A Travel and Tourism Guide to Western Australia

<! Main section> <BODY BGCOLOR="aqua" LINK="#0000FF" ALINK="#00FF00" VLINK="FF0000"> <table><tr><td width=200> <A HREF="http://www.rsac.org/"> <IMG width=195 height=115 BORDER=0 SRC= "images/rsac.gif" ALT="We Rated With RSACi"></a></td> <td width=80> <A HREF="http://www.safesurf.com/"> <IMG width=78 height=74 BORDER=0 SRC= "images/safewave.gif" ALT="SafeSurf Rated All Ages"></a></td> </tr></table> <CENTER><IMG width=566 height=264 ALT="The World - Down Under Projection" SRC="home8.gif"></CENTER> <P> <CENTER><IMG width=402 height=313 alt="Sandgropers Map of Australia" SRC="mapaust3.gif" ALIGN=BOTTOM> </CENTER> <P> <H3>Last Updated Saturday, October 05, 1996 3:00:23 PM</H3> <HR WIDTH=50%><P> Welcome to my Home Page, which is mostly dedicated to showing off the beauty of my home state, <A HREF="travel1.html"> Western Australia</A>, with it's thousands of miles of pristine beaches, majestic forests, spectacular coastal cliffs and unique flora and fauna.<p> If you are seeing this your web browser is "Frames Challenged".<P> <a href="http://www.netscape.com/comprod/mirror/index.html"><img width=88 height=31 alt="Netscape Now" src="images/now20_button.gif" align="center"></a><br> <P> <table> <tr> <td> <b>This <b>page</b> has been accessed <IMG width=60 height=22 alt="Counter" SRC="/cgi-bin/nph-count?link=/jaguar/index.html&width=4"> times since 10 January 1997.<p> </b></font> <p> </td> </tr> </table> <p> For now, all THIS page has are some links to information <A HREF="aboutme1.html">About Me</A> and about <A HREF="travel1.html">Interesting Places around Western Australia</A>, plus some links that helped get it written. <P> <center>This is a Clickable Map<BR><IMG width=250 height=216 alt="Sandgropers Map of Australia" SRC="images/mapaust4.gif" USEMAP="#mapaustmap"> <MAP NAME="mapaustmap"></center> <AREA SHAPE="POLY" COORDS="6,88 , 100,88 , 100,130 , 15,152" HREF="travel1.html" target="detail_frame"> <AREA SHAPE="POLY" COORDS="4,76 , 89,18 , 100,26 , 100,88 , 6,88" HREF="http://www.pi.se/~orbit/wa.html" target="_top"> <AREA SHAPE="POLY" COORDS="100,26 , 105,6 , 147,11 , 157,38 , 157,94 , 100,94" HREF="http://www.pi.se/~orbit/nt.html" target="_top"> <AREA SHAPE="POLY" COORDS="100,94 , 172,94 , 172,167 , 100,130" HREF="http://www.pi.se/~orbit/sa.html" target="_top"> <AREA SHAPE="POLY" COORDS="172,143 , 225,163 , 203,171 , 183,171 , 172,169" HREF="http://www.pi.se/~orbit/vic.html" target="_top"> <AREA SHAPE="POLY" COORDS="172,143 , 172,113 , 220,113 , 249,106 , 225,163" HREF="http://www.pi.se/~orbit/nsw.html" target="_top"> <AREA SHAPE="POLY" COORDS="157,94 , 157,40 , 179,2 , 249,106 , 220,113 , 172,113 , 172,94" HREF="http://www.pi.se/~orbit/qu.html" target="_top"> <AREA SHAPE="POLY" COORDS="194,182 , 215,182 , 213,200 , 205,201 , 193,188" HREF="http://www.pi.se/~orbit/tas.html" target="_top"> </MAP> <P> My wife and I enjoy touring Australia and seeing new as well as familiar sites. In the early years of our travels we often slept under the stars or in the back of our car, before upgrading to a tent when the children came along. We've played at being tourists whenever we had the chance, and in 37 years of married life together we've had lots of chances. <Table> <tr> <td valign=top width=100><A HREF="images/morris.html" TARGET="picture_frame"><IMG SRC="images/morristh.jpg" alt="Our Morris Major" width=100 height=69></A> </td> <TD valign=top width=*%>Our Morris Major near the Stirling Ranges in the <A HREF="southwes.html" TARGET="detail_frame">South-West</A>, January 1970 </td></tr> </table> <Table> <tr> <td valign=top width=100><A HREF="images/tent.html" TARGET="picture_frame"><IMG SRC="images/tentth.jpg" alt="Our tent near Hyden" width=90 height=51></A> </td> <TD valign=top width=*%>Our tent near <A HREF="southeas.html" TARGET="detail_frame">Hyden</A> WA January 1980 </td></tr> </table> In October 1988 we bought our first caravan, a 14 ft 4 berth Jaguar Pop Top, and this brought a new dimension to our travels. <Table> <tr> <td valign=top width=100><A HREF="images/jaguar.html" TARGET="picture_frame" ><IMG SRC="images/jaguarth.jpg" alt="Our Jaguar caravan" width=90 height=54></A> </td> <TD valign=top width=*%>The Jaguar at <A HREF="southwes.html#karrivalley" TARGET="detail_frame">Karri Valley Resort</A> near <A HREF="southwes.html#pemberton"TARGET="detail_frame">Pemberton</A> June 1989 - ensuite facilities to right - Very Highly Recommended </td></tr> </table> Our first trip away with the Jaguar was the day after we bought it, when we traveled to <A HREF="southwes.html#albany" TARGET="detail_frame">Albany </A> for the October (Queen's Birthday in WA) long weekend. <A HREF="southwes.html#albany" TARGET="detail_frame">Albany</A> is situated 252 miles (409 KM) South-East of <A HREF="perth.html" TARGET="detail_frame">Perth</A> on the shore of the Southern Ocean. Other trips were to <A HREF="perth.html#guilderton" TARGET="detail_frame">Guilderton</A> (repeatedly), <A HREF="southwes.html#pemberton" TARGET="detail_frame">Pemberton</A>, <A HREF="perth.html#mandurah" TARGET="detail_frame">Mandurah</A>, <a href="midwest.html#greenough" target="detail_frame">Greenough</a> (near Geraldton), Bunbury, <A HREF="southwes.html#busselton" TARGET="detail_frame">Busselton </A> and the longest trip to <a href="midwest.html#sharkbay" target="detail_frame">Shark Bay</a> and <a href="midwest.html#kalbarri" target="detail_frame">Kalbarri</a>.<P> The Jaguar served us well for two years, but when the children lost interest in going away with us, we decided to change to a caravan better suited to just the two of us. This led to an 18 ft Franklin Arrow full height van, with an island double bed and heaps of storage, full size stove with oven and a 200 litre refrigerator. <Table> <tr> <td valign=top width=100><A HREF="images/franklin.html" TARGET="picture_frame"><IMG SRC="images/franklth.jpg" alt="Our Franklin caravan" width=100 height=59></A> </td> <TD valign=top width=*%>The Franklin at Bushlands Caravan Park <A HREF="southeas.html#esperance"TARGET="detail_frame">Esperance</A> February 1992 - Ensuite facilities out of sight to right - Very Highly Recommended </td></tr> </table> Except for our main holiday each year, most of our trips away were influenced by available vacancies. Our desire for access to a suitable body of water for canoeing and/or fishing also had a limiting effect on our choices. We regularly return to <A HREF="perth.html#guilderton" TARGET="detail_frame">Guilderton</A>, at the mouth of the Moore River and just 72 miles(115 KM) from home, and <A HREF="perth.html#ravenswood" TARGET="detail_frame">Ravenswood</a>, on the banks of the Murray River and only 46 miles (74 KM) from home. These close locations allow us to travel to the park after work on a Friday and be completely set up before dark, leaving the entire weekend free to enjoy.<BR> <Table> <tr> <td valign=top width=100><A HREF="images/surfcat.html" TARGET="picture_frame"><IMG ALIGN="BOTTOM" SRC="images/surfcath.jpg" alt="Our surf cat" width=90 height=61></A> </td> <TD valign=top width=*%>Keith, Vanessa and Shane returning through the mouth of the Moore River at <A HREF="perth.html#guilderton" TARGET="detail_frame">Guilderton</A>, January 1989 </td></tr></table><table> <tr> <td valign=top width=100><A HREF="images/breamrav.html" TARGET="picture_frame"><IMG SRC="images/breamrth.jpg" alt="Black Bream" width=90 height=82></A> </td> <TD valign=top width=*%>Me with a nice size Black Bream, <A HREF="perth.html#ravenswood" TARGET="detail_frame">Ravenswood</a> January 1995 </td></tr></table><table> <tr> <td valign=top width=100><A HREF="images/canoe.html" TARGET="picture_frame"><IMG SRC="images/canoeth.jpg" alt="In the canoe" width=90 height=59></A> </td> <TD valign=top width=*%><STRIKE>Four</STRIKE> Four of my favourite things - <B>my wife</B> and I <B>fishing</B> from our <B>canoe</B> on the <B>Moore River near <A HREF="perth.html#guilderton" TARGET="detail_frame">Guilderton</A>, </B> October 1995</B>. </td></tr> </table> <P> <CENTER> <A HREF="#top"><IMG SRC="images/back.gif" alt="Back" width=113 height=29></A> </CENTER> Major holidays with the Franklin included <A HREF="southeas.html#esperance" TARGET="detail_frame">Esperance</A> / <A HREF="southeas.html#hopetoun" TARGET="detail_frame">Hopetoun</A> / <A HREF="southeas.html#bremerbay" TARGET="detail_frame">Bremer Bay</A> (in 1 holiday), <A HREF="southwes.html#augusta" TARGET="detail_frame">Augusta</A>; and Bunbury.<BR> <Table> <tr> <td valign=top width=160><A HREF="images/pinklake.html" TARGET="picture_frame"><IMG SRC="images/pinklath.jpg" alt="In the canoe" width=120 height=34></A></td> <TD valign=top width=*%>Pink Lake near Esperance</td></tr></table> <table><tr> <td valign=top width=100><A HREF="images/frenchma.html" TARGET="picture_frame"><IMG SRC="images/frenchth.jpg" alt="Frenchmans Peak" width=90 height=37></A></td> <TD valign=top width=*%>Frenchmans Peak East of Esperance February 1992 </td></tr> <tr><td valign=top width=100><A HREF="images/kangaroo.html" TARGET="picture_frame"><IMG SRC="images/kangarth.jpg" alt="Kangaroos around picnic table" width=90 height=59></A></td> <TD valign=top width=*%>Visitors to the picnic table East of Esperance </td></tr> </table> <P> <CENTER> <A HREF="#top"><IMG SRC="images/back.gif" alt="Back" width=113 height=29></A> </CENTER> <BR> The trip <A HREF="southeas.html#esperance" TARGET="detail_frame">Esperance</A>, <A HREF="southeas.html#hopetoun" TARGET="detail_frame">Hopetoun</A> and <A HREF="southeas.html#bremerbay" TARGET="detail_frame">Bremer Bay</A> was notable in that for the first and only time my brother Michael and his wife Lorraine accompanied us with their caravan and 4-wheel-drive, giving us access to many areas we would have missed without the off-road capability. This firmed our resolve to get a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, but it was still several years before the finances were available to make the change. <Table> <tr> <td valign=top width=100><A HREF="images/hilux.html" TARGET="picture_frame"><IMG SRC="images/hiluxth.jpg" alt="Toyota Hilux" width=90 height=56></A></td> <TD valign=top width=*%>Michael's Toyota Hilux dual cab 2.8 litre diesel seen here near Bremer Bay February 1992</td></tr> </table> We got a lot of enjoyment out of the Franklin over a period of five years, going away for at least six weekend trips each year as well as a three to four week main holiday each year. The Franklin was also put to good use by our daughter and her friends, and later her husband, at times when we weren't using it (I had to tow it to the park of course, as her car was too small - the things Dads do for their Kids :-). <P> In September 95 we took the first step towards getting a 4-wheel-drive, when we traded the Franklin in on a 14 ft Windsor pop-top van. Our "Shakedown cruise" was another trip to <A HREF="perth.html#guilderton" TARGET="detail_frame">Guilderton</A> for the October (Queen's Birthday in WA) long weekend. Our main holiday in January/February 96 was to Bridgetown and <A HREF="southwes.html#augusta" TARGET="detail_frame">Augusta</A>, where a 4-wheel-drive would have been really useful. <P> A week after returning from <A HREF="southwes.html#augusta" TARGET="detail_frame">Augusta</A> we traded our aging Ford Falcon (272,000 KM on the clock) for a Holden Jackaroo 4-wheel-drive, well suited to towing the Windsor, although far less power than the old Falcon. Two weeks later it was put to the test towing the van to Tatham's Caravan Park at South Yunderup, a few miles past <A HREF="perth.html#ravenswood" TARGET="detail_frame">Ravenswood</a> and on the opposite side of the Murray River, for the Labour Day long weekend. After devoting a day to canoeing and fishing the Murray River and the Serpentine River, we spent the next day circumnavigating Lake Navarino (Waroona Dam) and putting the Jackaroo to the test in off-road situations (it passed with flying colours, and 2 hours of polishing removed all the scratches in the paintwork). <P> Easter 96 saw the first long trip for the Jackaroo, when we went to Green Head, 180 miles (288 KM) North of Perth. We got in some serious off-road driving on this trip, with my wife doing most of the driving and enjoying every minute of it. A highlight of the trip was Stockyard Gully Caves. (3 hours of polishing removed all the scratches in the paintwork). <P> <UL> <LI><A HREF="intro1.html" TARGET="detail_frame">My Real Front Page</A> <LI><A HREF="aboutme1.html">About Me</A> <LI><A HREF="travel1.html">Interesting Places around Western Australia</A> <LI><A HREF="ads/index.html" target="_blank">Western Australian Accomodation and Services Directory</A> <LI><A HREF="http://www.iinet.com.au/iinet/">iiNet's Home Page</A> </UL> <P><center><a href="http://www.bestofperth.com.au"><img src="http://www.bestofperth.com.au/linkto/link2.gif" width="204" height="72" border="0"><br> <font face="Arial" size="-2">Click here to search the Best of Perth</font></a></center><p> </BODY>