreath flowers that are a national treasure of WA.
These flowers are also way off the beaten track and even when you park the car, you do have to hunt for them.
Our last stop of the day before heading back to Dalwallinu
After reading about this online and also at the hotel, that it was like Bollywood and Universal Studios I thought it would be a fun thing to do. We set off once again with a driver and it was around 45 minutes drive away. On arrival our driver purchased tickets for us and we proceeded to the entrance gate. Men and women are separated and go through different security screening. We had a slight hiccup with Maddy’s Polaroid camera, as amazingly it seemed no-one had ever seen one. So after being examined for several minutes by around ten different security guards they let us through!
Once through we were all herded onto buses to take us to the actual Film City which was around 10 – 15 minutes away. I realised once again we were the only Western tourists there and thus had lots of attention on the bus. So many questions, we were all talking to someone at once! Driving there seemed to be great fun for the drivers who tried to be the first there by speeding up once it turned into a one way highway!
Overlooking Ramoji Film City which is set over 1,600 acres
When we alighted this bus we then all boarded several open air small trains to take us to the individual lots. No lingering was allowed and I realised at this point that it was going to be a very regimented day. No walking between different film lots was allowed, a bus or small train would take you onto the next place.
Everywhere we stopped we had photos taken with everyone, especially Maddy! There were young guys lining up, we did have to say no a few times as we would not have got anywhere!
Some film lots were definitely better than others, but I wouldn’t described it as a Universal or Bollywood!
Wishing for a train to anywhere!
So eerily lifelike!
We stopped for lunch at the beautiful Sitara Hotel, located in the middle of the City.
The very fancy Sitara Hotel
With lunch over, Anthony had had enough of this theme park! Obviously we didn’t see half of what was on offer and unfortunately there was no filming going on that day.
I would love to hear from anyone who has been to Ramoji Film City, I haven’t met anyone yet!
Hyderabad is the only place I’ve actually been to in India, and we spent a week here over two years ago. Five days probably would have been enough but with plane timetables we decided to add the two extra days for rest and relaxation! We travelled with my son Laurence and his girlfriend Maddy in January, so the weather was just perfect. We stayed at the Taj Krishna, a beautiful hotel in the Banjara Hills.
The view from our window
Our very comfy bed!
Relaxing on the patio and Maddy enjoying a first class cooked breakfast
The reason we chose Hyderabad was because my dear hubby had recently read a book called “The White Mughals” by William Dalrymple. It’s a book about the warm relations that existed between the British and some Indians in the 18th and early 19th century, when one in three British men in India was married to an Indian woman.
Anthony was interested to see if all the great palaces and houses that were built during this time were still standing. Sadly we found that many of these grand buildings are in great decay and not accessible. Some have been turned into colleges and hospitals, but there doesn’t seem to be the demand or need to renovate these beautiful old buildings.
Golkonda Fort
This was one of the places that I had read was easy to get around and you could do it on your own! Once we arrived there in our taxi and were dropped off, madness and mayhem greeted us. We managed to cross a very busy road complete with cattle, goats and schoolchildren and wandered up to the entrance gate. We didn’t have to look far before an avid tour guide stepped into our path, offering to lead us around the fort with a detailed history. After Anthony had bargained a good price, we headed off.
Maddy and Laurence leading the schoolgirls! The entrance to Golkonda Fort
Golkonda Fort has a history reaching back into the 12th Century. A shepherd boy was once walking on this hill where he came across a God idol, the King that time decided to built a fort on the hill, which then came to be known as Golconda (Shepherd’s Hill) Fort.
With perimeters of around 11 kilometers, the fort has 15 to 18 foot high walls. It has huge gates that have pointed iron spikes on them. This protected the fort from Elephants damaging the fort as well as enemy attacks.
There is a great sound system in the Fort and the sound of clapping at the entrance can be heard a kilometre away. This was apparently used for communication purposes and to alert the King of any attack. (Source: Hyderabad Tourism)
As far as I could see we were the only “Westerners” here and we were stopped every few steps to have our photos taken. I think it was mostly Maddy they were interested in! I made a joke about the one with Laurence in saying they would probably photoshop him out! 😆
On top of the world with views of sprawling Hyderabad
One of the many semi circular bastions; underground arches; on top of the fort and sitting under one of the derelict arches
Whispering walls; through the window; Women at rest; a view through an archway
This was a fantastic place to visit and our guide was extremely informative, very chatty and funny! He even guessed my age correctly, which was a bit rude I thought.
Our driver was waiting patiently to drive us back to our hotel. On the way back we stopped by Hussain Sagar Lake and stopped to take a photo. As we stepped out of the car three young men approached Laurence and asked to see his ear! Then just grabbed it and it looked like they were about to pierce it, but he jerked back and said “hey get off me”. Our driver said they just wanted to syringe it! Very random.
Gautama Buddha in the middle of the heart shaped lake
Dinner that night was at a restaurant called Paradise, very popular with ex-pats so the concierge told us. It’s famous for Biryani. Even though I asked for the mildest one it was still far too hot for me! Anthony and Laurence also struggled and they like a hot curry.
On a sunny day a few weeks ago I took my parents and nephew who are over from the UK for a stroll around the harbour. All restaurants, cafes and pubs were only open for takeaways during this time. Many people were out and about enjoying the last of the Autumn sun, trying to stick to the social distancing! It is an easy 30 minute drive from Perth down the freeway and also just 30 minutes from where I live.
Fremantle is mostly known for its maritime history but is also a very popular tourist spot and is home to the famous Cappuccino Strip.
Weekdays are definitely less busy than the weekends and we found a parking spot in no time right on the harbour front.
On top is the famous Joe’s Fish Shack a great restaurant with harbour views Bottom pic: The Fremantle Tourist Wheel
We stopped and bought drinks from the e-bike cafe and while we were waiting for our order, I noticed the most beautiful painting on the wall at the back of the cafe. It was painted by a lady called Maria Bowers who has now sadly passed away.
A fantastic backdrop for these e-bikes.
E-bikes are a fun way to get around Fremantle. Not that we took this opportunity with my parents both in their 80’s! I believe you can hire or buy these bikes.
Some of the quirky sculptures and artwork around Fremantle
Kidogo Arthouse Situated in the charming 1884 heritage-listed Old Kerosene Store on Bathers Beach, Fremantle
Round House
The Fremantle Roundhouse is the oldest public building in the state of Western Australia. Opened in January 1831, it was built to hold any person convicted of a crime in the settlement until 1886. Since then it’s been a Police Lock up, accommodation for the Water Police, and a storage facility for the Fremantle Ports. (Source: helloperth.com.au)
The view from the top of the Round House
The fishing boats that are still in use in the harbour
Little Creatures Brewery popular with both locals and tourists. Apparently a former crocodile farm, but now a brewery. It’s a great place to have a casual drink, lunch or dinner. You can also take a tour of the brewery.
That’s all we had time for during this trip, but there’s so much more to do in Fremantle.
Some links below of other things to see and do in this town. (Please check during Covid opening times to these places)
