Big things in the south of Western Australia

Our second week in WA was our first week touring. Headed south to a place called Busselton where whales rest on their way south. Saw whales from the cliffs at Cape Naturaliste then went on a boat to get amongst them – superb, but impossible to photograph!

Headed south-east towards Walpole and stopped on the way to climb a tree. Diamond Tree was a forest fire lookout and you get up it by a 51-metre ladder. Although ladder is a bit of an exaggeration - it's reinforcing rods hammered into the tree at regular intervals so you can get to the top. Judy did it all!

Toured around Walpole and saw massive trees – karri and tingle trees which are both huge varieties of eucalypt. Fortunately now saved from loggers as this is the only area where they grow.

Lunch on the beach at 'Conspicuous Cliff' then off to see the Natural bridge near Albany which is a lot bigger than it looks here.

Then off to the Stirling Ranges where we climbed Bluff Knoll, the highest point in southern WA. Two hours up (only 3km) then down a bit quicker! The views were fantastic, even from part way up...

… as were the wild-flowers which covered the higher slopes.

We took the long way back to Perth via the famous Wave Rock.

It was much more interesting 20Km away at The Humps and Mulka's Cave which had aboriginal hand paintings.

Stopped at a nice motel in Corrigin on the way back as we were kn*****ed. Swapped car for a 4WD and now heading north from Perth, up the Indian Ocean.