Junk is golden
Style samples the menu to see what all the fuss is about at the city’s newest Asian fusion venue in the Walton Stores precinct
Western Australia has got to be one of our country’s best-kept holiday secrets.
Why head overseas when you can explore what Australia has to offer first?
Last month I spent two weeks travelling around some of southern WA.
It turns out two weeks is not nearly long enough — I felt as if you could spend that entire time just in Perth alone!
The three days spent in Perth were full with sightseeing, from ringing bells at the Bell Tower to engraving a personal coin at the Perth Mint.
Public transport was excellent, with on-time free buses in the Perth CBD and regular trains.
The taxi’s were even worth seeing, with some London-style cabs trundling along the streets.
One thing that struck me about Perth was the relaxed attitude in traffic and passers-by, unlike most cities I’ve experienced.
Just 30 minutes away is beautiful Fremantle, with cobblestone streets, little boutique shops and old buildings full of history.
The Fremantle Market was very popular, packed with tourists looking at the steampunk jewellery, boutique clothing and knick-knacks, or taking deep breaths of mingled doughnut and coffee bean scents in the food market section.
If you prefer history and museums, the Shipwreck Galleries in Fremantle or the Anzac Centre in Albany will keep you captive for hours, not to mention all the other galleries and museums everywhere from Perth to Esperance and Hyden.
If you are going to see the wildflowers that WA is famous for in spring, keep your eyes peeled as they are everywhere on the mainland.
The fields of white lilies are particularly breath-taking.
Rottnest Island, a 20 minute ferry ride from Fremantle or Perth, has a few wildflowers but I found its main attraction to be the history and the adorable quokkas — marsupials of the kangaroo family found only in WA.
If food and wine are more your travel desire, WA has more than enough to cater.
Most townships have little cafes and eateries to try out — like the most amazing pies at a bakery in Pemberton, French food in historic Albany or lavender ice-cream in Perth.
The Margaret River region is also a foodie’s dream between wineries, chocolate and cheese factories and Yahava Koffeeworks.
After two food and wine filled days, we found ourselves in the more rural and scrubby areas of WA, with the majestic Jewel Cave and Ngilgi Cave.
We watched some brave people climb the Gloucester Tree, and walked along the awe-inspiring treetop walk in the Valley of the Giants.
Topping this gorgeous area of Western Australia off was Hyden’s staggering natural formations Wave Rock and the Hippo’s Yawn.
Finally, we admired more stars than we had ever seen before heading back to Perth via the Tin Horse Highway, which broke up the trip with laughs at quirky metal sculptures of various themed horses, from Ned Kelly to athletes.