Oz Travel-Bytes #3

Perfect Weather for the South West

Here in Perth the weather has been as predictably perfect as ever, reinforcing why it makes a great entry point to Australia and an essential part of any visit to Australia. Now that we have gone into the Autumn months the weather is cooling down to a very comfortable 20-25 degrees during the day and a chilly but comfortable 10-15 Degrees at night. While this is a welcome relief from the heat of the summer it does mean an end to the season south of Perth, from a swimming perspective at least. A lot of the camping tours are now accommodated for the winter and have placed a walking rather than swimming emphasis on the tours. This is a great time to get out there and see the South, as the walks are far more enjoyable in the cooler temperatures. We have got a great tour for 4 Days with a company called Itchy Feet Tours that is $360.00 for 4 days with everything included. (Meals, accommodation etc ).

Cyclone Rosita Delays the Kimberley Season

Making the headlines this month has been the fury and destruction associated with Cyclone Rosita. If you read last months newsletter you would be aware that this is the second Cyclone to hit WA in the last 2 months. This one had a short but destructive life, with Broome in the north of WA being torn apart. The town is only just now getting the electricity back on and repairing the damage. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of Cable beach, the cyclone washing away the sandy beauty of the area and leaving a rocky replacement. This cyclone pushed onwards and had a dramatic effect on the town of Alice Springs where more water has fallen than it has in the last 30 years, disturbing some traveller's itineraries. I guess this is just another example of how unpredictable Australian weather can be and how important it is to give a lot of planning to your trip, and seek as much local information as possible. To do that just contact us . This episode with the weather has created a late start to the Kimberley season with the 4WD action across the Gibb River road closed due to the water associated with the cyclone. Unfortunately with this closure some of the great areas in the Kimberly such as Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek are also closed. If you are coming out in the next month or so it is very important to contact us and receive the latest info on conditions. This also means that the tours will be very busy in June, July and August so if you can give us an idea of your departure date we can advise you of the availability.

Whale Sharks and Ningaloo Reef

You cannot talk about the North at this time of year without mentioning the amazing Whale Sharks of the Ningaloo Reef. These animals are the largest fish in the world and are now in abundance thanks to the coral spawning and providing loads of plankton to feed on. Only 10 people at a time are allowed to swim with these creatures and it can be very hard to get a place on the boat. The season finishes around the end of June so please, once again, book early. Click here to search for tours that include Ningaloo Reef.

Dive Courses

While on the aquatic subject. More and more people are doing their dive courses here in Perth due in main to the cost. At $245.00 for a 5-Day Open Water dive course it is one of the cheapest ways to become a qualified diver. The advanced course is the same price and includes 2 dives on Rottnest Island, which is fantastic. I think the other advantage is that if you are beginning your trip here in Perth it is a great idea to get qualified before you hit the other great dive destinations in Australia. Not only is it cheaper but then you can dive to explore the Barrier Reef etc rather than dive to learn. The courses are very expensive on the east coast as the reef is further away and you must pay for accommodation and meals on the boat. You can do all levels of diving courses, right through to Dive Master if you desire, so let me know if you are interested and we'll give you more info. 

Day Tours from Perth

There are plenty of 1 day tours out of Perth if you are only going to be here for a couple of days and would like to see a few things. I went out to Rottnest island a couple of weeks ago and we had a good snorkel on the reef, a great BBQ lunch and saw dolphins and seals and a had a lot of fun. Our trips to the Pinnacles, north of Perth are as popular as ever with the highlight being the Sand-boarding on our massive dunes and the 4WD run up the beach. The Dolphin Tour out of Rockingham is now one of the more famous trips out of Perth. If you have never been in the water with 20 or so dolphins then this is an experience you will cherish for only $130.00. If that doesn't do it for ya you can go skydiving from 12000 feet for only $270.00.

Drive the Wheels Off Our Database!

After copious amount of caffeine, sleepless nights and the odd dose of Grants (for his sanity), Johno's finally finished our database driven site. This feature will help you find the tour that includes the attractions/activities you want and that fits in with your schedule. Take it for a spin!

Well I hope you all enjoyed this little update but don't forget to explore our ever-increasing web site and check out all there is to do in Western Australia and the rest of the country. For those of you in the UK perhaps you can call the Queen for some advise on what to do. We had the pleasure of her company this month as part of her journey to see why so many Brits come out here and never return. Rumour has it that she is planning come out here permanently but is struggling to get a Visa, as she can't find any work that she is qualified for. Perhaps Sydney eh! There are loads of Queens there.

Thanks folks and have we will speak to you soon.
Travel well…

Pete (the scribe), Kevin, Paul and Scotty