On a recent journey to Bali’s tranquil Ubud I didn’t find myself and despite hunting high and low not even Javier Bardem frolicking in the rice paddies either, sorry girls. I did however discover many enticing ways to eat, lay, bend and write, with a few naughty detours along the way.
Elevated over the Avon Valley National Park in the Chittering Valley, the view resembles an exhibition of the Heidelberg School. The scene below could very well have been the inspiration for artists, Frederick McCubbin, Arthur Streeton or Tom …
We make a pit-stop at the Japanese Cemetery, one of the largest Japanese cemeteries …
Representing life and hope, an injured Tiger Quoll is brought to veterinarian Andy (Myles Pollard; A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Drift) after mining mogul Harry (Matt Dyktynski; Black Swan roles include Day One, A Hotel, Evening and Boundary Street) accidentally hits the rare marsupial …
“I would love for my husband to do it as he works so hard & has made so many sacrifices, he deserves it.”
Happy jumping!
Thank you everyone for your entries and keep up the fun times!
Happy travels,
Carmen.
Star-studded nights at the Pinnacles
Cast your mind back to a simpler time when seaside holidays were all about family and friends. Where a splash in the surf, board games and fish ‘n chips at sunset were the makings of cherished memories.
There aren’t many places left in the world where you can enjoy unadulterated holidays among natural wonders and expansive beaches in relative peace. That is until you drive a couple of hours north of Perth along Indian Ocean Drive to the Turquoise Coast. At which point, you’ll wonder why you mightn’t have considered Cervantes as a getaway before, a town which might even test the geography of the most dedicated of Perth-ites.
The Pinnacles Desert is one of the state’s most mysterious natural phenomena’s and intrigues about fifteen kilometres south of Cervantes. While visiting at any time is a special experience, the true magic happens at sunrise or sunset. The star-studded night is a spectacle to behold as the pinnacles morph into shadowy peaks and valleys, especially as kangaroos, emus and lizards bask in the afterglow.
Pinnacles Edge Resort Manager Jennie Nuttall works alongside her husband Sandy who recommends, “Sunset is the best time to visit. Enjoy 180-degree views of the sky as the sun slips away and the moon rises behind you.”
To truly enjoy the Pinnacles in all their glory at sunrise or sunset, staying for at least one night is essential. That’s what the brochures will tell you, but then you’d be missing the point of the Turquoise Coast. Besides, there’s always the danger of hitting a kangaroo when driving at dusk in the outback.
“Many first-timers come for the night and sleep so soundly. There’s no pollution, and they realise it’s such a beautiful town that they then come back and stay longer,” says Sandy and adds, “There’s not too much regulation and you can drive your car along the beach. And the locals love letting their dogs off the leash to run beside their cars.”
Jennie and Sandy didn’t think twice about leaving Mandurah, which had been home for 12-years when Jennie was initially offered a job managing the local caravan park. Jennie then became the Tourism Manager at the Lobster Shack before taking a casual role at the resort, which eventually led to her landing the management role.
With a variety of self-contained suites, studio hotel rooms, the onsite Europa Anchor restaurant and pool, the Pinnacles Edge Resort has every amenity required for families, groups and couples on short or long-term getaways. Located in the heart of town, the complex also houses Cervantes Pinnacles Motel and is in staggering distance of shops, cafes, including the iconic Lobster Shack, country club and golf course and of course, that glorious coastline.
Still a fishing town, one of the top tourist attractions in Cervantes is the Lobster Shack. A tour of the factory provides a unique insight into WA’s lobster industry as do the fishing charters (where you can actually catch fish), sea lion tours and lobster pot pulling. The fresh menu featuring lobster, prawns and abalone feeds a staggering 700 people a day.
Some of Jennie’s favourite things include, “The beautiful beaches, pristine water, kicking back on a boat and spending time with the close-knit community. Living here is just lovely.” She also recommends exploring the lookouts and basins, wildflowers from June to September, Sandy Cape 13km north of Jurien Bay, admiring the snow-white sand dunes and the forest of grass trees, officially named Xanthorrhoea (formerly known as blackboys) in Wangarren Nature Reserve when approaching Cervantes. The ancient thrombolites at Lake Thetis and the extensive cave system in Stockyard Gully National Park have on more than one occasion further delayed the return to reality.
Despite the many natural wonders of the region, it’s the turquoise and sandy white hues that stay with you. Jenny adds, “Sometimes you can go to the beach and can have the entire thing to yourself.”
In complete juxtaposition to its exotic surrounds, the luxurious Pinnacles Edge Resort makes the rugged landscape just that little more hospitable and accessible to any traveller.
Cervantes might well be the ultimate Western Australian beach getaway.
Side bar/separate page
Situated in Nambung National Park, the Pinnacles Desert contains thousands of limestone mounds in varying heights, shapes and widths. As the sand shifts, eerie shadows appear in stark contrast to the variation in soils and luminous sky. It’s yet to be confirmed when the pinnacles emerged from the desert floor, but a trip to the architecturally designed Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre sheds some light with estimates as long ago as 500,000 years.
If you’d like to read more about Western Australia, please click here http://fluffytowel.com/shop/ for a copy of Australia’s Extra.Ordinary. West
We generally associate mangoes with the tropics but about an east of Perth in Gingin, there are about 20 commercial growers handpicking their juicy fruit as I write this. The Mediterranean climate in the part of the world allows the fruit spend 120 days on the tree, which is one month more than in the tropics. The extra time before harvesting allows the sugars to become more developed, making them sweeter to eat, and the warm temperature also means minimal …
As the outback scrub gives away to hills of faded gold, the Southern Wheatbelt region is dotted with cattle languidly grazing in paddocks while lorikeets and galas nibble on roadside picnics of seeds. The quintessential outback town of Wagin is at the crossroads of the Great Southern region; with Albany …
Imagine having to pay for the air you breath? Or worse still, not being able to afford it? Injected with Ben Elton’s signature sharp wit, Gasp! will leave you, dare I say it, gasping for air between laughs at this satirical poke at Perth’s mining boom and political landscape. Co-produced with the Queensland Theatre Company and the Black Swan State Theatre Company, Gasp! showcases some of Brisbane’s and Perth’s most talented actors, including Greg McNeill who I had a chat …
Set during a time where writers and actors were black-listed by Senator Joseph McCarthy for …
Conspiracy theories will always abound about Pope John Paul I’s death. Never accepted into his sudden position of power after the death of Pope John XXIII, speculation festered about how he met his maker, especially among those closest to him during his brief 33 day reign in the Vatican in 1978. The Last Confession examines the unsolved crime, if in fact a crime was committed?
Tell me about your character Konstantin in The Black Swan State Theatre Company’s production of “The Seagull”?
You’re an Egyptian immigrant working as a taxi-driver to put yourself through university. Your passenger is unbelievably …
…
…
…