Perth Metro Region        

We took the train to Cottesloe to catch up with friends for the evening and enjoyed their excellent company. After staying overnight and chatting again over breakfast, we then headed down to the beach.

This time, not just a stroll or a dip but an outside art gallery awaited.

Cottesloe’s Sculptures by the Sea is an annual event which draws the crowds. We were here mid-week and it was lovely to see several school classes discussing the various art structures with their tour guides and teachers.

Some sculptures were very ‘traditional’ like the bronze statue of a girl holding her little sister’s hand, presumably to go into the water as they were in bathing costumes.

Other sculptures were more ‘modern’, like the alien looking, relaxed character looking out from the groin over the blue water.

Still others appear to make a commentary on our environment use such as the broken wing off a Garuda to the dolphin jumping out of a bread toaster.

All made to make you think though!

Finally, we walked the shared pedestrian/cyclist’s path back to the train station and caught the train home.

Transperth at the moment only charge $2.80 per journey for those who hold their Smart Rider card. Even better if you travel Sundays as it is free all day!

Padbury is a northern, almost coastal, suburb of Perth and we managed to pick up a housesit here to coincide with our return to Western Australia’s capital metro area.

Willow was our primary task to care for but we did ensure pool, lawn and pot plants were kept in good condition. Willow was a delight and quickly became my shadow. Early mornings she would climb aboard me when I lay down for my yoga moves. Cuddles galore!

The train line is not so far away and we managed a few trips into the city centre to meet up with friends.

We also emptied Huberto the Caravan and cleaned his insides thoroughly. He then went for his insurance assessment due to the hail damage we experienced in Port Pirie (click here to read more). Fortunately, he’s been approved but we need to wait til June for the repairs to be completed. Meanwhile, he’ll stay with friends in Woodridge, north of Perth.

This meant that all our belongings in Australia were now in a housesit – until we got keys to a villa at the base of the Perth Hills!

Several trips with a loaded up Hetty the Ford Ranger and a trip to my favourite shop, Bunnings, and we had a livable home. The caravan mattress came too!

More furniture including beds should be sailing it’s way from Scotland to us at time of publication.

With all this organisation happening and caring for Willow and the housesit, we didn’t see much of the Padbury area.

However, I do intend to keep exploring and revisiting some great spots in and around Perth and will keep you updated regularly through my Instagram account.

From our housesit in Rockingham, we explored this coastal city more than ever before.

It’s a city built for cars, as you pretty much need to have a car to get around. Although TransPerth runs buses out to the foreshore and a few shopping centre areas from the train station, where you can jump onboard to Perth CBD or south to Mandurah.

I did that one evening just before Christmas to see the lovely city lights, (see the photos on Instagram) and another day to catch up with friends.

For visitors and locals alike, there are several trails to take in the fabulous views off the coast and around the lakes.

The Foreshore itself is impressive with the colours of the yellow sand and changing shades of blue water as it deepens looking over to Garden Island, a naval base. Plaques are set into the path giving interesting details of past notable residents in the area and purple, electric scooters, available for hire through an app on your phone, dash along the walkway.

Here, families can sit under the shade of the trees and shelters having picnics, BBQs and playing games. Swimmers can step off the beach to wash sand and salt off under the free outdoor showers. Because the water is very shallow, for quite a distance, it’s a safe, calm place for children to frolic.

On the other side of the road are cafes, restaurants, take-a-way shops and various small businesses. We enjoyed a tasty couple of curries at Spices on Ocean. At the south end of the promenade is a pedestrian area leading to the jetty and a few classy restaurants and bars where you could stop to have a meal, cold drink or both and watch the local youths jumping off the jetty and people pulling up their fishing catch. 

Cape Peron lies just to the south and looks out towards Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. It has a range of small bays and beaches to take a dip or start a snorkel or dive from to explore the reefs just offshore. You can climb the steps to the WWII gun lookout and peek out the narrow windows.

A pathway hugs the coast all the way along Warnbro Sound and if driving there are a few small car parks dotted along the route, toilets and cafes.

The geography at Rockingham is ancient dunes formed and trapping sea water. Remnant lakes still exist. We walked around Lake Richmond, an easy 3km trail. There’s wildlife to see here. Thankfully, no snakes slithered past us as we walked but we did admire a squadron of pelicans sailplaning high in the sky and gently splashing onto the water’s surface. We spotted an osprey, heard the black shouldered kites and watched black swans and coots gliding along in groups. The best vista point is up on the viewing platform at the North/Eastern end of the lake, up two sets of stairs.

There is more to do in this southern end of the Perth’s metropolitan corridor and if and when we get to it later, I’ll be sure to let you know. 

Cardup is a semi-rural suburb on the edges of Perth, 30 minutes inland from Rockingham and 40 minutes to the CBD.

This was our home for six weeks. Yes, six! We arranged a housesit through Mindahome Australia. The owners were heading East, needing pet carers for two dogs and twelve chickens. We were looking for a base in the metro area to build up some finances for the summer holiday season and to arrange and pay for a caravan service. A win-win for all involved.

The house was lovely and the grounds were an open 2 acres, mainly grassed. The dogs were delightful. One was a Great Dane who turned out to be a big softie and lived up to the nickname of ‘oversized lap dog.’ We loved taking her for walks around the perimeter of the property. Meanwhile, the other, a Boston Terrier, kept taking shortcuts, perhaps because he was both aged and had short legs.

I picked up work at local schools a few days most weeks and kept some days free to relax, roam the nearby area and care for the property.

Gardening was the ‘hobby’ here to pass the time as I cleared the overgrown vegetable patch ready for the owner’s return to put in fresh plants. Catching up on a couple of drama series released since we left TV land was a bonus. Then there was the opportunity to bake and prepare custards desserts to make use of the dozens of eggs collected each week (see the food blog ‘Eggs Galore!’ for a great Vietnamese crème caramel recipe). A little weight returned as a result!

We knew Rockingham a little as friends live near there and we utilised some businesses in the industrial areas. We revisited the expanded King Road Brewery enjoying their beer garden and brew. One day, we explored Serpentine Falls which are a pretty sight on a hot day and has cultural significance for the traditional land owners. Another day, we checked out the Serpentine Dam and the quaint settlement at Jarrahdale. Both were refreshing stops. We also discovered the nearby township of Byford, a booming suburb with works in progress for the train line extension from Armadale and it became our grocery shopping destination.

If you like walking, there a few pleasant tracks in the wooded areas in this region. One morning, we followed the Cardup Brook Trail that winds along the banks of the stream. Dappled shade, lush brook bed and dry banks to the north side of the path and large, impressive properties to the eastern side. Of course, the Serpentine National Park has trails aplenty too.

Despite enjoying our time in Cardup, six weeks can feel a long time to be stationary and tied to the needs of pets for those of us who are used to journeying. We think 3-4 weeks is enough time to re-coup, re-organise and re-set.

However, we have now moved into another housesit, in Rockingham itself, for the busy festive season to allow the Perth locals enjoy the annual exodus to the South West before we venture down there.

We will definitely be ready to be on the road again by the New Year!

Western Australia has many fabulous National Parks and one of the closest to Perth City is Yanchep National Park only 50km north of the city centre.

Here you can take one of several walks and hikes of varying degrees and explore some caves. Our favourite is the 45-minute walk around Loch McNess. It, and the McNess House Visitor Centre, were developed as a resort area from a bequest following the death of Charles McNess (find out more about this WA businessman and philanthropist at wikipedia) not anything to do with Loch Ness in Scotland!!

We’ve visited this beauty spot over the years on our own and with local and visiting friends and family. It even has a public golf course we used to play on but you have to watch out for the kangaroos chewing grass along the fairways!

There are free gas BBQs and open spaces for picnics but again due to kangaroo presence taking a lined picnic rug is a good idea to avoid sitting on kangaroo poo that lies all around. If you don’t want to face that, the Chocolate Drops café or the Yanchep Inn can provide tasty food and drinks and you can choose indoor or outdoor seating. Listen out for the kookaburras and keep an eye open for flocks of screeching White Corellas.

The water table has dropped significantly since we first started visiting and the Loch’s water has receded, allowing bullrushes to flourish and the frogs to become more vocal. No longer can we hire a wee rowing boat to paddle about on the cool water on a hot summer's day. This visit made us stop to consider how the ever-expanding Perth suburbs are drawing on precious underground water resources.

This Park has excellent camping facilities: hot showers, toilets, water (that needs to be boiled before use) and a basic, clean camp kitchen. It poured rain the first evening we stayed so we were glad to be parked up on a bitumen site though the grassed ones look more attractive in dry weather. A small fee is charged and booking is essential through the ParkStay website.

What a start to the first morning! Our friend took us down to Cottesloe Beach, the end of Granton Street, to dip into the fabulously blue Indian Ocean. The blue was offset by the red and yellow flags of the Cottesloe Surf Life Savers. The sand was white, soft and fine. The water was azure, cool and gentle. The skies were clear, sunny and warming. The swimsuit was old, decaying and falling apart. But the swim was excellent!

Next, was a short hike around Monument Hill Park for 360-degree views to river, hills, city, the ocean and a stunning sunset.

The following day, saw us meandering along the banks of Swan River’s Freshwater Bay which was just the ticket after a long-haul flight and managing a few administration jobs. Words cannot convey the satisfaction of seeing once again a beloved scene – except the multistorey blocks of flats scarring a remembered skyline.