Mar – May 2023

2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth

Southwards and westwards across the continent to Perth and back home. 🙏 Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Share

Newest first

Footprints
Photos

Trip start
March 9, 2023
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 1
- Thursday, March 9, 2023
- ☁️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 29 m
- Australia North Fitzroy -37.783604, 144.98275837°47’1” S 144°58’58” E
Helsings
March 9, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Hallo - I aim to post more than once however let’s see!!!!
7 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 2
- Friday, March 10, 2023
- ☁️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- Australia Jan Juc Back Beach -38.346295, 144.30943338°20’47” S 144°18’34” E
Torquay to Nelson
March 10, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
We had a great nite in good old Torquers with Gaye and John. Warrnambool for picnic lunch, stocked up on seafood at Portland, and spent the night at a beautiful little river campsite SA side - Donovan’s.Read more
7 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 5
- Monday, March 13, 2023 at 8:45 AM
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Australia Lake Charra -37.166314, 139.77106437°9’59” S 139°46’16” E
Nelson To Robe
March 13, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
We stopped in Port McDonnell and picked up a fresh cray, checked out Mt Gambier - Blue Lake and Sinkhole and saw a Greek wedding in Penola We have been here in Robe two nights in caravan park by the lake as no free camps to be found. However pretty spot and great coastal walk and good pub. Can see why Robe is so popular - very historically intact and gorgeous beachesRead more
8 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 6
- Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 9:47 PM
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- Australia The Sisters -35.534108, 138.68377535°32’3” S 138°41’2” E
Port Eliot
March 14, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Couldn’t get the punt across the Murray yesterday as so many people - drove back from Robe around the Coorong - Adelaide Cup day - who knew. We were destined for Victor Harbor however we stopped at Port Eliot - set in Horseshoe Bay - Many shipwrecks around the rocky inlet but It’s a nice little spot - weather improving a little - Minnie has been swimming - hopefully we will today - that is about all we have on calendar - oh and working out what Nobby Clark did to earn his statue of fame on waterfront.Read more
7 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 7
- Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 11:34 AM
- ⛅ 24 °C
- Altitude: 106 m
- Australia Inman Valley -35.489922, 138.46584835°29’24” S 138°27’57” E
Retraction Port Elliot
March 15, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Apologies to all and to the good burghers of this lovey town - spelt double L.
Good news re Nobby Clark’s bust - am told he was a popular local identity - born and bred and lived whole life here until his death in 2009 - a fisherman - his parents arrived as first immigrants straight off the ship 1850s
Swimming in Hoseshoe Bay magnificent today
Pretty trip through Inman Valley - headed to meet Swiss cousins at McLaren ValeRead more
8 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 9
- Friday, March 17, 2023 at 9:52 AM
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: 30 m
- Australia Clovelly Park Reserve -34.996765, 138.57472234°59’48” S 138°34’29” E
McLaren Vale
March 17, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
We spent last two days with our lovely and easy going Swiss relatives- Doris and Paul in the McLaren Vale wine region - still exploring the Fleurieu peninsula Lots to see and do - great to get out and about amongst flora and fauna - and What a luxury to have an ensuite attached to camp site at the caravan park. Off to Wallaroo now to catch the ferry over to the York penninsula.Read more
7 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 10
- Saturday, March 18, 2023
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Australia Cape Burr -34.11729, 136.34616134°7’2” S 136°20’46” E
Point Gibbon
March 18, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Onwards! We caught a ferry from York Penninsula to Eyre Penninsula which was around 2.5 hours -and cut off lots of road ks. It lands at Lucky Bay which seems appropriate - we drove about half an hour to a free camp at Point Gibbon - an amazingly beautiful conservation area - with state of the art toilets👌Minnie was allowed up top on cliff area but not below where sea lions inhabit the beautifully warm waters- just glorious for a Friday evening swim.
The weather was stunning and we had a magnificent sunset and sunrise views today.Read more
9 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 14
- Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 10:42 AM
- ☁️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- Australia Penong Railway Station -31.928542, 133.01053631°55’43” S 133°0’38” E
Point Sinclair
March 22, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Loved this place. Remote spot but full of surfers. Am having trouble with posting - 2 previous drafts won’t upload🙄 will 😓
11 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 14
- Wednesday, March 22, 2023
- 🌬 22 °C
- Altitude: 103 m
- Australia No. 2 Bore -31.678628, 128.8821731°40’43” S 128°52’56” E
Eucla time bend
March 22, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 22 °C
Well we have started the Nullabor and travelled around 440 ks today and have crossed into WA. It has been a pleasant surprise so far; changing landscapes, lots of places to stop off, the Great Aust Bight is a spectacle the highway in amazing condition and road trains going other way so not having to pass these big boys yet. Got about another 700 ks till we turn off towards Esperance.
One minute it was 10 to 6 and the next it was 3.20 and now the sun will set at 7pm - bit of a mind spin.Read more
9 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 15
- Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 2:36 PM
- ☁️ 33 °C
- Altitude: 285 m
- Australia Shire of Esperance -32.069232, 122.47001232°4’9” S 122°28’12” E
Landscapes of the Nullabor
March 23, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C
I refused to sleep at the cliffs - way too windy. Beautiful sunset spot at Eucla instead. We got up with the birds today - and broke a record by leaving around 7am. Ha ha. Decided to drive all the way to Norseman - around 700 ks - as it is a lot of same same - so tried to capture the changing scenery as car moving- probs a bit of a fail. It has been a good trip really - big road trains but all ok. Markus is our driver - I am the navigator.
We stopped a few times to eat toasties and salada with jam - and get a coffee which we won’t discuss - ah the life and highlights of the wanderer. Minnie such a good girl 😘 Markus also not a bad boy 🤠Read more
11 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 18
- Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 12:06 PM
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 218 m
- Australia Gnamma Creek -33.645332, 120.4409933°38’43” S 120°26’28” E
Esperance
March 26, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Uh oh folks - rainy Esperance - and poor visibility limited our sightseeing at Le Cape Grand. Apparently it is the whitest sandy beach in whole of Stralia - and had we been able we would have seen nude beauties and kangaroos on beach!!!! So our highlights pretty slim pickings; Markus loved the sandwich shop, we got in some nice swims at front beach, Minnie met a new friend called Gizmo, I liked my Patsy photo after two wines, and we loved the glass buildings on the foreshore that featured historical images of local families. There was a memorable story from a local bloke in 1957 who saw a grand piano being offloaded into a dinghy from a tanker in the harbour in the dark of night - but he never found out where it went.Read more
10 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 20
- Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 9:03 AM
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Australia Boat Harbour -34.5118, 118.80434°30’42” S 118°48’14” E
Boat Harbourr beach to Albany
March 28, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
We spent the last couple of days in a beautiful spot by ourselves, oh and of course can’t forget Trevor - A free camp at Boat Harbour beach - it was a little bit rugged getting in off South Coast Hwy but Beast purred thru. - located past Bremer bay famous for whale watching and about 1.5 hours before Albany.
TBH I was not as taken by Trevor as Markus was…themes of misogyny ringing in my ears…however Trevor lives a pretty tough life as unofficial caretaker but is taking donations to buy a defibrillator for campground … a living legend reckons Markus.
A very relaxing stay as the weather was great, it is not used as a harbour these days - it is surrounded by gorgeous and climbable large orange rocks and many small rock pools.
It was all soooo relaxing. We could only swim thigh deep though as White pointers call the place home.
The sea birds were fascinating - fast,agile hunters skimming the waves and rocks. Too fast to photograph.
Ah bliss for a day or two - now onward and upward back in civilisation in Albany - first impressions are 👍Read more
11 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 21
- Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 4:43 PM
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Australia Anzac Peace Park -35.027235, 117.8863235°1’38” S 117°53’11” E
Around Albany
March 29, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Albany is a pretty place of around 40,000 in the greater area. There are fabulous National Parks and trails and beautiful coves. Thank god there is no longer a whaling industry. We met a local who told us that during whale season the oceans were blood red. Nowadays seems to be more of grain and dare I say, woodchips.
The Anzac memorial is amazing - all First World War troops left from here.
They say it’s colder than Melbourne however we had heavenly weather and could swim in Frenchman’s bay. Long live the kebab shop in York st - alas no pics as we gobbled it up so speedily.Read more
12 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 23
- Friday, March 31, 2023
- 🌬 22 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Indian Ocean -35.034832, 117.15997435°2’5” S 117°9’36” E
Denmark and Parry Beach
March 31, 2023, Indian Ocean ⋅ 🌬 22 °C
We stayed at another beach camp (well what a surprise - this trip should be called follow the sun) Parry beach - 20ks out of Denmark Margs side - which had a Red Hill vibe. There were more of these sea hare’s washed up on beach - very poisonous to dogs - like a black slug/blob just a lick causes dogs to die in 24hours - so while Polly was working up a sweat about the potential danger - Minnie ripped her dewclaw half out on some rocks - $415 dollars later - surgery and antibiotics etc she got the royal treatment.
Oh and of note we met John Brown - 94 yr old man who has camped at Parry beach on and off for 70 years - got lots of great stories from him and from the two very special Tassie campers around the camp fire.
John was recovering from Covid - his 91 yr old fishing mate had been taken to Perth hospital - then we saw John chopping his own firewood the next day! Blimey he was a toughie made me feel like such a woos.Read more
11 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 26
- Monday, April 3, 2023 at 10:49 AM
- Altitude: 71 m
- Australia Warperup Creek -33.950827, 115.08395233°57’3” S 115°5’2” E
Margs the place to be
April 3, 2023 in Australia
It’s been around 20 years since we were here - on the way people were telling us that Margaret River had been spoilt by trendiness and development- which may well be true for some older locals- it really has grown and Main Street a bit like Noosa with so many restaurants and bars - however we are very grateful it is just still such a beautiful place - we are loving the forests, the beaches, the organic farms and of course the vineyards - their stunning buildings and settings. Also great to eat out and wash our clothes.
And Minnie is recuperating well - chased a cat around the Riverview caravan park this morning.Read more
9 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 33
- Monday, April 10, 2023 at 8:46 AM
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- Australia Wisteria Gardens -32.548317, 115.69950132°32’54” S 115°41’58” E
Easter 23
April 10, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Easter greetings - Joe Cocker quote always comes to mind - “I just want to say - don’t get hung up about Easter”
We are leaving Mandurah today - really great stay with relos - very hospitable stay as usual - good company and fab boat trip. It’s a pretty seaside town - always growing and offers lots of boating fishing and seaside and canal living.
Our neice has a new florist online venture - and sparked me to notice all the gorgeous natives and tropical plantsRead more
10 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 34
- Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 9:02 AM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 360 m
- Australia Westonia -31.304407, 118.69748731°18’16” S 118°41’51” E
Stumbling into Westonia
April 11, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Westonia is a really small town located on the eastern wheatbelt region of WA - population of around 70 locals but has a few hundred extra who work at local gold mine. As we are useless at planning - it came as a big surprise to us. It’s history as a gold mining town has had a big makeover to resemble yesteryear - we first thought it was a film set - which apparently it has been used for - google it as not sure my pics do it justice.Read more
9 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 34
- Tuesday, April 11, 2023
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 285 m
- Australia Norseman -32.197735, 121.77725632°11’52” S 121°46’38” E
Go for Gold
April 11, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Kalgoorlie - never been here - wow aren’t humans interesting - digging humongous holes in the ground - bloody hard work and incredibly labour and engineering intense - about 5 grams of gold from a tonne of rock ore - really incredible when you watch it - like little matchbox trucks - the big feeders load up each truck with about 20 tonnes. Minnie and I are standing in a digger and have been photobombed.
Then we went out bush - it was so beautiful - all one needs is a coffee and toilet paper.
Got toNorseman tonight and this gorgeous camper was next door. Up early to cross Nullabor again 🙏Read more
12 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 41
- Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 12:12 PM
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- Australia H and L G S Reserve -34.036483, 139.67254134°2’11” S 139°40’21” E
Homeward Bound
April 18, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Well once we pointed the Beast South and Eastwards from Kalgoolie - she went towards home with gusto. Perhaps doing the Nullabor twice in a month wasn’t the brightest idea and it didn’t seem to be as much fun. So we gunned it. We ran across a huge cold front with rain and 70km wind gusts, followed by a stay with smelly and noisy mice, then a confronting stop in a town struggling with a visible ice problem, as well as pretty gruesome food stops along the way aka Kimba bakery.
Things turned much brighter after we arrived in beautiful Clare Valley - though we nearly lost Minnie forever in the bush when she got Kangaroo lust and almost ran herself into a heart attack. We stayed in our fave bush cabins and lapped up the mild days, epicurean days and nights by the fireside.Read more
6 likes
Traveler 2023 Beast trip Melb to Perth
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 42
- Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 3:16 PM
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 106 m
- Australia Bunguluke -36.076908, 143.40264536°4’37” S 143°24’10” E
Last Day - Beast Road Trip Melb to WA an
April 19, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Lovely stopover in Mildura - the town is looking good - little sign of the Murray floods a few months back. We had luck, finally, to get a table for dinner at Stefano’s after trying many times. What a legend Stefano De Pieri is - he told us it’s his 31st year in the restaurant, and he’s thinking that he’s nearing the end of his career- 5 course set menu which I am not a fan of - however it was sensational - light, and superbly fresh with local produce - homely Italian done really with a fine touch. Gobbled down with a gorgeous Chianti. Yummy
We drove on today to my hometown of SeaLake for a nostalgic stopover.
Then it was on to Boort to stay the night with our old mate Macca - a nice ending to this Beast Road Trip.
Looking forward to seeing the hood tomorrow. The End.Read more
10 likes
Trip end
May 15, 2023