Dunsborough to Denmark

My Dad's (actual) birthday! After a cooked breakfast courtesy of Masterchef Bill, we bid the Birthday Boy goodbye as Ross and I continued our journey further south. Leaving Dunsborough behind, we took the Vasse Highway south through Nannup and Pemberton. Then along winding roads through national parks and scorched and blackened forests towards Walpole.  Twelve years ago we visited the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk and going back there was like visiting an old friend.  Happily the trees were untouched. We couldn't go to Denmark without seeing the tingle trees again, and it was every bit as awesome this time to float through the canopy 40m above the ground.

Posing on the Tree Top Walk

Valley of the Giants

From there it wasn't too much further to reach our B+B outside of Denmark.  The Sensational Heights Bed and Breakfast absolutely deserves its name. Its hilltop location gives it unrestricted views over rolling farmland and forest and the drive out there only serves to show off the tree-lined roads and countryside.  Our room was comfortable and a seat by the window with a cup of tea was a mesmerising way to pass the afternoon.

Sensational Heights B+B

A comfortable room

The view from Sensational Heights

Refreshed, we went for an adventurous dusk drive along unsealed roads to our host's recommendation for dinner - the brilliant Castelli Bistro.  The chef was quite the genius as the meals were wonderful.  So good in fact that we returned for dinner the following day.

Yallingup

Overnight showers meant overcast and atmospheric dawn skies when we went for a walk from Yallingup Beach to Smiths Beach.  It was a relatively strenuous scramble over the rocky track and beach sand but so worth it to hear the surf and breathe the fresh salty air.

Sunrise on the coast

Walking to Smiths Beach

And what sand! Beautiful smooth sand and we almost had the beach to ourselves. 

Smiths Beach

After breakfast it was a trip down Caves Road past wineries and forest to Boranup Gallery, Margaret River, the always divine Gabriel Chocolate, and Vasse Virgin for the nicest local produce.

And to bookend the day, a return journey to Smiths Beach to dine at Lamont's.  My Dad turns 79 tomorrow and it was a fittingly low-key but meaningful celebration.

Birthday dinner

A welcome break

After a very busy few weeks leading up to June, a week off was very welcome and what better way to unwind than a trip to the southwest.  Dad's birthday gave us all a good excuse to spend a few days together in Dunsborough, and we started with an excellent meal at Little Fish in Yallingup.

Pre-birthday lunch in the perfect spot

It was a dreamy Saturday afternoon with sunlight streaming in through the large window and reflecting off the lake outside.  Good food and a deliciously warm sunbeam, is this heaven?

The view from Little Fish

Full from lunch we returned to comfort in Dunsborough for a lazy evening at the house.  The neighbourhood kangaroos even popped round for a visit, grazing just outside the kitchen window.

Kitchen kangaroos

Day One down and nought but another full week of holidays to look forward to.  Absolute bliss.

Sunday morning

How long has it been since I've been walking on a Sunday morning... so many months and a slow evaporation of the fitness I used to take for granted.  Anyway, back on the wagon again with a new goal: must be fit enough to walk 12km at the end of May for the HBF Run for a Reason.  So, it was out before 7am this morning with Ross for a walk through Kings Park.  First though, a last glimpse at this grand old house - the last standalone residence on Bellevue Terrace - shortly to be demolished and replaced with six luxury apartments.

Going...going...soon to be gone

Of course walking through the park is made easier by glorious vistas like this:

Melville Water 

War Memorial - decked out for the ANZAC Day Centenary

Poignant to see the red flowers planted around the Flame of Remembrance, in readiness for the ANZAC Day centenary service in a few weeks from now.  Poignant too to see the wonderful memorial to fire fighters which opened last year.  So much captured without the need for a single word.

Firefighters Memorial Kings Park

And just to make this first walk a bit easier - a stop along the way for a hot chocolate.  A glorious Sunday, an early morning walk with my best friend, and a table overlooking the park as the morning rays break through the trees ... is this heaven?

Zamia cafe

Midweek at the beach

What nicer way to break up the week than to detour to Cottesloe Beach after work one afternoon to check out the annual Sculptures by the Sea.

Cottesloe Beach - Sculptures by the Sea

Lots of happy, carefree people enjoying the afternoon sunshine, and taking in the weird and wacky sculptures on the sand. 

Metal spheres...with legs?!

I really liked this one - wild abandon silhouetted against an Indian Ocean sunset

And my favourite piece?  The very whimsical giant pink rabbit... a bit ridiculous to be sure but good fun nonetheless, and very popular.  

What rabbit?