WART (West Australian Road Trip), my first time down the South of WA, we set off in "Roo" my silver Subaru liberty, towards the Stirling Ranges on Saturday. After calling into a woolshed (though no wool for Sarah to buy) we did get some top tips on where to start our adventure. The adult playground at Katanning was our first stop, huge slides and lots of equipment to climb all over we had a great time expending the energy we had built up after sitting in the car for too long. We had to make a stop in the town of Wagin to see the big ram but quickly then continued onto the Stirling Ranges.
Arriving without too much light left, we couldn't do the hike we had first planned so got the tent set up then headed to see the Lily windmill a 16th century dutch windmill replica. When the canola fields are in full flower I've been told the site is beautiful with the Stirling ranges as a backdrop. We chased the owners dog around in circles and a chance for some photography. Clear skies meant we could fall asleep to the twinkle of the stars overhead of our tent as no inner was needed, I love being out in the country....Our plan was set for the next morning to get up before sunrise and hike.
Next stop was onto Toolbrunup (2nd highest mountain 1052m, 4km return), a much more primitive hike like we are used to involving rock hopping and a very minor scramble up to the summit. Again we had the track to ourselves and took the opportunity to train the moths to come out like a plague.....ewwwww So by lunch time we had completed both peaks and my legs were a little shakey but it felt so good to be exploring WA.
We then drove onto Mt Barker and were lucky enough to stay with my friend Jo's parents Kathy and Kevin who own The Banksia farm, Jo had her wedding here recently but I had to work so missed out on her special day. It was awesome to check out some local wineries and really get to know her parents over a good aussie BBQ. The farm is famous for having all the different types of banksia's and it is such a wonderful retreat a place you can just stop, breath and be......
We hit Albany the next day and started our coast road trip back towards Perth over the next few days. Stopping lots to swim in the southern ocean, we hiked the local mountains but it appears in WA they have to make the mountains extremely accessible.... I mean to the point that you could push a wheel chair. We enjoyed the town of Denmark as it was smaller and a favourite spot for us was elephant rock, where we could DWS (deep water solo climb up all these awesome granite boulders) had we had more time we could have easily spent a full day in this one spot alone. We even got down to Augusta the most south western point of WA where the Indian and Southern oceans meet. We climbed a 60m tall tree using just metal rungs, which gave me my "do one thing a day that scares me" well and truly
We were spoilt with a mixture of big gum trees and farm fields, to wild rocky ocean shores and a beautiful mountain range. Every day brought new fun challenges and experiences that come when your both keen outdoorsy adventure types. We finished our trip with a dinner out with my housemates, Sarah and my friend Rich. I had a lot of lovely WA wine and well was ummmmm rather happily drunk.... To wake up the next day to my work xmas party 8:30am champagne breakfast start.... and to fly out at midnight back for family xmas on the Gold Coast..... Drunk over the past two days and still going strong.........
Thanks Sarah for a fantastic time away and WART 2011 will live on....... Who else wants to join in on the contagious WART trip in 2012???? You know you do :-)
