Perth and the south west of WA has had what seems like a never ending winter. Finally, a nice week-end so time to get out into the great outdoors. What better way to do that than in the company of good friends, sharing deliciously fresh, tasty, but simple food at a picnic table overlooking a million dollar view.
Continue readingFor our final full day in Nannup we decided to pay Whimwood Winery a visit. Located in the Blackwood Valley on the Balingup/Nannup Road, we just had time to get there for our booked time of 11.45am after having been to the Four Aces. It’s an early time for lunch, but it was the only time slot available.
This 3.3 km circuit walk took us a few hours to walk, not because it was a difficult walk, but because we were on the lookout for orchids. Being a wildflower walk, this circuit is on gravelly soil a good distance from the river. The best of WAs wildflowers don’t seem to thrive, or even survive in the rich soils near riverbanks. The fact that such delicate beauty can only be found in stony, seemingly barren soil is what makes them so fascinating. This walk did have shade trees though and plenty of them. The day was pleasantly warm so the shade was appreciated.
First we we greeted by the tall, graceful stems of several green and red kangaroo paws.
I’ve always loved the majestic Karri trees in WA’s south west. They’re within the top twenty tallest trees in the world, and one of the tallest in Australia. I’ve probably driven past the sign post to The Four Aces before, but not knowing what the Four Aces were, I’ve never stopped to look. Thanks to the ‘Experience Nannup’ app, I now know what they are, and knowing they’re four, very tall, very well matched karri trees all in a perfect row – well I just had to go and have a look.
We were the only ones in the car park, so had the short walk circuit (less than 1 km) to ourselves.
Continue readingWhat a fabulous walk! Our campsite overlooks the river so this walk track is accessible only a few metres away from our caravan door. During our time in Nannup we’ve walked Tills along the river bank several times each day.
Continue readingNannup is a small town in the south west, not to far from Busselton. It’s an inland town built on the banks of the Blackwood river in a beautiful forest setting. In the 2016 census the population was 936, but that’s possibly grown a bit now. The town, once depended solely on forestry and farming (mainly beef), is now gaining popularity as a tourist destination, with the town developing a laid back artists vibe.
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With the giant ram statue in town, there’s no prizes for guessing what sort of country town Wagin is. You’d be right if you guessed it’s an agricultural town. The township and surrounding farming areas occupies approximately 2000 square kilometres, with a populaton of under 2000. The mainstay of the farming is crops and, you guessed it, sheep.
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The shire of Dumbleyung covers 2540 square kilometres with a population of 671. The town is small with a smattering of shops, most of which were closed on the Tuesday afternoon when we walked the Main Street. The general store was open though so we managed to get the supplies we needed.
Tozer’s bush camp started it’s life as a farm. Toze, the owner, came here as child and, along with his family, farmed the land until early this century. Apparently it was as Toze was preparing to clear more land, and was thwarted by a particularly long wet winter, followed by a spring bringing to life the myriad of wildflowers, that the light bulb moment came. If Toze could sit on his verandah and admire nature’s bounty, would other’s appreciate the opportunity to experience it too. His idea took shape, the necessary groundwork was laid, and by 2012 Tozer’s Bush Camp opened its gates to the public.
Life of Riley - on whatever 