Today we landed in Fremantle, our third Western Australia port of call. As we had last spent time in Perth earlier this year we did not venture in to the capital city, but instead decided to stay and enjoy the atmosphere and sights this very scenic port. Established in 1829, the city has many beautiful old buildings. This time we went to the World Heritage listed Fremantle Prison and also spent time in the Shipwreck Galleries where the wreck of the Batavia figure...

Today we made history as we stepped ashore at Busselton off the first cruise ship to ever visit here. We anchored a long way out and had to tender in and, although the day started off wet and grey, the warm welcome we received could not be dampened in any way. The locals went all out, dressed in costume, bands playing, market stalls set up, volunteers handing out maps and information and providing free guided tours, free shuttle buses to the nearby town of Dunsbo...

After two days at sea crossing the Great Australian Bight in five to six metre swells, we arrived in Albany, a charming and picturesque town on the southern most tip of Western Australia's rugged coastline. Settled as a penal outpost in 1826, it became the first European settlement in Western Australia. With its fine natural harbour it became a busy trading port and also developed into the base for a profitable whaling industry. What this wind-swept settlement is...

Great train journeys of the world have always been a priority on my bucket list. I loved my trip on the Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide several years ago. I could barely believe my luck at crossing Russia on the Trans-Siberian a couple of Christmases ago. Now riding the Indian-Pacific from Perth to Sydney, I feel I have conquered the top three. How does one explain the thrill of boarding the train of one's dreams? Many would find the endless miles of flat dry land...

Yesterday, our final full day in Perth, began with a walk, then a battle. I started very early under the blue sky I have come to expect and a lovely breeze that masked any sign of the impending heat to come. I walked along the Swan River sharing the track with a few joggers and cyclists and very little traffic. Later we decided to do a load of washing in the hotel laundry. Someone had a load already underway so I put our washing by the machine and walked around ...