Beautiful vistas

The last day of our short holiday as we head home tomorrow morning, so it was fitting that it was a day filled with amazing vistas. We started in Prevelly, which seems to have recovered nicely from the devastating bush fire of a few years ago. I remember feeling quite heartbroken when we drove through the year after the fire and saw the blackened and burnt out stumps of vegetation and scarred dunes.  In today's brilliant spring sunshine it seemed as if the fire had never happened at all - the only giveaways were the ghostly skeletal remains of the taller trees and shrubs, reaching up from the lush green coastal heath.  

What a transformation that Royalties for Regions has achieved! A multi-million dollar redevelopment of the coastal path no less.  We were stunned to see the beautiful new paving, BBQ shelters, interpretive signage, new change rooms and public art.  At least the surfers are making the most of it!

Part of the snazzy new foreshore at Prevelly

Surfers Point at Prevelly - with the obligatory surfer in the foreground

Along the coastal path - can you see the statue sitting on the rock?

The mouth of the Margaret River - where the river meets the sea

In keeping with the last few mornings of 'best spots in the whole world to have coffee', we drove the short distance to Gnarabup Beach and grabbed a table overlooking the beach at White Elephant Cafe.  Shame service came with a bit of attitude but the view made amends.  

Gnarabup Beach

Still too early to have lunch, we drove through the always impressive stand of trees along Caves Road to the Boranup Gallery.  Seeing as we were only here three months ago, not much had really changed, so it was a slow drive back in the opposite direction towards our lunch destination of Laurance Winery.  

Not a bad spot to have lunch really

If only lunch could be like this every day

The food was impressive but equally nice was having time to eat slowly while overlooking the grounds.  The owner of the winery has quite a quirky art collection, much of which is on display, including the 'chick on a stick' sculpture that rises elegantly out of the lake.

Chick on a stick

The bathrooms are just as eccentric but very tasteful.

Classy bathroom...

An afternoon nap was called for to sleep off our lunch but alas, extension work at the B+B meant hammering and drilling noise made it impossible to snooze. We wandered to the main street for the last time for a bit of a browse before the warm afternoon drove us back to our room.

Dinner was modest and limited to cheese and crackers, finished off with delicious farm-fresh strawberries. Perfect after all of today's grand dining.  And our final evening with the show-stopping possum before our return home to the routines and chores of the everyday.  

Until next time.