I'd spent too long getting here, which meant I only had 8 days to do the whole of Western australia - over half the country! Perth is the most isolated city in the world, so everything I did meant long coach trips on hot dusty roads!

I started off spending two whole days trying to get my kit together ready for PNG. I still did not manage to do this but I did get most of it and could probably detail the exact loaction of every surplus/camping/trekking shop in Perth and the hardware stores on the outskirts!

My first proper day trip was to Rottnest Island - named by the dutch after they found lots of large rat type creatures living there - rats nest island! they were actually small marsupials called quokkas - found only on this island. I'd hired a bike and snorkel and just spent the day cycling round the island, looking for Quokkas and norkelling in the many beautiful bays around the coast. I also did a tour up the lighthouse to get 360 degree views of the island. There aren't many people living there - apparently the one wind turbine provides 40% of the island's power! On the way back on the ferry the wash was huge and I got soaked so had to get hte train back to Perth soaked to the skin!

Sunday was another sorting out day. I visited Fremantle but only briefly, then headed back for more shopping then I met April who I met in Cairns for a drink to catch up and went home to watch the tennis final.

Monday I went to the Pinnacles - large rock formations in a desert 250km north of Perth. We also swam in the Indian ocean and went sand boarding and 4WD on the sand dunes! very fun but had to sit the entire journey back coated in sand after wiping out!

The next day I went to Wave rock, on the way stopping at the Dog Cemetry and the Rabbit proof fence that stretches from the north to the south of WA, stopping the rabbits from the East entering the farmland in the west. Wave rock was pretty cool - but boiling hot!

My last full day in Perth I went to the Margaret river and did more wine tasting and cheese tasting - although I preferred the yoghurt tasting!

this blog is definitely a draft form!!!!