Jaunted - Western Australia

No Sharks (Today) At Middleton Beach

amandak — 2008-11-07T09:05:08-05:00

We’ve mentioned Middleton Beach before when a shark-attack victim chuckled about poking the shark’s eye to get away. Checking it out in person recently, we could definitely see the attraction for a shark with the gray, stormy weather that sometimes haunts the beach’s home, Albany. Not to mention the tasty-looking boys with boards.

But there’s more than just a beach-without-a-shark-net to Middleton Beach: There’s also a boardwalk that takes you from the sand up around the cliff face, with possible whale-sightings at the right season, and eventually down into Albany’s main street. The wooden boardwalk was constructed by local Aboriginal people and it’s got a few interesting historical side notes.

And once you walk up further from the beach, you’ll also get a good view down on any shark attacks. Much more exciting than just having a swim.

Related Stories:
· Albany Visitor Centre [Official Site]
· Killer Beaches 2008: Australia’s Latest Shark Attack [Jaunted]
· Western Australia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

No Wooly Mammoths, But This Caves Still Big

amandak — 2008-11-06T12:00:08-05:00

An urban myth was ruined during our climb down into the Mammoth Cave near Margaret River: No wooly mammoth bones were ever found there. This cave just got its name because it’s really, really big.

But there’s nothing disappointing about the experience of Mammoth Cave. Although it’s one of half a dozen in the area, it’s the only one you can explore at your own pace without a nagging guide explaining for the hundredth time how stalactites are formed.

All those crazy cave formations you learned about in school are on view, plus an underground lake and a huge climb out the other side. And while you don’t need ropes or a helmet lamp, claustrophobics probably shouldn’t apply.

And with all the tourists listening to their self-guided audio tours, the cave is quiet. And eerie. Just like a cave should be.

Related Stories:
· Mammoth Cave [Official Site]
· Western Australia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

A Long, Long Walk On The Pier

amandak — 2008-11-06T09:00:08-05:00

From the beach, the Busselton Jetty looks like a long-ish wooden pier that’d be nice to take a stroll on. Get started and it suddenly seems like an endless walkway that you wish you’d just taken a picture of from the beach.

Truth be told, this pier off the summery beach town of Busselton is currently 1,841 meters (more than 6,000 feet) long; that makes it the longest pier in the southern hemisphere. It’s also got an underwater observatory at its far end but the A$22.50 ($16) entry fee seems too steep for what you get.

The Busselton Jetty’s been threatened--and partly destroyed--by cyclone and fire in recent decades, but now that it’s become a hot tourist attraction, the locals are taking great care of it. We recommend getting equipped with an ice cream cone from the beachside shop before attempting this walk.

Related Stories:
· Busselton Jetty [Official Site]
· Western Australia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Albanys Natural Bridge Is Not To Be Crossed

amandak — 2008-11-05T09:30:07-05:00

We’re starting to get the feeling that the tourist authorities in southwest Australia are trying to kill us. Climbing the Gloucester Tree looked perilous enough but head further south to Albany and you might get swept off the rocks by a giant wave.

On a coastal peninsula a half-hour out of the town of Albany, there are mighty cliffs and incredible ocean views to be had, and our favorite is the Natural Bridge. It sure looks tempting to try to cross or at least get further out onto the cliffs for a better photo angle, and there’s nothing to stop you.

But there are a few warning signs, and then there’s the local knowledge: Tourists get swept off here regularly by suddenly large waves, either while attempting to get a good view or trying to catch a fish!

Our advice: Go for this photo angle yourselves (there’s a protective fence to help you out) and send your friend out further for the extreme angles.

Related Stories:
· The Gap and Natural Bridge [Official Site]
· Western Australia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

The Ancient Empire Of Tingle Trees Is Smiling At You

amandak — 2008-11-04T09:35:07-05:00

We’ve checked on the precarious, swaying Tree Top Walk before, driving slightly east from the southwest town of Walpole. But once your wobbly sea legs disappear, you can also take a more grounded approach to this national park by following the Ancient Empire Boardwalk.

This wooden walkway takes you through the so-called Valley of the Giants forest at ground level, and you start to feel pretty insignificant compared to these tingle trees, which are not only tall but massive--there are half-hollowed tree trunks big enough to park a car in.

This region is second only to the Californian Redwoods in the tall tree stakes, but we call it the winner for the faces-seen-in-trees stakes--like the grumpy fellow you can see in this tree trunk. The bargain price of A$8 ($5) gets you in to both the Tree Top Walk and the Boardwalk.

Related Stories:
· Tree Top Walk [Official Site]
· Walking on Top of Trees [Jaunted]
· Western Australia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Landing On The Moon At The Pinnacles

amandak — 2008-11-04T09:00:07-05:00

The weird desert they call The Pinnacles doesn't technically get described as being in southwest Australia, but if you look on a map it sure seems like it should. Part of the Nambung National Park, The Pinnacles are a huge collection of limestone pillars sticking out of a desert of yellow sand--and visiting, you wouldn't be crazy to feel like you'd landed on the moon.

Although experts still disagree on how these limestone columns--some of which tower over the average person--were formed, you can make up your own mind with the newly-opened Visitors' Centre on site. It also houses a few stuffed animals so you know what kind of critters you should be looking out for while you’re prancing around the desert.

Aim to stay for sunset to get the best pictures. You have to pay A$10 ($7) per car to get into the national park but after than you can walk as far through the desert as you want, or you can cheat and drive around a bumpy limestone path. We definitely recommend walking.

Related Stories:
· Nambung National Park (Pinnacles) [Official Site]
· Western Australia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Climbing the Gloucester Tree With No Disclaimer

amandak — 2008-11-03T09:00:06-05:00

Our resident expert on all things Down Under, Amanda Kendle, will be sharing the best of South-West Australia this week.

The Gloucester Tree is one of those places where you’d have to sign oodles of disclaimer forms if it were anywhere other than in the remote southwest of Australia. It’s a 201-foot karri tree that has the world’s highest fire-lookout platform and anyone can just wander over and climb up the less-than-safe-looking pegs to the top.

Located just outside the town of Pemberton, you have to pay A$10 ($7) per car to get into the Gloucester National Park, but after that nobody pays you any mind. The climb is unsupervised--except the day we were there, when a large Indian family spent two hours at the bottom applauding anyone who made it back down the tree alive.

And while it looks a bit risky, there’s no record of bad injuries or accidents for Gloucester Tree climbers. It probably helps that the climb is daunting enough to make 80 percent of climbers turn around not long after they start. That statistic sure says something.

Related Stories:
· Gloucester National Park [Official Site]
· Western Australia Travel coverage [Jaunted]