Day 73. Today we headed further south to Perth, our biggest city since Darwin. All along the coast we saw massive white sandhills, distant blue water and golden wattle wildflowers covering the sandhills. A huge expanse of grass trees (xantheria) really impressed us and we stopped several times for photos. We detoured into small seaside village of Lancelin for a break and then onto the northern Perth suburbs, arriving around lunchtime. We are staying for five nig...

Day 72. Today we drove south through beautiful green and yellow rolling wheat and canola country and then west towards the coast. We have enjoyed our brief sojourn into the wheatbelt region behind the coast of Geraldton, especially the wildflowers experience. Morning tea at the bakery in the small grain town of Minganew and then through more beautiful wildflower country to the tiny coastal fishing village of Leeman for picnic lunch in the seaside park. Next reso...

Day 71. Today we are chasing more wildflowers. Enjoyable drive 100km from Geraldton east to small country town of Mullewa in the northern wheatbelt region. The community CP is clean, green and tidy on the edge of town. We headed out on the nearby 2.8km wildflower walk and what a delight! Amazing colours in the carpets of wildflowers as far as the eye could see. After lunch at our van we headed out to Pinda to chase the rare wreath flower and we were not disappoi...

Day 70. Sunday breakfast so we cooked up some scrambled eggs and toast. During the night another long bulk carrier train going to the port woke us, sounded like it was about to run over our van! Today we are driving up the nearby beautiful Chapman Valley for a day trip. But first shopping at the Sunday markets at the old Geraldton Railway Station. The Chapman Valley is so green with rolling hills and farms, wide expanses of yellow canola, a lavender farm and eve...

Day 69. Big sleep in today, our van park is quiet, leafy and spacious. Only heard one bulk carrier train shunting to the port overnight. Today we are exploring the pretty town of Geraldton. Starting with a walk and coffee in the attractive city centre strip and a haircut for Paul. Strolled along the very scenic foreshore to Town Beach and Batavia Marina to the WA Museum to see interesting relics from the Dutch trader 'Batavia' wrecked on the offshore Abrolhos Is...