Ironstone Gully Falls to Binningup

Day 60 - Ironstone Gully Falls to Binningup

Ironstone Gully Falls, Donnybrook, Australind, Binningup

Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Had breakfast, went for a walk in the bush with Tuka, and packed up and left. Drove to Donnybrook, a suprisingly large town with a high school, aquatic centre, aussie rules fields and plenty of shops. Had a walk in the park.

Decided to head down to a caravan park on the coast. The Bunbury parks were not dog friendly so called in at Australind. It is opposite leschenault Estuary which has pelicans, black swans and cormorants on it.

Drove on to Binnigup because I wanted a beach with surf. Booked in at the small Binningup Beach Caravan Park. I think it only has four or five campers that are not permanents. It is only $25 for a powered site and set among the gum trees. It is only a short walk to the beach but there is no surf even though Binnigup has a Surf Club. Did the washing and cleaning. Later Tuka and I went to the beach again and had a swim.

	Binningup Caravan Park [Map]		Binningup Beach [Map]

Chapman Pool to Ironstone Gully Falls

Day 59 - Chapman Pool to Ironstone Gully Falls

Chapman Pool, Witchcliffe, Margaret River, Capel, Ironstone Gully Falls

Monday, 18 March 2013
Breakfast and a walk with Tuka. Then packed up and drove to Witchcliffe, got diesel, and the onto Margaret River.

Drove the back roads to Chapel, a small town between Busselton and Bunberry. Along the way passed by pastures that had, at different times and places, black & white cows, black cows, sheep, emus, ibis and ducks.

From there drove 17km to Ironstone Gully Falls. Small camping area in amongst the eucalypts and next to Capel River. As is usual at this time of the year in WA the river has no running water only a few shallow stagnant pools and dry falls. Set up camp and then went for a walk along a nearby track. Found a small creek that had running water and was deep enough for Tuka to stand in up to his chest.

	Camping ground [Map]		Ironstone Gully Falls [Map]

Busselton to Chapman Pool

Day 58 - Busselton to Chapman Pool

Busselton, Dunsborough, Cape Naturaliste, Yallingup, Cape Naturaliste Vineyard, Chapman Pool

Sunday, 17 March 2013
Up early at 6.15am and drove to Busselton Jetty. Took Tuka for a walk around the foreshore park. Talked to a council worker about dogs and travelling. Back to van and Tuka and I had breakfast. Left Tuka in the van as I did the 1.8km walk to the end of the jetty and back again. Plenty of people fishing at various spots along the jetty. There is an underwater observatory at the end of the jetty but it was closed (7.30am). As it costs $29 to enter it I'm glad it was closed.

Drove out to Dunsborough where we parked next a pretty foreshoe park. Tuka had a swim in Geographe Bay and then we had morning tea and I talked to Anne. Next we went to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse. Tuka stayed in the van and I went on a guided tour of the lighthouse. Walked up the spiral staircase to the top of the 19m high lighthouse. Lighthouse is only 19m high because the Cape is so high. Left the lighthouse and went to Bunker Bay where there supposed to be plenty of White Pointers because of the nearby seal colony. Then onto Sugarloaf Rock, one of the most photographed rocks in WA.

Watched the surfing at Yallingup (surfer boards and paddle boards) and took Tuka for a walk. Drove ten kilometres to the isolated Yallingup Bakery where I purchased wood-fired bread via an honesty box. As it is Sunday, the bakery is closed so the wrapped bread is left on a bench with info about the types of bread and the prices. The wheatbread is made from biodynamic stonemilled wheat flour, rainwater, salt & yeast. The fruit loaf is made from biodynamic stonemilled wheat flour, organic apricots and sultanas, rye flour, rainwater, salt, honey, yeast & spice.

I had seen an advert for winery that welcomed dogs so I decided to visit today. Cape Naturaliste Vineyard is located in a small picturesque valley near Yallingup. Tuka and I were greeted in the cellar door by the owner and her two dogs, Max and Monty. Tuka roamed around getting to know the dogs while I sampled some of the white wines and talked to the owner about the wines and the dogs.

	Busselton Wharf [Map]		View from the end of the wharf [Map]
	Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse [Map]		Spiral staircase in lighthouse [Map]
	View from lighthouse to Bunker Bay [Map]		Sugarloaf Rock [Map]
	Surfing and Paddle boarding at Yallingup [Map]		Max going into the Cellar at Cape Naturaliste Vineyard [Map]
	Cellar at Cape Naturaliste Vineyard [Map]

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Big Valley to Busselton

Day 57 - Big Valley to Busselton

Big Valley Campsite, Margaret River, Prevelly, Gracetown, Busselton

Saturday, 16 March 2013
 In the morning I had breakfast, went for walk with Tuka and then packed up.

Decided to some site seeing. Drove out Prevelly. The Margaret River Surf Championship was on so most of it blocked off unless you had tickets or resident. As I couldn't stay at the Caravan Park ($21 peak, $15 other) as they didn't allow dogs I didn't qualify in either case.

Drove further up the road to another little beach and then a National Park. Had walk with Tuka at the beach and by myself at the NP. Drove to Gracetown, a little town north of Prevelly. Had a look around then drove up to Busselton.

	View towards surf championship at Prevelly [Map]

Chapman Pool to Big Valley

Day 56 - Chapman Pool to Big Valley

Chapman Pool, Margaret River, Cowaramup, Big Valley Campsite

Friday, 15 March 2013
Last night I had more ants. I put out Ant Rid next to the cupboard above sink. Soon had over a hundred ants feeding. This morning they were all gone. I hope permanently!

After breakfast and a walk we packed up and drove into Margaret River. Did some shopping and sight seeing. People stopped us in the street and asked about Tuka - how old is he and what breed of dog is he?

Drove onto Cowaramup a small town with life-size fibreglass cows all along the main street. Very lifelike - Tuka went up to them and sniffed them. Spent some money in the Candy Cow - "Australia's Greatest Sweet Shop & Candy Factory".

Soon it was time for my second brewery - Cowaramup Brewing Co. They have a range of beers on tap, including pilsener, pale ale, indian pale ale and porter, all brewed on the premises.

Then onto Big Valley Campsite about 10 minutes drive south-east of Margaret River. We were booked in by a friendly owner who took us to our site. A lot of caravans and tents throughout the large camping ground. It is also a working sheep farm so Tuka got to observe some sheep from a distance.

	Cows at Cowaramup [Map]		More cows [Map]
	Cowaramup Brewing Co. [Map]		Campsite at Big Valley [Map]

Chapman Pool to Chapman Pool

Day 55 - Chapman Pool to Chapman Pool

Chapman Pool, Margaret River, Colonial Brewing Co, Margaret River, Mammoth Cave, Chapman Pool

Thursday, 14 March 2013
According to a local I spoke to yesterday today was going to be sunny. Instead it is raining. As I was having breakfast I noticed that I had ants in my sink. How did they get there? Anyway spent the next hour cleaning draws and killing ants. Then packed up and drove to Margaret River.

The town of Margaret River is a bustling tourist town. Plenty of shops to buy anything from hemp clothes and shampoos to ugg boots. It is the busiest town with regard to traffic that I have found in WA so far. Bought some stuff and then drove to the Colonial Brewing Company.

The Colonial Brewing Company brews five different types of beers. You can only buy it to take away in the Growler (a two litre swing top bottle) which costs $40 filled and $20 for a refill. Wouldn't fit in my fridge so I had a 330ml glass of Indian Pale Ale for $7 instead.

Then onto the Mammoth Cave. It is a self-guiding cave so I could stay as long as I liked to look and photograph. Information on the features and history is provided by an MP3 audio player. The Mammoth Cave got its name from the size of caverns. It is also home to ancient fossil remains of extinct megafauna. Drove to nearby CaveWorks, an interpretative centre designed to provide information about the formation and history of caves.

Back to Chapman Pool where I set up camp and then took Tuka for a walk. Just manged to get awning up before it started raining again.

	Margaret River [Map]		The Colonial Brewing Co. [Map]
	Stalagmite, Mammoth Cave [Map]		Stalactites, Mammoth Cave [Map]
	Stalactites, Mammoth Cave [Map]		Cave exit (original cave entrance) [Map]

Nannup to Chapman Pool

Day 54 - Nannup to Chapman Pool

Nannup, Augusta, Hamelin Bay, Alexandra Bridge, Chapman Pool

Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Had breakfast, filled water tank, packed up, took Tuka for a walk and then we were on the way again.

Drove to Augusta. Stopped at the Information Centre and got brochures and info. Took Tuka along the River Walk and saw some pelicans, cormorants and black swans. The river is the Blackwood River, the same one that Tuka stood in the middle at Nannup and only got wet to his chest. It is now so big and deep that there are large boats for tourist river cruises and houseboats on it. Didn't complete walk as Tuka was having trouble walking today.

Drove out to Cape Leeuwin, australia's mostbsouth-westerly point. Had a look at the lighthouse, the lighthouse keepers' cottages and the point where the Southern Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. The lighthouse was built in 1895. Nearby is the historic waterwheel which was originally used to supply water to the lighthouse builders. On the way back to Augusta stopped at a memorial to the Australian nurses killed in World War 2.

Then went to Hamelin Bay, basically a caravan park, boat ramp, picnic area and National Park. It is known for the stingrays coming into the beach to be fed. Managed to see one but it windy and water choppy so not good conditions for the rays.

Decided to find a place to stay. Was going to stay at Alexandra Bridge, a $8/ pernight/per person camping ground. It was next to the Blackwood River but a bit crowded so I continued on to Chapman Pool which is in the National Park. Dogs are allowed in the camping ground. Nice spot with individual camping bays. The Chapman Pool is a large deep pool which Tuka had a swim in as soon as we arrived.

	Tuka in the Blackwood River, Augusta [Map]		Southern Ocean meets Indian Ocean [Map]
	Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse [Map]		Pirate Cow [Map]
	Nurses Memorial, Augusta [Map]		Hamelin Bay [Map]
	Tuka in Chapman Pool [Map]