Backpacking travel & Outdoor adventure: 2012

Backpacking to Perth
Cape to Cape of Margaret River Valley
07 Sept to 18 Sept 2012

Day 04 Mon. (10.09.2012) Polglass Way, Ardross is 247km to Dunsborough driving south passing by Mandurah, Bunbury and Busselton

We started the day early and by 7.30am we were on the Kwinana Freeway/State Route 2 heading south to Mandurah a 63km away. At about 9am we visited Dave’s step grandfather, Alf Garden who is 84. He is still very healthy and has been cycling 40km at times. Alf Garden stays alone in a very cozy house nearby the sea in Mandurah.

At 10am Dave hired a 8 seater runabouts boat (A$50) from Blue Manna, 13 Dolphin Drive, Mandurah, (http://www.bluemannaboathire.com.au) for an hour boat drive along the man-made canal. Dave drove us through the scenic Peel Inlet and the Mandurah Estuary viewing the luxury canal side homes.

At 11am we had the best fish and chips for lunch at Cicerello, (http://www.cicerellos.com.au) no.73 Mandurah Terrace overlooking the beautiful Mandjar Bay.

At 12noon we continued another 160km road journey south passing by Bunbury and arriving at Busselton at 2.25pm on Forrest Hwy and Bussell Hwy. From here we continued 24km on Caves Rd. to Dunsborough arriving at 2.52pm to pick up the Pelican Cottage keys from Cape Executive Holiday Properties office at 4a Dunn Bay Centre, 31-33 Dunn Bay Rd. which was pre-booked online by Monica. The cottage was very clean and pleasant with all facilities available. http://www.capeexec.com.au

After checking-in to the cottage, we headed out to explore the town and did some shopping for dinner at Coles supermarket. Dave went and bought some wine for the ladies from another bottle shop. Dinner was awfully fantastic; Dave prepared grilled salmon bought at Coles with plenty of wine to go with.

Sleeping: "Pelican Cottage" Lecaille Court, Dunsborough - a night for 8pax @ A$161
Temperature: Sunny 22°C/14°C

Monica seeing us off as she had to go to work in the early morning

the packing, checking and loading the spare tire onto Dave's van

pumping auto-gas - A$0.86 per litre

our first stopped was the house of Dave’s step grandfather, Mr, Alf Garden in Mandurah

the coastal town of Mandurah has become a vibrant tourist attraction with this visitors!

saying hello to Dave’s step grandfather, Alf Garden at 84 years old

looking at the scenic Peel Inlet

Catherine and I getting ready and raring to go boating

At 10am Dave hired a 8 seater runabouts boat (A$50) from Blue Manna, 13 Dolphin Drive, Mandurah, (http://www.bluemannaboathire.com.au) for an hour boat drive along the man-made canal. Dave drove through the scenic Peel Inlet and the Mandurah Estuary viewing the luxury canal side homes.

driving around Mandurah's luxury canal-side homes and the scenic Peel Inlet and Murray River

Dave the skipper

the breeze is really cold

At 11am we had the best fish and chips for lunch at Cicerello, (http://www.cicerellos.com.au) no.73 Mandurah Terrace overlooking the beautiful Mandjar Bay.

overlooking the beautiful Mandjar Bay from Cicerello

at the Cape Executive Holiday Properties office to pick the Pelican Cottage keys

The cottage is fully self-contained, comfortably furnished,features an open plan kitchen/dining/living area, air-conditioning in the main living are and in the upstairs loft. The cottage was very clean and pleasant with all facilities available.Walking Distance to Geographe Bay, Park, and Town, http://www.capeexec.com.au.

There are two bedrooms and a spacious loft upstairs, sleeping up to eight. The king singles downstairs can be locked together to form a king bed.

and an upper storey loft area

Air-condioning in main living area, 3 TVs, DVD, CD Stereo, Games, Microwave, Washing Machine, Ironing Facilities, 3 Fans, 1 Gas Heater.

Uncle Rudy is waiting for his glass of wine

Uncle Rudy said, "I want apple pie"

we are on happy holidays down under

cheers to Catherine and Betty

Dinner was awfully fantastic; Dave prepared grilled salmon bought at Coles with plenty of wine to go with at an outdoor setting, BBQ in an enclosed back yard.

A private patio offers us the opportunity to relax whilst enjoying some of the fresh local produce, a grilled salmon and a glass of award winning wine.