My cousin needed a house and cat sitter for a month in Fremantle - so I got to visit with my Mum (in Perth) and have many adventures while still teaching my classes via Zoom!
This first set is from South Perth and Fremantle. What were the flights like? Watch here. This video shows a little Perth, South Beach and Willy Wagtails. My Zoom teaching schedule was a little nuts! BUT, so worth it. Here’s the view at sunrise from my Mum’s place, plus more. In this video I took a sunrise walk in Fremantle, followed by a beach walk with my cousin along South Beach and more, South Fremantle.
Are you a fan of flowers and plants? My Mum and I took a walk in King’s Park, Perth. It’s fall here, but lots of flowers are in bloom. South Beach has beautiful grassy areas as well as very natural beaches. Watch a little beach sunset. And my last morning of teaching had a beautiful sunrise. We did a tour on the Fremantle Prison (video here), which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was entirely built by convicts and prisoners. We also visited Bon Scott’s grave - he was a Fremantle lad who was the first singer for AC-DC. We also drove down Canning Highway, which was part of the inspiration for their song Highway to Hell. There was SO much other stuff! I’ll try to organize in different albums.

Everyone loves Aussie wildlife. Here are photos from Caversham Wildlife Park. I brought my Mum here for Mother’s Day.

This next section features our road trip up north. For perspective, the continent of Australia is about the same size as the US. The state of West Australia is about 1/3 of that. The population of West Australia is approximately the same as the city of Chicago. There is SO much nature and natural beauty. You also have to drive long distances! And it is SO worth it.
Our first day was a 5 hour drive to Hutt Lake, a pink lagoon, followed by a one hour drive to Kalbarri, a sweet little town right on the gorgeous Indian Ocean. We had to drive PAST so many beautiful sites we didn’t have time to see. We could have easily tripled the time on our trip and made the drive just one way and had plenty to do and see.
Our second day was a 7 hour drive up to Bullaroo Cattle Station for two nights. The next day our Exmouth Whale Shark Tour was cancelled, so we did a snorkle trip instead. Bullaroo Station is still a working cattle station that they’ve also turned into a really fantastic Station Stay experience - we stayed in the former sheep shearers shed. The showers were in old water towers (and impeccably clean). There was NO light noise up here. The night sky brought tears to my eyes! I wish I could get pictures of it for you.
The next day was a 7 hour drive down to Monkey Mia. On the way we saw wild emu and a quick stop at Shell Beach - which had astonishing white shell beaches and an astonishing large number of flies. I got pics, but we did not stay long! We stated at Sharks Bay - RAC Dolphin Resort. Yes, there were dolphins. And emus!
The following day, another 7 hour drive! And we stayed in Cervantes overnight. We woke up and enjoyed a morning tour swimming with sea lions. Then on the 2 hour drive back to Fremantle we stopped at Lake Thetis to see Stromatolites, and at the Pinnacles, fascinating limestone formations.

More pics, descriptions, and video still to come

Last but not least, Rottnest Island. My parents vacationed here when they were both little. They honeymooned here and spend many anniversaries here. I went here when I was little a few times. My husband asked me to marry him here. It’s safe to say it’s a meaningful place to me. PLUS, this is were quokkas are! Quokkas are a macropod (“large feet” - same family as kangaroo) marsupial that live ONLY in south-west Australia. On the mainland they are shy and you never see them. On Rottnest Island they have no natural predators and they are friendly and curious. There are rules - you’re not allowed to pet them or pick them up. Online they are called the “happiest animal on earth.” Here’s evidence why.
Rottnest also has beautiful landscape. Crystal clear turquoise waters, tons of coral surrounding the island (amazing snorkeling right off the beachI), limestone formations all around, and beautiful trees, unique to the area.