Cape Leeuwin & Margaret River

We spent some time today exploring the Margaret River Valley. We started the morning driving south to visit the Cape Leeuwin Light House. It was built in 1865 and was operated by a team of 3 lightkeepers and their families. It is a very forbidding place (although spectacular views) and I think it would have been hard for the wives and children to live there. The lighthouse is still operating, although it no longer has a lighthouse keeper on the grounds. Along the road, there are beautiful wild pink flowers that appear to be related to our gladiolus.

On the return we stopped at Hamelin Bay to walk the beach and we could spot several stingrays in the water close to shore. We waded out into the Indian Ocean to get a closer look and Dick was able to get some good pictures.

We took the scenic Caves Road to view the old growth forest full of Karri trees. We stopped at two vineyards on the way back to Margaret River, Redgate and Xanadu. Both wineries feature Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz as specialties of the region.

We enjoyed a nice appetizer on our terrace before walking down to the Settlers Tavern for dinner.

Mary

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Our apartment is in Margaret River, a small town noted for the surrounding wine region and surfing.

A short drive south of the town is Cape Leeuwin, the southern-most tip of Western Australia. Antarctica is a short 5,300 km away! The Cape is a windy place, treacherous for ships, and it’s windy today. The Southern Ocean and Indian Oceans meet here. When the weather is calm we’ve heard you can actually see a line where the waters meet. There are two major whale migrations just offshore from the Cape and in nearby Flinders Bay from June to August.

Hamelin Bay is along the Indian Ocean coast on the way back north. The beach is really nice and surprisingly uncrowded for a Sunday afternoon.   For some reason, sting rays frequent the shallow waters and come within a yard or so of shore to feed and are totally unafraid of humans. We were lucky enough to see a few large rays – one came right up to me as I was filming. Very cool!

Further up the coast is Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and the Boranup Karri Forest with stands of old-growth Karri trees along a beautiful park drive.   It’s interesting how diverse the terrain and flora are in the compact area of Western Australia.

This is big-time wine country with countless cellar doors along our short drives.   A good place to wander.

Dick

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