We are lucky enough to have spent a week in Busselton WA and it was great. Obviously, the main reason we were here was to attend the Caravan and Camping Show but we took advantage to look around and check out the area. Fred and I got the bikes out and rode on the bike paths along the oceanside. We rode as far as we could in both directions (on separate occasions) and it was beautiful.
One took us past the pier and the other to Dunsborough. Both were fantastic rides which we thoroughly enjoyed. The pier is amazing and if you don’t feel like walking the 1.85km you can get the train. It is the longest timber piled jetty in the southern Hemisphere. The atmosphere at the pier is great with plenty of cafes and bars to tempt and they did.
The ride to Dunsborough wove in and out through coast scrub and past some enormous houses (obscene really lol!). There were plenty of lizards and skinks sunning on the path, scuttling away when we neared. The path finished at a glorious little cove; the water was a perfect blue but being the Indian Ocean it was very cold. Too cold for this old duck to get in anyway.
Our friends and mat cohorts, Brad and Vicki, kindly took us out for a day and we visited the Margaret River Region, checking out the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Jewel Cave, lunching at a lovely tavern in Karridale and The Margaret River Chocolate Company, I couldn’t resist and left with a bag full.
All were unique and wonderful stops. The lighthouse is positioned where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet, was built in 1896 and measures 39 metres high. It was interesting to read the history about lighthouses and one thing that stood out for me was the rules of a lighthouse keeper which stated quite clearly “a lighthouse keeper must be available at all times and hobbies, events and other matters must never take precedence to the role”.
Jewel Cave was amazing with stunning stalagmites and tites throughout the three very large chambers we visited. They even have a fossilised Tasmanian Tiger which was discovered in the cave and is believed to be 3000 years old.
We finished our day checking out the coastline and the natural day spa, before heading back via Dunsborough to Busselton.
It was now showtime and Saturday and Sunday flew by with over 11,000 people attending the show. We had a fantastic time, chatting with people and can happily report that we sold a good number of mats.
On Monday it was time to head off, our week’s stay at the Mandalay Tourist Park was up. We don’t normally stay at caravan parks, but there was no free camping close enough for us to attend the show. If you are caravan park people, we can recommend this park and as school holidays started on the weekend, it filled up quickly and there were kids running about, riding bikes and scooters and having a fantastic time. A joy to observe. Our truck was a big hit when we were leaving, the small kids were in awe of it.
We now head in the direction of Mandurah where our next show is. It’s not for a couple of weeks so stay tuned………..