It seems rather strange that not so long ago we were sweltering in the heat and yet after only a relatively short distance further south we are probably experiencing similar, or even colder, weather to Auckland. We expected this of course and it is not a problem – just a significant change after a small amount of time and distance and on a par as to how it was when we started in Queensland July 2009 but it was bloody cold overnight at the Noble Falls stop… The trip up and down the significant hills and into Perth from the east was fairly uneventful other than taking a wrong turn and going the long way to the caravan park.
The park itself is quite tidy and a little pricey which seems consistent with our overall impressions of Perth. It was a very busy shopping and sightseeing visit and we just loved the city. The large areas of parkland and the meandering of the Swan River against the backdrop of the CBD create such a pretty picture. From the Bell Tower in the Ferry Terminal area to the CBD itself there is such a tasteful combination of the old and the new that it all just flows and it is extremely well maintained and clean.
For lunch we picnicked in Kings Park and this too is excellent in terms of its layout, views over the city, interesting walkways, tracks and facilities. We even found a cannon similar to the one Sam is building (just a bit bigger). The weather was just perfect although it is supposed to get a bit grumpy later in the week – something NZ might already be experiencing if the low we saw on TV hovering over Auckland is as it appears. The bulk of the city is of course urban sprawl very similar in many ways to Auckland. Hilly, lots of trees, lots of traffic and an arrow for every direction on the traffic lights.
We took the coastal route out to Freemantle stopping at Cottesloe. Lovely beaches with very clear water and even a few people swimming. Some hugely expensive property with all the sidewalk cafes and the like that go with a great location and a plentiful supply of people and money. Freemantle itself was just so different to Perth itself with all the clamour of the port and marina and the town itself consisting of narrow streets crammed with old buildings and heaps of tourists in some areas. Other parts were almost deserted and it had the feel of a movie set except the buildings were real. The markets were a bit disappointing with mainly just touristy stuff on sale but given that is the majority of the custom it was to be expected. From Perth we are once again heading south and will be sticking mainly to the coast from Mandurah.
