Dongara to Bunbury

A day to get a few kilometres on the van to relocate ourselves south of Perth. Up and away from Dongara not too early for the drive down the Brand Highway. Our journey was about 550km and although the road as usual was almost totally straight,the ever changing scenery and distant views were still fascinating. The sun shining on the red acacias made them look as if they were made of bronze. They are truly exceptional. We have certainly seen a change in the 1400km drive down from the dry tropical desert of the north through the semi arid sub tropical scrub to plentiful trees and fields. As we approached the outskirts of Perth the first of the vineyards of the Swan valley fanned out by us. South of Perth the countryside is more Mediterranean; green and also more undulating, but still with trees bent away from the coastal onshore winds which we have felt driving each day. The temperature has dropped about 14C since Coral Bay and with it the flies seem to have disappeared but it is still pleasantly warm and sunny.
We decided to stop at Bunbury, a sizeable coastal town which seems to vie with Geraldton as to which is the largest city other than Perth in Western Australia. Having now visited both we are not really sure which can win the claim. Neither took long to see the sights of and both attractive in their own ways.
In looking around Bunbury we found a great lookout that did not feature in the guide books; an observation tower on Mariston Hill, a great 360 degree view over the town and coast. Our caravan site is opposite the harbour beach which is renowned for the wild dolphins that come each day, but we are not hopeful that we will see them tomorrow as dolphins have been very elusive in all the other places they are reputed to be seen so far on our trip. May be our luck will change tomorrow.