living up in the trees: September 2008

When visiting Perth, Western Australia, Kings Park is a must to all visitors.

The park covers one thousand acres and includes natural bushland, grassed parkland, botanical gardens, a tree-top walk, and this time of year a stunning show of Western Australia's wildflowers.

This is as close as Gill got to the tree-top walk!

The photo is very slightly blurred owing to her nerves making the board walk

all of a quiver!

As we stood taking in the magnificence of the wildflowers we were

surrounded with the superb fragrance of Boronia.

There is a wonderful view of the city and the Swan River from Kings Park.

Above are the Everlasting Daisies which always give a stunning show.

Gill and Mike enjoyed walking into town most days.

It's a pleasant bush walk into town which takes about 20 minutes to half and hour depending how fuelled up one is on chocolate coated dates, Cherry Ripes, Freckles, or whatever was in the fridge that took one's fancy!

It has been known for a Cadbury's Flake to magically 'appear' in one's coat pocket!
Amazing!

It's funny how you can live somewhere for years and it's only when you have visitors that you actually get to see the interesting places you've always wanted to see!

One of the places I have always wanted to visit was Araluen.

It must be the best time of year for these gardens. Not only were the tulips in full bloom but we were surrounded by camelias, magnolias, rhododendrons, and blossom.

We took a drive out to a country town called Toodyay (said 'Toojay'). This is a town I have always wanted to have a good look around.

Below is a typical Australian country pub where we had a delicious lunch. Oh, and a very cross beer! That'd be a 4XXXX then?

We did lots of walking around our own property as it is full of wildflowers and orchids this time of year.

Below is Mundaring Weir - considered one of the World's greatest engineering projects and is located 39km from Perth. The Mundaring Weir is the start of a water pipeline that distributes water to agricultural towns in the wheatbelt area, Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. The water is distributed a total of 700 kilometres in all.

C Y O'Connor initiated plans for the Mundaring Weir in 1895 but these were fiercely opposed in Parliament and the approval was not granted until 1898. O'Connor was a victim of vicious campaigns and his plans were subject to vigorous criticism. In March 1902 O'Connor took his own life, partly as a result of the pressures involved with his role in the Mundaring Weir construction. The Mundaring Weir was completed in 1903 and the water scheme changed central Western Australia forever.

We had lunch at the Mundaring Weir Hotel which was built in 1898. Do click on the link as they have a wonderful website.

Mike couldn't get over the fact they have a "Lamb on a Spit" every single Sunday!

The local parrots (above) joined us for lunch, at the table, and are obviously partial to butter!

Another very yummy lunch was enjoyed at Lake Charlotte - our local winery.

Here we had a "Hot Rocks" meal which means your meat or fish is served on a square of volcanic rock which has been heated in the oven. It stays hot enough to keep cooking your meat or fish for 45 minutes and the idea is to cut and cook each piece to your own liking.