Wine and Wood

Still in WA, but now just past the forestry regions of Walpole and Pemberton and the wine region of Margaret River.

We did the Valley of the Giants tree top walk -a suspension bridge walk through the canopies of the giant Tingel tress near Walpole. The bridge swaying in the breeze at its maximum height of some 40m above the forest floor. Due to the considerable sway only 10 people (or 3 Americans) were allowed per span.

Valley of the Giants tree top walk, Walpole WA

Woman in Red inside Tingel Tree [click to enlarge]

Back in the day, the thing to do was reverse the Kombi into the hollowed out buttress of a giant Tingel trees for that must have photo.

Nearly all of the Cafferys climbed the Gloucester Tree in Pemberton ( I had too look after Luke, you know responsible parenting and all that). The Gloucester Tree, or more precisely the tree house is 60m high and accessible by a ladder embedded in the tree trunk.

Madonna climbing the Gloucester Tree

The Gloucester Tree [click to enlarge] note the climbing ladder

We camped at a picturesque sheep property, and used it as a base to see Margaret River region which stretches from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste.

Madonna kept trying to pet the sheep. The sheep only stared at her and wondered which of their cousins she was wearing on her head.

Cape Leeuwin lighthouse

The very south-west of Australia

Went to see the giant sting rays coming into shore at Hamelin Bay. Despite three visits we only saw one of the giants albeit a metre or so from the beach.

Hamelin Bay, WA

Jewel Cave, Margaret River

Caves galore in Margaret River - well worth exploring despite swearing never to go underground again.

And of course, there is wine in Margaret River. We can recommend Anniebrook winery.

I did enjoy some creative vandalism of a pedestrian roadsign near a very enchanted forest

.

The enchanted forest