You can read Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6.
I now had to leave for my last destination – Perth. The solo part of my travel had firmly come to an end because Perth had my cousin A. I again took a long flight, 5.5 hours, from Gold Coast to Perth. It was in the evening, which meant that it was late night by the time I reached Perth.
Perth
Or rather, Fremantle, because that’s where my cousin resided. It is a port city in Western Australia. It is located in the metropolitan area of Perth. Locals call it Freo! It was the primary destination for convicts back in the 1800s!!
After a short sleep, I was awake and ready for a road trip to Albany, a five hours’ drive. I lowered my alertness. My planning eased now. A & his friend N were in charge for this leg of my trip. If it wasn’t for the scenic driver, I’m sure I would have slept off in the car.
Perth to Albany Drive
The Albany Highway is a straight road. On the way, we saw rural communities & farming country towns. You can visit Williams Wool Shed. You can also explore historical sites in Kojonup, if you’re not short on time.
We were short on time. :(
Opposite the Kojonup Springs is the Kojonup Military Barracks. It is now the town museum. The Kodja Place weaves together Kojonup’s Noongar – Aboriginal & settler cultures. Mount Barker is an area surrounded by the Stirling & the Porongurup ranges.
The Mount Barker lookout has views over the surrounding countryside. If history interests you, have a look at the Old Police Station Museum.
Experiences in Albany
Albany
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region in Western Australia. The National Anzac Center, which commemorates the departure of the first Anzac troops, is located here. There are also several heritage buildings.
The drive down from Perth opened a new world for me. We first checked into our rental cottage which was cozy inside & beautiful outside. Its surroundings were equally gorgeous & serene. We shrugged off the temptation to chill inside the cottage &, instead, let our curiosity & energy triumph.
We first headed to Venice Pizza Bar & Restaurant to have a great Italian meal in the freezing cold. It has been around for long & serves pizzas, seafood, pasta & homemade cakes.
Evening at Albany
We headed to the Albany Wind Farm. 18 massive wind turbines are situated on the Southern Ocean coast. I was humbled by their enormity. I was also awed by the surrounding beauty. I couldn’t even imagine what strong winds they would be withstanding.
The Wind Farm was built at an elevated position. This provided a spectacular view of the Ocean. For tourists, boardwalks, viewing towers, interpretive displays & picnic areas are available on & around the site.
If you’re lucky, you can spot Southern Right & Humpback whales. I wasn’t lucky. You can see them between May & October from the platform & boardwalks. One circular walk from the car park took us across the walkways & trails through this ecologically friendly solution.
We also saw a signboard for the Bibbulmun Track. Managed by the government, it is a long-distance walk trail. You can find maps, guidebooks, equipment hire & courses if one day you decide to undertake this long-distance walk.
The windmills… the tangled hair by the strong winds… the breathtaking view of the coast… goosebumps!
We then moved on to a section of the Torndirrup National Park. This section had impressive rock formations right at the coast. These formations are called The Gap and Natural Bridge. The Gap is a rugged granite channel.
The Gap was carved by the Great Southern Ocean on the coastline. It forms a sheer drop of 25 meters. Natural Bridge is a formation resembling a rock bridge. Both were shaped over millennia! Nature was truly at its best here.
The brown land & the azure water met at The Gap & Natural Bridge in perfect harmony. The amenities include universally accessible lookout structures, paths, a picnic area, signage & a car park.
We clicked many a picture at The Gap & Natural Bridge. Our photos were effortlessly perfect. It was difficult to decide what was prettier – the sky, the land or the ocean. We also saw an artist capturing the scene on his canvas.
A lighthouse in the distance beamed a smile at us. With this, we called it a day & returned to our cottage.
Morning at Albany
Our first of the day was Albany’s Historic Whaling Station. This was the site where the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company operated in the 1950s. first humpback whales & then sperm whales were hunted. ☹
The Historic Whaling Station is recognized as a state – heritage – listed site. It won the 2024 WA Tourist Attraction Gold award. It is an educational experience for all ages. We climbed aboard the Cheynes IV, the only preserved whale chaser ship.
We explored the Cheynes IV which details how the whaling operations used to take place. When I saw the harpoon on the deck, I couldn’t help thinking. How anyone kills whales? They are such beautiful, gentle creatures!
Nonetheless, the pretty scenery shook me out of my pensive mood. We then headed to the Whale World. this contained whale skeletons. It was here that I learned there are two kinds of whales.
Some have teeth. Others have baleen, which is a filter thing.
We then moved to the Australian Wildlife Park Albany next door. It was home to white kangaroos, squirrel gliders & Stimson’s pythons, amongst others! I was lucky to see a mama kangaroo with a joey in her pouch.
We saw bats hanging upside down, fast asleep. We also saw koalas hanging on to their branches but, again, fast asleep! A few of the animals were also allowed to be petted. And that’s how I touched my first koala!
Our last adventure entailed crossing a kangaroo rest area. This was mandatory to reach the exit of the Australian Wildlife Park. These creatures have impressive hind legs. If one had kicked me, I would have flown to India free of cost!
We wrapped up at Albany & made our way to Fremantle. It was night when we reached; I’d a morning flight. I didn’t even realize where this fortnight slipped away. It was the best and most adventurous one of my life.
And, with this, I end my multipart blog series on my solo travel to Australia. This was the trip that set me free. It sounds cliched but I’m serious. I’ve always had a thing for exploration but it was this tour that cemented that wish in me firmly.
My advice to all unmarried, young Indian women – don’t get into marriage without experiencing at least one solo trip. You will love it or hate it. But you will be unable to deny the effect it will have on you!
