Fremantle Discovery 2020

Following the bush fires around Christmas time, most of the National Parks in our area have been closed, so I haven't been able to go on any interesting bush walks or travels. Suffering a bit from cabin fever we decided to visit Perth and specifically Fremantle.

Sunday 8 March 2020

On a bit of a damp morning, a friend picked us up to drive us to Taree Railway Station. The train was delayed by about 20 minutes, but we got settled down for the several hours into Sydney. It was nice to see the countryside recovering so well from the drought. We picked up a taxi to the Travelodge and the driver told us he had had only three fares over the nine hours he had been working. The Corona virus has a lot to answer for. We had dinner at the bistro in the hotel and then an early night.

Taree, NSW - XPT arrives at the station.

Sydney, NSW - Travelodge Hotel, Airport.

Monday 9 March 2020

Up early to get the shuttlebus to the airport - in the rain. We only just managed to get some breakfast before our flight was called, and then we had to sit onboard while they finished loading the baggage. I was quite surprised to find an Airbus A330 on this flight, but it was full. Nice smooth flight and only some cloud over the Great Australian Bight.

Esperence, WA - crossed The Bight and back over land.

Hertz upgraded us to a larger car, not that we really needed it, but the Skoda Superb was rather nice, with lots of features. After settling into our studio suite in Fremantle we took a walk along the shore to the north and later we drove to Woolies to get some food and provisions. We tried to stay awake to adjust to the three hour time difference.

Fremantle, WA - our loft studio.

Tuesday 10 March 2020

After a leisurely cooked breakfast we drove into Freo to the visitor centre to get some maps and information. Good service with a smile. As Di had forgotten to bring a hat we went on the search for one. Afterwards we drove up to the war memorial.

Fremantle, WA - War memorial.

Fremantle, WA - family honouring.

Then we walked down to old Fremantle Jail and took a tour around it. Well worth the money as the guide was very knowledgeable and a good presenter. Lots of great stories about the interesting characters. They have the death mask of John Boyle O'Reilly, one of the organisers of the Catilpa rescue of fenians held prisioner in the jail. That's a great story in itself.

Fremantle, WA - Convict jail entrance.

Fremantle, WA - convicts, on arrival, served 9 months solitary confinement.

Fremantle, WA - the jail was a warm, welcoming place?

Fremantle, WA - "Bad boys" solitary cells. (23 hours per day darkness)

Fremantle, WA - convict shoes.

Fremantle, WA - this cell was lined and strengthened with hundreds of nails to stop a notorious escaper. (look up the story).

We ended up heading back to our apartment for lunch and somehow we didn't go back out, except for a walk along the shoreline to the south in the late afternoon and then up to Aldi to get some stuff we had forgotten.

Wednesday 11 March 2020

Took a look at the maritime museum that housed Australia II and the microNova that was used to analyse performance.

Fremantle, WA - Australia II, winner of the Americias Cup in 1983.

Fremantle, WA - Australia II's winged keel, designed by Ben Lexcen and much feared by the American cup defenders. It was kept under raps throughout the competition and was painted blue and white to hide the shape while in the water.

Right: The Data General microNOVA computer used by the team.

Later we walked through some of Fremantle's streets to the "Round House", that was the original prison for the settlement.

Fremantle, WA - entering the Round House (the original prison).

Fremantle, WA - Cells inside the Round House.

Then we strolled around to the shipwreck museum to see the Batavia. This was beautifully displayed. The story of the wreck of the Batavia is pretty horrific, but well worth reading.

Fremantle, WA - Shipwrecks Museum Entrance.

Shipwrecks Museum, Fremantle, WA - stern and aft port hull of "The Batavia" that foundered of the WA coast.

Shipwrecks Museum, Fremantle, WA - the inside of the hull of "The Batavia" shows how strongly built she was.

Thursday 12 March 2020

Took the 9.30am ferry from Fremantle to Rottnest Island and hired bikes.

Rottnest Island, WA - the high speed ferry has changed somewhat since my first visit 30 years ago.

Rottnest Island, WA - hiring a bike is the best way of getting around.

Rottnest Island, WA - part of the old settlement.

We cycled round to quite a few interesting places.

Rottnest Island, WA - didn't take long to meet up the the Quokkas.

Rottnest Island, WA - view from the gun enplacement

Rottnest Island, WA - it was a big gun!

Rottnest Island, WA - view from Henrietta Rocks.

Rottnest Island, WA - Henrietta Rocks, not good for some...

It was a hot, dry day and Di ended up with sunstroke so we headed back to the settlement, where we had lunch at the hotel. and walked around the shops before taking the ferry back to Freo.

Friday 13 March 2020

Drove up to John Forrest NP (about 25km to the east of Perth), stopping at the Eagle's View car park. We walked along the old railway line (now a cycle and walk way) to the tunnel. Walked through the tunnel before returning. Back at the car park we called into the John Forrest Tavern, which is close by, and had a beer and roast beef roll for lunch. Met a Belfast family at the hotel and we had a good chat to them. Relaxed in the afternoon.

John Forrest NP, WA - old railway bridge where we join the track.

John Forrest NP, WA - old railway is now a great cycle and walking track

John Forrest NP, WA - looks like the waterfalls would be good when there is water going down, not at the end of summer.

John Forrest NP, WA - old railway tunnel (in good condition)

John Forrest NP, WA - on the way back we took a nice quiet track.

Saturday 14 March 2020

We were expecting rain today, but we took a morning walk along the shore and along past the sailing club to the breakwater, stopping off for a coffee at the waterfront cafe. We headed back home, but by a eleven o'clock it looked like we might miss the rain so drove to King's Park and walked around the Botanical Gardens. Nice walk. It just started to rain as we got back to the car.

Perth, WA - Shrine of Rememberence.

Perth, WA - Botanical Gardens had a great walk

Perth, WA - still some flowers out, but Spring is best.

Perth, WA - the gardens walk had a great bridge and walkway.

Perth, WA - the Old Swan Brewery is now apartments.

Perth, WA - nice waterfall.

Perth, WA - flowering gums in white, yellow and red.

Sunday 15 March 2020

Decided that today should be a lay day as the weather wasn't that good, so had breakfast at the beach cafe. Late in the afternoon we walked along the beach path to the south.

Fremantle, WA - sunset.

Monday 16 March 2020

We took the Captain Cook Cruise up the Swan River to Perth from Fremantle on a rivercat. There were three cruise ships in port (The World, Queen Mary 2 and Casa Delizosa). The cruise up the river was good. Well worth doing. We took a walk around the city including a short visit to the mint and got lunch at a waterfront cafe. Took a bigger boat back.

Fremantle, WA - about to cruise on the rivercat up the Swan River.

Fremantle, WA - Three cruise liners in port urgently unloading.

Perth, WA - the city comes into view.

Perth, WA - really nice cruise up the Swan River.

Perth, WA - the Perth Mint.

Tuesday 17 March 2020

A bit grey and overcast this morning as we had breakfast at the cafe on the beach before we drove north along the coast past Collesloe Beach and as far north as Two Rocks, stopping off at Hilary's. There is so much new development in this area. We drove back via the new freeway.

Wednesday 18 March 2020

Up at 3am this morning to get the car packed and head to the airport. No traffic around so the drive was a bit quicker than planned. Dropped the car off at Hertz and got our bags checked in for the flight. The airport was very quiet, with only probably 50 passengers on the A330. It was a pleasant flight.

In Sydney we got the train to Central, where we had a two hour wait to get our train to Taree, where we arrived there at 8pm and got picked up by a friend who drove us home.

We were very pleased to get home, not because we didn't enjoy the trip, but because of the Corona virus we could see things getting closed down soon and were a bit scared that we might get stuck in Perth. It might be a while before we can go travelling again, but we'll have to wait and see.

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