TRAVEL // Perth, Australia Pt. 1

Hello there!

It has been a long time since I have been able to post on this old blog of mine. Between research, an interim report and travelling across Australia with intermittent wifi writing blog posts was the last thing on my mind. Now my report is given in and all is good in the world, I can finally share some of my snaps with you. My first stop on the trip was Perth, which as it turns out, it absolutely beautiful. I think I'll forever be a Melbs girl but my God Perth is beautiful.

The trip to Perth from the UK is really far from the worst I have ever experienced. Sure, getting onto the plane was pretty traumatic (first my Dad was told he wasn't allowed to fly without his Australia passport and this was quickly followed by the news we had apparently not been given seats on the flight full stop - such a nightmare!) but via Dubai, the flying time was just 16 hours. If you take into account it's around 11-12 hours to California, that really doesn't sound too bad. If you want to go to Australia, I'd seriously recommend going to Perth - just for the flight time alone!

Anyway, with just 5 days to see as much as we could we trekked to Nambung National park in a bid to seem cultured. It was a three hour drive from where we were in Trigg but completely worth the journey. The Pinnacles, a.k.a. giant lumps of limestone, make up a large proportion of the national park and are one of the eeriest things I had seen in a long time. Formed by ocean wearing rock away, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of these giant rocks just sitting there. As we drove, they just kept coming and coming. It is crazy what nature does over time. If I recall, it cost $12 to take the car in and there was a well signposted drive as well as a few treks. It's well worth the money, that's for sure.

Whilst I spent quite a lot of time with these large rocks, I did go see some beaches too. My entire drive up the coast was filled with beautiful beaches and white sand. Had I stayed longer I'd have spent every extra day on the beach, that's for sure. Anyway, next on the list was a visit to Penguin Island. Situated off the coast of Rockingham, a lovely little coastal town filled with restaurants and a single surf shop, it is just a short boat trip away. For $23 you get your transport to the island and the opportunity to see a penguin feeding which, I thought at least, was well worth it. You can get really up close to the little penguins which are ridiculously adorable. I could have watched them all day.

Of course, you are free to wander about the island for as long as you'd like before the last ferry of the day. The sea is an absolutely beautiful blue and looks incredible if you make the trek up to the highest point. There is plenty of beach to relax on, and when the water looks that good I wish I'd gotten there earlier in the day.

I'd say that I never wanted to leave Penguin Island, but it was definitely windy. If you make a visit, I'd perhaps suggest bringing a jacket with you and tying your hair up. I think it's fair to see that I wasn't having a particularly good hair day - that's for sure. It was incredible walking about and finding wild penguins hiding here, there and everywhere. Little tip - look under the stairs!

So that's my first instalment from my time in Perth. I'll be honest with you, it may be the favourite place I have visited in Australia so far. From the beaches to the towns, I don't know what's not to love.

Have you been to Perth? Where are your favourite places to go? Let me know!