Good food, some friends and good fun ………….Margaret River

After leaving the beauty of the Shannon National Park, the benchmark was set for the next few weeks. We’d heard so much about Margaret River and were not disappointed. Our accommodation was to be on a working sheep station that on the side catered for caravans and campers. The drive was long, through some beautiful Karri forest, amazingly green pastures, and well known vineyards. As we drove down the long driveway into the farm, we were met by hundreds of sheep, rolling green hills and friendly faces from the family who owned it.

We parked the caravan in a location facing north, with a great view and of course all 2,000 sheep surrounding us. Within minutes the kids had met a few other children and were soon off bike riding. It was truly a beautiful location. As we set up in the usual way, a friendly and somewhat confident goat called Tex came to make our acquaintance. Little did we know that he was going to annoy us for the rest of our visit and eat through our break safe system on the caravan.

It was going to be a busy time in Margaret River. There was so much to do, taste and drink. Where were we to start. “Cow town”, otherwise known as Cowaramup, was a small town north of Margaret River that had a unique and quirky main street that the kids enjoyed seeing. Well actually, it was probably more the lolly shop there that had great free tastings and demonstrations on how to make honeycomb that they really enjoyed.

A visit to the amazing maze was next on the agenda and although incredibly expensive it was still a lot of fun. Luckily for us Josh was with us and we were actually able to finish the maze and get out. Unlike previous visits to mazes where we have had to use the emergency exit. Navigation, not being one of Trace’s strong points.

The coastline along the Margaret River region is renowned for great fishing and surfing. Both of which we were all keen to do in good time. Firstly though a scenic drive south took us to Cape Leuwin Lighthouse to spot some whales, view the meeting of the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean and a quick lunch stop at a well found lookout. Josh also gave us a quick look at his crown jewels on a somewhat unusual run through the car park. (sorry no piccies)

We left the retirement capital of the South West region and drove to one of many spectacular underground cave systems found on the West Coast-the Jewel Caves. The largest cave in Western Australia with 4 chambers and the longest straw stalactites found in the world, it was truly a magical wonderland. The kids let their imaginations run wild finding all kinds of amazing calcium structures, from fairies to bats to forest vines. It was nature at its best.

Davo had told us about a Birds of Prey display that was supposed to be brilliant, so off we went to the visitor centre to find out more. We drove out to the bird rehabilitation centre where we were able to get up close to many different types of raptors, some of which were injured and never to be released. As we made our way to the bird show Trace could hear in the trees far away someone calling. Mum, Dad ….where are you? After panicking slightly we realised we had left Jem somewhere on the path looking at birds and quickly ran to find him. Luckily it was a pretty small place and all was ok. Not too bad in 4 months to only have lost him once!

Entrance to the centre included a bird show and handling which was really very informative and a thrill too. A surprise to both of us that the largest of our Australian Raptors the Wedgetail Eagle, wasn’t even protected in some states and that farmers were able to shoot them quite freely. Shocking really! Rubes was slightly apprehensive as usual to hold the Bramini Kite, but if Jem could do it so could she!

On a beautiful day and only four months of nagging to go horse riding, Trace finally took them. Oscar was keen to show his skills as a professional rider, having ridden once before when he was 5 years old, Rubes excited for her very first time riding and Trace, well, she was comfy back in the saddle after many earlier childhood years riding. A one hour ride quickly turned into one and half hours as Rubes fell in love with riding. Over green rolling hills, through magnificent gum tree forests and through small creek beds we rode, like something out of Man from Snowy River. Jem and Josh enjoying some boy time in the local pool and a milkshake in town.

It was getting tiring drinking local wines and sampling local produce so a couple of days just lazing around and exploring the rolling hills of the sheep station was in order. Each afternoon around 4 o’clock the kids collected eggs from the chickens. A highlight of the day and one which we had to make sure we were back for. Another exciting farm chore was testing the ewes to see if they were pregnant. Every day they would be mustered in and their teats felt. Rubes and Oscar had the job of helping sort those that were and weren’t pregnant. If only it was that easy!

Saturdays in Margaret River is market day and a great opportunity to get some local produce. All of the kids were keen to try just about everything and some things more times than once. Oscar and Jem were told a few times that they had eaten enough and to move away. Slightly embarrassing but great that they want to try stuff. From cheeses, breads, dips, pastries, sausages and smoothies, they loved it all. Our shopping basket was incredibly full by the end of our visit.

We met another lovely family there who had 2 kids whom Ruby and Jem befriended. Ruby and Charlotte became good friends and enjoyed playing with Barbies and riding their bikes and Jem and Jake enjoyed playing star wars and watching movies together. Luckily for us, their dad was an auto mechanic and his skills came in use when the goat so kindly nibbled through our wires on the caravan.

The Margaret River area is home to fields and fields of sheep, many of which were about to lamb. We were lucky enough to watch a shearing and feed some baby lambs at a local shearing shed. All hands on deck as Ruby and Oscar helped the shearer sweep, clean and herd the sheep in for shearing. Jem just happy to bottle feed the lambs.

One week quickly turned into two weeks, a few more visits to the wineries, an obligatory tasting at the local cheese and chocolate factories and a drive north to see the massive surf in Yallingup and Dunsborough. Luckily or unluckily for us we really need to get to Perth so that we could fly out for a quick visit to Melbourne to see our new cousin and nephew Ari. 

We were on our way to Perth to stay with friends that we had met in Orleans Bay. We were slightly apprehensive about staying there for such a long time but they insisted which was very generous. The kids were very excited to stay in a house for a while. If only they knew what was too come!