A Regal Visit (West Coast Edition)

Touching down in Margaret River, we were lucky enough to reunite with some familiar faces. Welcomed with open arms, a bottle of wine in hand, and a generous feast courtesy of our wonderful hosts, it was the perfect introduction to Western Australia, and exactly the tone we hoped to set for the journey ahead.

Being in a region internationally celebrated for its wine, it would have been almost criminal not to dive straight in. A day of winery and brewery hopping set the tone beautifully, rounded off with nightcaps at Morries (pro tip: order the Money Shot), and yet another feast fit for royalty. We rolled back to our Airbnb feeling like we’d done Margaret River proud.

Lead by our brilliant local guide (or as we know her, Louise) we were treated to the very best the region has to offer. From Witchcliffe to Redgate Beach, Boranup Forest to Hamelin Bay, Cape Leeuwin to Surfers Point, she made sure we didn’t miss a thing. And while the landscape was a little more red-dirt than we’d imagined, the West Australian coastline more than delivered with dazzling turquoise water, powdery white sand, and views that hardly look real.

We wrapped up our time with Louise & her beautiful family in Busselton, enjoying a relaxed lunch before strolling along the iconic jetty, stretching out into the calm blue. Thanks to our gracious hosts, we rolled out of Margeret River with full bellies and smiles on our faces, sad to be saying ‘see you later’, but excited to hit the road north and catch up with more ex-Jersey folk.

Arriving in Baldivis, we caught up with another Beaulieu survivor - and long-time friend of Mum’s - Stella. Once again, we were greeted in the best possible way: with a classic Sunday roast. The evening was spent swapping stories, laughing about old times, and revisiting Mum and Stella’s impressive school rap sheet.

The next day, there was no rest for the wicked as we were whisked off to Fremantle to begin our tourist duties.

Arriving in Fremantle, we clambered aboard the local Ferris wheel for a panoramic introduction to the port city. From there, we made our way to Fremantle Prison - a convict-built, UNESCO World Heritage site known for its brutal history, notorious inmates, and tales of escapees. Our eerie tour of the grounds, however, was somewhat undermined by the soundcheck of Basement Jaxx, who were performing within the prison walls that evening (a slightly surreal clash of vibes, to say the least).

Naturally, after all that, it only made sense to refuel with a late-lunch at a local seaside restaurant, before heading home to watch Wolf Creek - a true-story-inspired horror about stranded tourists in the Australian Outback falling prey to a murderous bushman. Just the thing to watch before embarking on a road trip…

Despite the slightly questionable beginning, our fabulous hosts (who I can confirm are lovely people, not psychopaths) ensured day two had a far lighter tone. It began with coffee and a stroll along Rockingham’s foreshore - where Mum and I later returned to watch the sun sink into the ocean, a view I hadn’t seen in over four months - and continued with a picnic lunch at Serpentine National Park, where our hosts had managed to coordinate an enthusiastic welcome from the locals  - props where props are due, Stella and Sianna.

To round off our time in WA, and Mum’s trip to Australia as a whole, we spent three nights at the luxurious Crown Towers. We ate like kings, tested our luck at the casino, and lounged poolside reflecting on the past month’s adventures. It was the perfect ending - and even better that our final day landed on Mother’s Day (I’m still convinced Mum had something to do with that).

Now to roll home, on a semi-perminent alcohol and food hiatous (or at least a pathetic attempt), before setting off on the next part of the adventure...