TRAVEL WESTERN AUSTRALIA by FACTS4YOU.NET

By Ross

In February this year we enjoyed a fabulous week’s holiday at the Canal Rocks Beach Front Apartments, situated at fantastic Smith’s Beach on the gorgeous, rugged and colourful coast of South Western Australia.

Our two bedroom apartment – top right- Smith’s Beach is just a two minute walk away

We drove south from Perth to Smith’s Beach via Mandurah, Bunbury and Busselton, a total of approximately 320 kilometres. The drive south from Perth city is all on freeway until around 60 kilometres north of Bunbury. Even then the highway to Bunbury is a separated four lane highway. The remainder of the drive south to Canal Rocks is all on excellent bitumen road through reasonably flat country until arriving at Dunsborough just south of Busselton. Dunsborough and surrounding country consist of pleasant rolling hills that flow south into the wine and big timber country.

The drive from Perth City to Canal Rocks can easily be achieved in half a day.Or for visitors new to the region, a comfortable full day travel, if they wish to deviate off the main highways to visit places such as Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton and Dunsborough on the way.

We departed around 9 am from our home some 40 kilometres north of Perth City and arrived at Smith’s Beach around 2pm after purchasing some grocery supplies at the Cole’s Supermarket in Dunsborough. Dunsborough is only some 17 kilometres north of Smith’s beach.

We had not previously stayed at Smith’s Beach although we had visited there a number of times. The available accommodation at Smith’s Beach consists of a very upmarket huddle of expensive looking apartments called Smith’s Beach apartments, a  basic park home setup around a kilometre back from the beach, and Canal Rock’s Beach Front Apartments directly opposite Smith’s Beach.

My choice would always be the Canal Rock’s Beach Front Apartments because that is precisely what they are…..beachfront!  Our two bedroom apartment was on the top level (only two levels) and consisted of a large living room, two comfy bedrooms, large bathroom with a huge spa bath, a large balcony with exquisite ocean and bushland views, a large kitchen with stove, microwave oven, large refridgerator, and all dining and cooking utensils…excellent. And of course a TV set and DVD player!

 Keep in mind that in the event you have trouble climbing steps you would be wise to opt for a ground floor apartment as the only way up is via a stair case!

All apartments offered ocean views to some extent.  All top level apartments provided excellent ocean views. While these apartments are eightish style and are not as stunning in appearance as the neighboring Smith’s Beach Apartments they have a number of major plus’s:

• Rental costs are at least 50% less than the quote we obtained for the Smith’s Beach Apartments
• They all  offer ocean views to some extent.   The Smith’s Beach Apartments are in a hollow. I would think ocean views would only be available from the higher placed and much more expensive apartments. Most ground floor apartments look into sand hills or other apartments.
• Only a short two minute walk to glorious Smith’s Beach from all apartments

Looking into the kitchen from the living room in our Canal Rock’s Beachfront Apartment

Magpie on our balcony – fantastic views over Indian ocean

Canal Rock’s Boardwalk  – Dont miss the stunning views from this fantastic boardwalk

Stunning rock formations at Canal Rocks – This one looks like ET’s head

On our second evening we drove the 17 kilometres from Smith’s Beach into Dunsborough for dinner. Our host at the Apartments had recommended a recently opened Mexican Restuarant. That recommendation was well worth our visit. The Mexican feast and  surroundings were excellent.

Dunsborough offers a myriad of low to medium cost restuarants from Italian through to Mexican. Whatever your preference Dunsborough has it in bundles…a truly delightful ocean side town…or perhaps village is the better word.

The next morning we enjoyed bacon and eggs on our balcony accompanied by a friendly “wild” kangaroo and her Joey. What a nature feast.

Kangaroo and her Joey foraging for breakfast just below our balcony ….fantastic!

After breakfast we put on our bathers and enjoyed a swim in the stunning aqua blue waters of Smith’s beach. We had the beach almost to ourselves as this region is somewhat isolated from any large population regions. During school holidays it can be very busy. Visit when the children are busy at school and you can be assured of a largely people free holiday.

The author enjoying Smith’s Beach – South Western Australia – February 2011

 If you intend visiting Western Australia make sure you include Smith’s Beach and Canal rock’s in your itinerary…you will be stunned at the magical scenery.

C    The copyright owner is R H St Quintin. No part of this article nor any photo may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the prior written permission of the copyright owner

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