We woke the next morning refreshed and excited to finally be heading into Perth. We had never been there before so we were all looking forward to it.
After a short drive we stopped at Yanchep for coffee and a tour of the Marina, then onto Perth.
We set up for the next four nights in Gwelup. That afternoon we went out for a quick visit to Kings Park and the beautiful botanical gardens. What a spectacular view of Perth...it was a great start. We also stopped to check out some planes taking off and landing at the viewing platform. It was quite scarey as they landed right in front of you. Kaden loved it.

20 Nov- We packed a lunch and headed for the zoo. This zoo had to live up to some big expectations competing with the likes of Taronga. The set out of the zoo is really easy to navigate and has most of the animals you would expect. We spent the morning checking out the exciting animals, like the lions, tigers and giraffes. We had a great spot on the grass next to a giant playground for lunch, then finished the day of with some reptiles :)
we had a fantastic day out, most of the animals were quite active and it made for an entertaining day.

21 Nov- Today we had lunch with my mums cousin at Walter point. It was at a lovely cafe right on the point. Across the river were some of the biggest homes I have ever seen. It is certainly great to see how the other side live.

22 Nov- Today we took the kids to Scitech, It's a science learning centre for kids and big kids :) similar to Questacon in Canberra. We had such a fun time playing with all of the gadgets. Ella and I took part in a workshop to make a camera, while Luke and Kaden made Lego race cars, and timed them on the tracks. This place is amazing for kids and was a great day out.
That night we had been invited to my former boss Jacinta's house for dinner. We had an amazing meal and talked about our travels and Perth. It was so nice to have a home cooked meal, finished with the best dessert ever! The kids are really missing the dogs so it was great for them to play with their dogs. We left loaded with food and Jacinta's famous Christmas cake :)))

23 Nov- This morning we moved camp about 30ks south of Perth to Oakford. We had found a couple who allow two caravans to stay on their private property for half the price we had been paying. The property was called "Diggers Camp" and it turned out that they were national bush poetry champions. They had a stage set up in their shed and hosted many events there. We set up camp and spent the rest of the day resting.

24 Nov- Today we went to explore Fremantle. We were met by lovely old streets with beautiful buildings. The wharf is the place to be, with rides and stalls in the park and many places to eat. The kids rode the Ferris wheel and tested their trampoline skills. After all that fun for the kids it was time for us to have some fun, at the Little Creatures Brewery. This place has to be seen to be believed. There must have been all of Fremantle there and more. We booked in for the tour. It takes approx 45 minutes and they show you around the building that once housed a crocodile farm :))) The beer making process is not all that exciting, but the beer tasting was delicious :)) We ate lunch on the wharf and for the first time in three months watched it rain......

25 Nov- Today we had decided to venture into the city and see the Western Australian Museum. Like all of the museums we have seen it was a brilliant set up, with the added bonus of Dinosaur skeletons for Kaden. Ella and I designed our own outfits in the Fashion week exhibit and Luke had to drag me away from the Diamond exhibit....after the museum we had a quick look at the Bell Tower which houses the Swan bells. the building is magnificent. we chose not to go up the tower, but we had a good look around the wharf. our final stop for the day was the Synergy park at the Botanical Gardens. Another great spot for families with lots of swings and climbing frames for the kids. It also has a playground that sits on an island you have to access via a bridge. We sat back and let the kids totally wear themselves out :))

26 Nov - Today we headed back north of Perth to Hillary's Wharf. This place has lots of shops, restaurants and for the kids " The Great Escape" which consists of water slides and other fun rides.
We spent the day there watching the kids on the water slides and rides, had a great lunch and even swam in the bay. They have a pontoon that has two slippery dips on it, the kids loved sliding right into the water on top of the Fish. We dragged the kids off the slides at about 4pm and started the drive home.

27Nov- On our last day in Perth mum and dad took the kids into the city by train, and Luke and I went on a tour of Fremantle Prison (Yay kid free day :))The Prison was really interesting, it's amazing to think that the prison was being used up until the early 90s....with no proper sewerage system or computer system...a lot different to the way our prisons are set up today. Our guide was really informative and we even got a tour of death row and the hanging room. 44 people had been executed in this room for their crimes and you could feel the energy of this place. Another interesting thing about the prison is the art work on the walls. some of the paintings are amazing. It is a must do if you visit Fremantle.

28 Nov-The next morning we reluctantly packed up the van and headed south. We have had he most amazing time in Perth, it is hands down a much better city than Sydney and I could definitely live here (except for the sharks)....