Our First Weekend Away - Margaret River Area, South of Perth

Busselton Jetty (longest timber-built jetty) - 145 years
old and 1841 metres long

We had a great first weekend away from town in the Margaret River Region. 

White Correllas sitting in a giant fig tree at Busselton Jetty

Saturday morning Tom and I attempted to figure out how to set up a sizeable canvas tent that Harvey, Steve's dad, dropped off for us. We tried our best, Harvey - we seem to only have success with tents with a maximum of 4 of those bendy, snap-together poles. We ended heading south around 11 a.m., stopped to rent a tent from a great guy, Dave, from OnTrack for Hire and  continued on towards Bunbury. We had a late-lunch pizza there and bought Rein some snorkel gear. It wasn't long before we arrived at Busselton Jetty where we stopped to get out and stretch our legs. What better place than where we could walk over 2 kilometers on a 145 year old wooden jetty. We were sad to find out that it was undergoing restoration and we could only walk the first 200 meters. We will go back after February when it should be complete.

Sunday morning - camped out at Injedup Beach - Glorious!

Steps down to Indejup Beach from Cape to Cape trail
not far from our tent

Some beautiful dune vegetation on
Indejup Beach

Leslie's tracks from her Sunday morning walk on
Indejup Beach 

Tom and kids swimming at Indejup Beach

We arrived in Dunsborough and picked up some supplies. We then headed down the coast past Yallingup and searched for the road to Indejup Beach. I read online that it was considered one of South Western Australia's best beaches and you could pitch a tent there as well. We arrived at what we were pretty sure was Indejup Beach. We parked and took a peak - it was absolutely gorgeous. We scaled down the rocks to the beach and walked for a bit. We didn't have much in the way of flashlights/ headlamps and we still had to go get something to eat 

Tails and fins of a pod of dolphins at Indejup Beach

before it got too late - we didn't want to get caught putting up the tent in the dark. We headed back to Dunsborough, tried to get some chow at a local Brewery but their kitchen was closed. We since found out that all wineries and breweries kitchens close the latest 4 p.m. We ate at a Seafood Grill and then headed back to the beach. 

Daddy helping Silka on the long climb up
from the beach

Our first Kangaroos!!

Don't let looks deceive you - she packs a
good wallop 

Ha! Ha! Ha!

Old Lolli Shop in Margaret River

Cape Mentelle Winery - Margaret River

We drove to a different area which ended up being much better for pitching a tent. We didn't beat the sun though - it went down before we got the tent up. We got it up fairly quickly under the illumination of the Holden's headlights.        

Xanadu Winery (our favourite so far) - Margaret River

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The kids and I went to bed soon after our new home was set up. Tom stayed up and drained the car battery while reading his book in the car. Luckily, a ranger just happened to be there when we realized the predicament we were in and rescued us by squeaking his truck up alongside our car to give us a boost. I was the first to wake up in the morning and headed down to the beach for a walk. It was a bit of a challenge finding the trail down but I eventually met up with the Cape to Cape trail and found the steps to the beach at the bottom. I din't walk far before I heard Silka screaming from the tent. Apparently, Tom woke up to the two kids in fisticuffs. He was glad to see me arrive back at the tent. We drank some juice and the kids ate some oat bars to tie them over until breakfast. We all headed down the path to the beach for a swim - Tom in the lead followed by Rein and myself further back toting Silka. I had almost reached the bottom when to my not so pleasant surprise, Silka couldn't hold her pee in any longer. 

Picking up some jams and a dark plum port at Berry Farms

Colonial Brewery, Margaret River - great beer and playground

We tried to get her bathing suit bottoms off in time but...... needless to say, we were now in dire need of a rinse in the ocean. 

We had a fantastic swim and on our way back to our tent we were followed along the shore by a pod of Dolphins! Rein was so excited. We were soon packed up and changed, and after the Ranger's rescue we were headed for Margaret River.

Inside Colonial Brewery

Us enjoying a couple beer shots - YUM!

Along our way, we spotted our first live Kangaroos. We saw two dead on the side of the road the night before. It was very cool. When two of them start to "box" you can't  help but crack up - it is very entertaining.

We ate breakfast at the Dome in Margaret River, we bought an camp LED lamp just in case we get stuck setting up in the dark again, and then we went on a winery/ brewery/ playground tour. We visited four wineries and one brewery that were all listed as having a playground for kids. We had lots of fun - Tom and I rated the wines while the kids rated the playgrounds. We visited Cape Mentelle, Xanadu, Red Gate, and Watershed Wineries and Colonial Brewery. Xanadu came out on top for best overall on the wine and the playground. We really liked the Colonial Brewery as well - we will go back for a meal. It was getting late again and we needed to find dinner before we headed off to Cane Break Pool Campsite for the night. We went back into Margaret River and ate a Roast Beef/Lamb Dinner Buffet at the Bridgefield Guest House. It was located in a old cottage from the early 1900s and our waiters were a young Frenchman and Italian. The meal was a buffet of comfort food and some Pavlova with fresh fruit for dessert. We were also able to enjoy one of our new wine purchases at a $3.50 corking fee.

Kids enjoying the Colonial Brewery playground

Cane Break Pool Campground outside of Margaret River -
 it rained all night

We ended up at Cane Break Pool campsite just as  it was getting dark. We didn't need the car's headlights this time. I read Harry Potter: The Chamber of Secrets to the kids and then Tom and I read for a while once they were asleep. It poured rain all night and was still pouring when we woke up Monday morning. Tom and  I transferred our sleeping kids in their sleeping bags into the car and packed up. We were back in Margaret River fairly early and had breakfast at a great place - The Margaret River Bakery. We enjoyed some french pastries with berry frappes, coffee and chai lattes. It is definitely at the top of our list for a repeat visit.

Scuba Cow at Colonial Brewery

Margaret River Bakery - Fantastic spot!

Enjoying breakfast at Margaret River Bakery

Post breakfast relaxation at Margaret
River Bakery

We browsed some of the shops and then headed to Ellensbrook Beach. There we caught a lot of local surfers in action and Tom and the kids went for quick dip before we started our trip back home. 

Great Weekend!!

Ellensbrook Beach

Surfer's path at Ellensbrook Beach

Cape to Cape Trail at Ellensbrook Beach

Rocky hideaway at Ellensbrook Beach

  

  

Another spectacular view at Ellensbrook beach

Surfers getting ready to "catch the wave" at Ellensbrook Beach

Kids climbing the dunes at Ellensbrook Beach

Purple sand at Ellensbrook Beach

A shell find at Ellensbrook Beach