<= Spectacular Canal Rocks

During a recent drive to Yallingup Beach, one of the most famous surfing beaches of south western Australia, I discovered that a cafe I had frequented on numerous earlier visits was gone….bulldozed I guess. And now, two story apartment houses occupied the space where the cafe had resided for as long as I can remember. The owners of the new apartment buildings now enjoyed their coffee and views out over the ocean from their balcony’s. However, Yallingup no longer provided a cafe for a coffee break for thirsty tourists.

As a result of that minor disappointment we drove further south to where I was sure they still provided cafe facilities…Canal Rocks. The drive from Yallingup Beach south to Canal Rocks is several kilometres through timbered, green, rolling, hilly country, interspersed with numerous vineyards. A number of these vineyards are world famous for many of their annual wine vintages. Over the years I have visited most of them and enjoyed wine tastings of famous reds and whites surrounded by beautiful bush settings. In fact, just the previous day we had visited well known Deep Woods Vineyard, enjoyed tastings of several vintages, and had purchased several bottles of a delightful 2005 vintage Chardonay to mature a bit longer at home. The spectacular view from Deep Woods tasting room out over long, green valleys full of vineyards is worth the visit alone (see photo below).

Canal Rocks consists of mammoth grey, granite boulders forming a small peninsula extending out into a blue green ocean. Even though this was a particularly calm and mild day, enormous swells could be seen building into huge green waves eventually crashing with resounding booms into the huge granite walls of Canal Rocks bordering the sea.

Since my last visit to Canal Rocks, the Council, or similar had constructed a timber walkway from one series of rocky outcrops, across the canal, joining onto an isolated group of rocky terrain. How they achieved this construction feat defies belief. However they had done so and we had to test the timber walkway out. We walked to the middle of the structure where it crossed the open water of the canal. Wow…what scary stuff to watch the waves building and building to the front of us, then crashing onto the rocky outcrops, eventually surging a couple of meters below our feet under the walkway.

After taking plenty of photos we drove to the cafe at the small holiday resort of Canal Rocks. Decided not to have coffee there after all and instead continued back inland to find a restaurant to have dinner instead.

If you are considering a visit to Western Australia’s south west, make sure you allow for several days touring the Dunsborough, Bunker Bay, Yallingup, Canal Rocks, Margaret River regions. The towns, large and small, all have something unique to offer and the countryside is absolutely spectacular.

Happy travelling.

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<= Sunrise; Beach at Bunker Bay, Dunsborough Region, Western Australia

Have you visited Bunker Bay located just several kilometres west of Dunsborough? If you have not spent a few days taking in the breath taking beauty of this exquisite region of South Western Australia you have truly missed something.

I have made many trips to the Dunsborough, Margaret River region during the past twenty five years or so. Despite the ever increasing migration of population of retirees from the bustling, crowded Perth and Mandurah regions, to the popular Margaret River area, those southern locations remain relatively peaceful and enchanting.

A few weeks back we drove the 300 kilometres (approx) from our home on the northern beaches of Perth to spend a few days at Quay West Resort situated in the hills and right on the beaches of Geographe Bay. On the drive south we decided to spend a day and night in the coastal country town of Busselton. Now Busselton is a town really on the move. The incredible growth in Canal building, enormous two story homes in brand new suburbs that did not exist 5 years ago is mind blowing!

Saturday night we stayed at the comfy but basic, Amaroo Motel in Busselton. Nothing flash, but very clean and with all the basic facilities for an overnight stay. Word of advice; always request a room at the back, away from busy Bussel Highway. We did and had a pleasant night’s sleep. Saturday evening we visited the Gringos Mexican restaurant not far from the Amaroo, where we have enjoyed Mexican meals for more years than I care to remember. The service and meal were excellent…as usual

Sunday morning we had booked a table at the Goose restaurant, situated right next to the famous Busselton Jetty, for breakfast. The day was warm and still, and the view from the Goose exquisite, as was the breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausage, ample toast and coffee. Highly recommend the Goose!

We arrived at Quay West Resort south of Dunsborough mid afternoon Sunday. In fact we drove right past the entry to the resort, as the sign to the resort is so unobtrusive? The resort is superb. We enjoyed a Villa backing on to a lake, only a short walk to the gorgeous, white beach sands of Geographe Bay. The colour of the ocean is the most spectacular I have seen. We enjoyed each evening watching sunset from the beach, sipping excellent Deep Woods Chardonay, grown and processed only a short drive from Bunker Bay.

All in all an excellent mini holiday to the Bunker Bay and Dunsborough region. My only negative for the trip was that our favourite cafe at Yallingup had been demolished and replaced by two story apartments. Hopefully a new cafe will be built as there is now nowhere in Yallingup (well we could not find a coffee shop) to stop for a coffee break and a light lunch. How the world can change very quickly.

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