Tassie to Perth and back - 5 weeks with the Wife and Kids

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Good to meet the Smithy clan today, hopefully you have a good night camped on the bank of the Murray river.

Looking forward to the updates

Cheers Andrew

Thanks Andrew couldn't Ask for a better night to spend in the tent, and the location isn't bad either. Hopefully see you in Tassie in 2015 for the gtg...

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Well, our first night was close to perfect, but the weather has been wild since leaving loxton on Monday, and heading to Cowell, where we arrived during some sort of cyclone. It hasn't been that wet, but the wind has been at its worst, although i hear Tassie has been copping the wind and the rain.

From Cowell, we headed into Coffin Bay National park yesterday, hoping to find some refuge from the wind at Black Spring campground, and it was ok so long as we stayed within a few meters of the tent, so decided not to stay an extra night as originally planned, and headed north today to Streaky Bay. So far the wind is being kept under control, so will probably stay a couple of nights, and give the kids a break from all the diving, as we have done just short of 2000km since Sunday morning.

Loving the new side steps, and the Prado is serving us well, given this is really the first trip we have done since the majority of mods have been completed. Suspension is handling the load better than i initially thought too, just took a bit of getting used to the different feel and handling of it being loaded.

when we move on, we will commence the trek across the nullabor, so some more long days for the kids...

[Boyce Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Boyce]

Hi Smithy, it's going to be a great family trip. The weather has been a bit extreme recently, but we have often found the SA coastal area pretty windy at this time of the year. Make sure you stop at Fowler's Bay, it's a unique spot with its massive sand dunes and some interesting spots to drive to, like Mexican Hat. Further over in WA, we loved Cape Arid. I think you are passing through there. Also, just a thought, but heading west after you pass the plain of the Nullabor, there are some good camp sites on the north side of the road. Look for some of the dirt tracks that head up into the range about a kilometre off the road. Perhaps you will find somewhere private and quiet for an overnight stay. Have fun...

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Took your advice, Boyce, and stayed a night in Fowlers Bay - what a spot!

After that we headed across the Nullarbor, stopping at head of the bight, where we saw a handful of whales, before completing 800km travel for the day. We ended up camping 120km east of Balladonia for the night. The next morning we headed down Parmango road to Esperance, which was a was a refreshing change from the Nullabor drive, and meant we let some pressure out of or tyres again. Managed between 60 and 80kmph for the most part. We spent two nights in at Coffin Bay, in Cape le Grande national park, and are now headed to Bremmer Bay in the Fitzgerald River National Park for a couple of nights before pressing on.

I must admit that it was hard to leave Lucky Bay this morning, as the weather has been superb, and the location absolutely stunning.

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

Good to see you are having a good time and enjoying yourselves.

[fishfinder Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishfinder]

So you got across the paddock without dramas - did you go to bremer bay via hoptoun then through fitzgerald river np ??
and make sure you do the shelly bay beach camp in torbay - about 15-20 minutes west of Albany

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

So you got across the paddock without dramas - did you go to bremer bay via hoptoun then through fitzgerald river np ??
and make sure you do the shelly bay beach camp in torbay - about 15-20 minutes west of Albany

We camped at St Marys inlet in the Fitzgerald NP, and then followed the road to Bremmer Bay, which was a bit disappointing, before making our way Albany for a night to catch up on washing and showering. Yesterday we headed to Denmark, and checked out Shelley Beach, which was gorgeous, but have set up camp at Parry Beach for a couple of nights, which its lovely too. We are camped amongst the trees about 50m from the beach.

Unfortunately we missed Hopetoun, but given the time constraints, we won't be able to see everything. I guess we'll just have to come back.

The whole south coast of WA is just stunning.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

The whole south coast of WA is just stunning.

Welcome to part of my backyard. There's a myriad of little inlets and beaches right along the coast, you'd need a good lifetime to get to them all. You missed the big rain at Esperance then the other weekend?

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Welcome to part of my backyard. There's a myriad of little inlets and beaches right along the coast, you'd need a good lifetime to get to them all. You missed the big rain at Esperance then the other weekend?

Its a beautiful part of the world, that's for sure! Yep, missed the worst of the rain. Weather has been a but erratic, but not too wet, thankfully.

We left Parry Beach yesterday, did the Valley of the Giants, and planned of spending the night at Hamelin Bay, but due to the recent storms, a lot of rotting sea weed was about, and the aroma was undesirable in the place, so we ended up bush camping at Chapman Pool near Margaret River, which is lovely, and we will stay a second night there while we do some gourmet touring through the wine district for a couple of says before heading to Perth for a few days to see some good friend of ours.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Glad you are enjoying the state.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Wine and beer tasting today around Margaret River - its a hard life, i tell you!

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

Sounds like you are all having fun. You are not missing to much here weather wise.

[fishfinder Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishfinder]

Bush shack brewery in Yallingup if you have not been there is worth a visit but you probably traveled through by now.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Bush shack brewery in Yallingup if you have not been there is worth a visit but you probably traveled through by now.

We actually drove past, but was a bit early in the morning for a drink... I did sample a few other local breweries though, but admit to being a bit disappointed. They all over-hop their beer. Need a more subtle hopping approach to make nice beer IMHO.

We're currently holed up in Perth for a few days with friends, then to Mandurah for a week in booked timeshare accommodation, before hitting the road to come home again.

[fishfinder Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishfinder]

Whilst in Perth go to the swan valley the best brewery is Iron Bark Brewery in Benara Rd Caversham used to be a great sunday arvo with the family and i would make sure i drank the entire beer menu they offered local wines, wood fired pizza, cheese platters folk band playing, sometimes kids face painting and down the road you have a chocolate factory cheese factory a kids cuddle farm min golf - a great day out next door to the Iron Bark is a big 4 caravan park which could be convenient.