Down Under WA Again 2018 - Margaret River

      This year end family vacation we head Down Under to Perth and the Margaret River region again. Firstly , because we wanted a familiar destination for the lil muchkin, and secondly, because the wifey likes the region. Our base; the Roozen Residence - overlooking the surf of the Indian Ocean. I won't bore you with details. Here's just what we didn't do on our previous trip last year.

Sunset view from our balcony/ deck.
Contrast this with our own rendition of the scene at the end of this entry.

     Okay, we did this the last time but I just have to post this pic. The lil muchkin with the grandparents on the Busselton Jetty train.

     Day 2 we set out to explore Mammoth Cave. This was one of the first caves that was discovered in this region; giving name to the main road that runs through the area - Caves Road. In its heyday, Caves Road was itself a tourist destination, owing to the picturesque scenery of arching foliage on both sides of the road. Go early to have the cave all to yourself. Beat the heat and the flies before the noonday sun shows itself.

Picturesque 2 lane roads with
a speed limit of 90km/hr.

Lil Muchkin's geography lesson -
"What are caves, Daddy?"

The 700m forest track
after exploring the caves.

    What's the use of staying in a bungalow overlooking the glorious ocean if we don't experience the beach itself. Braving the icy wind, we went a merry beach hunting. We finally decided on a sloping spot on Gnarabup beach, a little distance from the White Elephant Cafe.

    After all that sand and sea, the lil muchkin wouldn't take her afternoon nap. So instead of wasting time, we hopped into the SUV and drove 39km to Simmo's Ice Creamery. We tried Miller's last year. I must say, Simmo's beat them hands down, both for the ice-cream and the playground.

If you're sharing, the regular-
sized waffle isn't big enough.

There's an emu and sheep too,
but all the lil muchkin wants
is the playground.

    Margaret River is renown for its wine. How can we leave without checking out some of the better ones here? The wifey even decided to head back to Cullen's winery (we were here last year) for a purchase of four bottles, no less.

Amongst the vines at Vasse Virgin.

Lemon tree outside a venison farm.

Tranquillity with my two loves
at Cheeky Monkey Brewery.

Playground no. 2 at Cheeky Monkey.

     Being the art lovers that we are, we seek to inculcate the same love in our lil muchkin. This time we had to trudge almost the length of Margaret River town to find her her promised water colours.

Lil munchkin painting her Christmas
ornaments from Coles.

     To round up our stay, we decided to create our own little momentos. Which do you prefer?

     To round off our Roozen retreat, we're all decked out in our Snoopy suits. Goodbye Margaret River. On to the next phase of our vacation, Perth city itself.