Perth and Southern WA

Well this trip ticked quite a few items off my “bucket list” …. beautiful WA did not disappoint.

My family and I recently traveled to WA for a week of exploring and had the most amazing time. So much to do an see, we could have easily stayed a month.

We flew with Jetstar Sydney to Perth direct, approximately a six hour flight. It was a very comfortable flight. Jetstar offer a limited service so meals and drinks can be purchased on-board if required. Jetstar no longer offer on-board entertainment consoles, so be sure to pack something to keep the kids busy!

A hire car is a MUST when in WA! Local transport is great when staying local to the city but as WA is so vast you need to get out and explore! Perth airport offer a range of car hire options, we pre-booked an Avis car as part of our package which was ready on arrival for us. The airport is not very big and is very easy to navigate around. The airport is approx. 15 minutes from Perth city.

We chose to stay at The Quest Apartments South Perth, an apartment style hotel with full facilities such as a kitchen, washer/dryer, separate bedrooms, air conditioned and parking.  The location was fantastic … walking distance to Perth Zoo, the ferry terminal to the city and easy access to the main highways when day tripping. I would rate this property around a 3.5 star, great for families and it was very comfortable.

Kings Park and Perth City…. TICK!

Kings Park …. Its not just “a park” ……it’s huge, a whole 400 hectares!

There are walking tracks, bike tracks, large open grass areas, discovery play areas and a beautiful ANZAC monument all with breathtaking views over the Swan River and the city of Perth.

Its free to visit! There is a tourist information centre and café located within the park and they were very helpful providing maps and general information on the area.

Perth City was a nice surprise, I wasn’t sure what to expect here.  It is a very neat and compact city centre with beautiful old architecture and stunning gardens. Spotted around the city were old churches and cathedrals, the old Fire House and an original Cuckoo clock in the main street that chimed on the hour with a display of jousting knights!

Perth has two streets which are partially closed to traffic, Hay and Murray Street, this is where you will find hundreds of shops (including high end fashion) and eateries. Not to be missed is a visit to the famous Miss Mauds Swedish Bakery…. yum! The pastries are the size of dinner plates!

Perth Zoo… TICK!

What a beautiful and well presented zoo, so clean and easy to get around. The zoo has themed area’s relating to the animals such Asian Rainforest, Aussie Bushwalk and African Savannah to name a few!

We loved that you could get so up close to the animals and time had been taken to show the animals in their natural dwellings. Most of the enclosures showed the underground burrows and nests which was a great insight when the nocturnal animals were hiding away during the daylight or nesting.

Orangutan climbing school is an experience in its self we sat for over an hour watching their cheeky behaviour.

Entry Costs were $29 per adult and $14 per child… I thought this was very reasonable as we spent the best part of a day there. My six year old loved it and still talks about it.

Margaret River…. TICK!

Around a three hour drive south of Perth was beautiful Margaret River. Margaret River town itself is a quaint village with Cafes, restaurants, shops and parks etc but the region of Margaret River itself has loads on offer from wineries, breweries, chocolate shops, caves, beaches and the list goes on !

Wineries, Wineries and Wineries… they are everywhere and it actually got confusing as to which ones we should visit.  We literally just picked a road and went from there. On average each road would have between 5 – 20 wineries located on it so your possibilities are endless … wine tasting was loads of fun though and the average bottle was around the $20 mark.

We did however stumble across the Margaret River Chocolate Co in our travels. Wow! This place was huge and yes we became professional chocolate taste testers! They have everything here, from chocolate covered snakes, chocolate ice cream, choc covered liquorice and a lovely onsite restaurant with heaps of choices! The kids loved watching the chocolate being made. It is pricey around $15 for a block of chocolate but it is sooo worth it… divine!

Time for some physical activity to burn of that wine and chocolate ! The Margaret River Caves are spectacular and the experience was like no other. There are around 90 caves in this area however there are only around five that are accessible to the public.

We purchased a two Cave pass (Around $100.00) which allowed us to visit two out of the five caves, we chose Lake Cave and Mammoth Cave. Now if you’re not a steps type of person this is not for you, hundreds and hundreds of steps!

Lake Cave, literally took my breath away! You descend down into this cave through Kurri forests, inside is an amazing limestone cave with a permanent lake inside. The lake acts like a mirror and reflects all of the beautiful formations and colours inside the cave. This Cave tour is guided.

Mammoth Cave, one of the largest known caves in the Margaret River area. This Cave is a self guided tour with a MP3 player. You are free to explore the many chambers and cathedrals within.  The size of this cave was mind blowing.

Busselton Jetty…. TICK! 

Beautiful Busselton with that stunning beaches and pier which stretches 1.8 km out to sea! I’ve seen it in so many photos but it’s just as amazing in real life.

There is a small train which will take you out the end of the pier where the underwater observatory is located. The train and observatory ticket was around $70 for two adults and a child.

Busselton itself is only small and has a lovely cafes, pubs and restaurants to suit everyone.

Fremantle Harbour…. TICK!

A beautiful harbour city located approx. 20 kms form Perth City.

This city has everything to offer …. with its Cappuccino Strip filled with outdoor cafes and restaurants, Harbour front dining with some of the best seafood restaurants in Australia, Breweries and Fremantle markets. The streets are heritage style with beautiful old buildings including the famous Esplanade Hotel.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Little Creatures Brewery, right on the harbour. Afterwards we enjoyed the views of the waterfront from the Ferris Wheel, a must see.

The Old Fremantle gaol is close by and offer informative tours of this World Heritage building, the largest of its kind built in WA. Tours include The old watch house, night tours and the labyrinth of underground tunnels.

Watching the sunset over the Ocean…..  TICK!

Sunsets in the west… SPECTACULAR!

Beautiful Cottesloe Beach with its grassy esplanade is a perfect location to enjoy and take some amazing photos. We took well over 100 photos, really hard not to… Ooops! 

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the West! We will be definitely heading back and exploring the places we missed!

If you haven’t been and don’t know where to start, we are here to help you! We can arrange everything for you, flights, hotels, car hire, day and extended trips, ferries… we can do the lot!

It’s time to TICK some more fun filled adventures of your list!

Vanessa 🙂

Taiwan May 2016

In May I was given the opportunity to discover and enjoy seven days in Taiwan and it was honestly something I was not expecting. I started from the bottom of the country and worked my up the country, through the lake and mountain regions and finished in the capital city Taipei.

Our first stop was in Kaohsiung where we visited the Lotus Lake which features the Spring and Autumn Pavilions and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. This area is gorgeous as the streets nearby were lively with people at the local temples, small shops and eateries you could pick up a snack and lots of incense to go around. Unfortunately we did not have the best of luck with weather as this time of year is hot and rainy season in the south of the country, we had the umbrella out for a good two days! We also visited Formosa Boulevard Train Station which is a station that houses the “Dome of Light,” an array of glass work and it is stunning to see, the photo does not do justice.

We then headed to the oldest city in Taiwan – Tainan and it definitely looked old. With the Anping Fort and the Tainan Treehouse, it definitely shows the history of this old town and how it held up being the capital city under the Qing Dynasty. The first thing I noticed in both these big cities was scooters – scooters everywhere! Turns out the preferred method of travel in Taiwan is by scooter! I even thought they had their own lane for a while and then I realised they were just using the bus lane.

The highlights of my trip were visiting Sun Moon Lake and Taroko National Park. These are the scenic points of call in most itineraries to Taiwan and can you blame them? Two days in these gorgeous areas was not enough! The hotel I stayed at in Sun Moon Lake, Fleur De Chine had a view to die for and I honestly fell in love with the Sun Moon Lake region which also happens to be the largest body of water in Taiwan. The Taroko National Park reminded me of a few things, the movie Avatar and Switzerland. With rolling hills and immense cliffs, it was like you were in a movie, it honestly didn’t feel real to see what I saw. These two spots are definitely on the top of the to-do list in Taiwan as it can’t get much better than this kind of scenery!

We finally made it to the big city – Taipei and it took us two hours via a tilt train from the Taroko region. The trains in Taipei are mapped exactly like the Japanese rail system, very spacious and easy to understand. And the weather, well it was a nice thirty-two degrees all round with ninety-nine percent humidity, it was sticky and great!

My recommendations when you are in Taipei:

• If you have the opportunity, dine at the restaurant Din Tai Fung, it is a dumplings restaurant now acclaimed all over the world with a Michelin Star, the food is gorgeous here and is authentic Taiwanese cuisine.
• Definitely make a trip to the Shilin Night Markets! Located just on the outskirts of Taipei, the markets offer local food, shopping and some big brand names and bartering was quite easy to do here, this is where I did all my shopping and it was pretty good I must say. Taxis are so cheap to get here, it will blow your mind!
• Visit Chiang Kai-Shek memorial, this is a monument that features a changing of the guards every hour and it is quite different compared to your Buckingham Palace change of guards. The area around the memorial is a bit like Tiananmen Square, spacious and gorgeous to look at.

Taipei is also well known for its hot springs and geo thermal valleys and they are also definitely worth visiting. You must visit Taipei 101, but one tip of advice I can give you all is to NOT pre-purchase your Taipei 101 tickets! We had ours pre-purchased and due to the weather, when we arrived at the observation deck, we could not see a thing due to the fog – so this was disappointing as we didn’t actually get to see the city from up above and tickets are non-refundable or changeable.

In regards to actually spending money in the country, most things were cheap! Banquets of eight to twelve courses depending on what you ordered would cost anything around $20 to $45 per head, so it was pretty good. The country boasts many cuisines including traditional Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese and Western. The country, although being a mainly Buddhist and Taoist country, doesn’t have a strict religion and people are able to practice whichever religion they believe. Currency conversion is best when you are in Taiwan as the dollar is better there than it is here and this buys approximately 23TWD for 1AUD.

If you would like any more information on Taiwan or would like to book your next Asian holiday to this unique destination, please let me know!

Talia

Carnival Spirit 2016 with Talia

I was lucky enough to enjoy five days on-board Carnival Spirit to visit the lovely Moreton Island. After doing this five day cruise, safe to say that Carnival is my favourite cruise line! I stayed in an obstructed balcony room and the room was spacious which is awesome and although being “obstructed,” the tender was as high as my ankle, so you still had a 90% ocean-view which is fabulous.

Carnival Cruises definitely are the “Fun Ships.” With a range of activities from bingo, trivia, ice sculpting and many more games for children and older children (like me) to enjoy! Dr Seuss also makes an appearance on-board which is the signature character for Carnival Cruises. They have a parade and a morning tea for all the kids (additional costs do apply)! If you can’t find anything to do indoors, well there is plenty happening outdoors with the iconic Green Thunder and Yellow Thunder, the first slides at sea, mini golf and a massive sports court for the kids to keep active. For the adults, the gym is spacious and has its own separate spa which is connected to the beauty services.

The staff – where do I start with them. They are honestly the nicest staff on-board I have encountered on my many cruises. Dinner time is a ball with the staff in Empire Restaurant! The staff put on a little show every night for guests at your allocated dinner time and it is so funny! Your stateroom steward will also leave you a surprise every time your room is turned over. This little fella was left on my bed after I had come back from lunch (isn’t it just cute?!)

The ships décor is noted as “Architectures of the World.” Every room you walk in to is completely different from Egyptian to Roman to Modern, you honestly get the best of every world on this ship!

Alright now on to food and WOW is all I can say about the food on-board!

What do you think of when you say 24/7 pizza and ice-cream? All I can say is that’s where I lived haha! The pizza is cooked fresh upon order and you can change it all based on dietary requests etc. and the staff work like I said 24 hours a day! This is located in the La Playa Restaurant (this is the buffet area) so you can’t miss it! You can wait a little bit depending on what time you order and how many staff is on cooking, but the longest I waited was 10 minutes. Swirls is also 24/7 and offers ice-cream and sorbet of multiple flavours! Did I also forget to mention this is INCLUDED in your cruise fare, how awesome is that!

New additions to the ships:

• Blue Iguana Cantina – This is Mexican fast food where you can order fresh burritos and tacos and top as you please. This option is INCLUDED in your cruise fare!
• Guy’s Burger Joint – this is the acclaimed burgers that Guy Fieri has created and you can choose from either set burgers or you can choose to get a plain burger and do it up yourself! And yes, this option is INCLUDED in your cruise fare!
• Blue Iguana Tequila Bar – This is where you will get your hit of tequila whether it be on the rocks or in a cocktail!
• Red Frog Rum Bar – The acclaimed Red Frog Pub now has its own rum bar! Cocktail specialties with rum or on the rocks if that tickles your fancy.

All these amazing options are located on Lido Deck, food on one side and alcohol on the other so I highly recommend checking these out!

The Empire Restaurant is a must to have dinner at! With the shows on every night and a standard menu and changing menu, you honestly can’t go wrong with 3 courses here! The changing menu is based on the themed night – for example Mexican night had tequila glazed prawns and enchiladas (I definitely did not turn down any of these options) and of course the standard menu has the old classics of Carnival – chicken schnitty and steak. Now one thing you must do when you have dinner is try the Melting Chocolate Cake for dessert, it is divine.

The best part about being an adult on this cruise line is being able to soak the sun up at Serenity (18+.) With swinging hammocks, domes for privacy, comfy deck chairs, a separate spa and pool, you can relax whilst taking in the view of your destination whilst cruising. With a lot of dining space and a bar dedicated to Serenity, this space is heaven.

Redfrog Pub is one of the many venues located around the ship with live music being played every night and an atmosphere you can’t miss out on. This pub has its own signature beer that is brewed for Carnival called the Thirsty Frog Summer Ale and can only be purchased here!

When all shuts down for the night, the Nightclub is the place to be with the hottest hits and classics being played to continue to party the night away!

On this five day cruise we visited the lovely Tangalooma on Moreton Island and this island is just bliss. With a full stretched beach and a shipwreck at the end of it, this island has a lot to offer! Little trivia for you, Scooby Doo: The Movie was filmed here at Tangalooma! There are bits of history to learn here from the whaling era to the famous shipwreck. And if you are an adventure junkie or water sports avid, they also have you covered. From quad biking to segways to paddle boarding and para sailing, there is something for everyone! And if you are the kind of person that wants to do nothing, well that’s what this gorgeous beach is for right?

Overall I would 100% recommend Carnival Cruises as they tick all boxes that a cruise needs!

If you would like any further information, feel free to speak to either myself, Lisa or Vanessa as we all love this cruise line and can help you pick the perfect cruise!

P&O Aria 2016 with Talia and Vanessa

Vanessa and I were lucky enough to get on-board P&O’s Pacific Aria for three nights and we was quite surprised.

We stayed in an ocean-view room and the room was very spacious which is completely different for P&O! This was configured as a triple berth – two twin beds and a couch that converts to a single bed (and the converted bed slept pretty well!) It also features a spacious bathroom with plenty of wardrobe space with a lovely décor to go with it all.

They offer a range of on-board activities from bingo, trivia to guess the song lyrics and the staff on P&O know how to make it fun! Every corner you turn there was another activity happening. Each themed night was also accompanied by an arrangement of activities and events happening around the whole ship!

I can’t even count how many bars were on this ship – most bars and seated recreational areas had live music being played pretty much all day round depending on what activities were on. Bars would also change cocktail menus based on the theme nights to give you a bit of a taste of that theme. To give you a rough idea on pricing on this ship, a standard cocktail (my drink of choice: Fruit Tingle) cost about $12.00.

Now this is what everyone has been waiting for – the Pantry. Safe to say I loved the food. Sizing for food was massive and every station offered something unique and different, from the easy fish and chips to steaks and Asian cuisine, there is a lot to choose from, it’s just deciding what to try first! One downfall I could say is the seating area is not mapped out as well as it is should be, but it still does the job. My whole cruise I waited the longest 2-3 minutes for fresh food, no long waits, no more buffets! P&O Aria offers New Zealand Natural ice-cream at an additional cost but is so worth it!

The overall décor of the ship is modern and chic and catches your eye at every corner you turn. My favourite room to catch the eye was the Blue Room (of course it was all blue.) All public areas are spacious and well designed.

Main pool deck is very chic and classy and this is where all themed parties (we experienced White Party and Great Gatsby) events were held! If the weather did not suit, fear not, P&O Aria has a retractable roof so you can still enjoy your party or swim without having the cold or wet weather spoil your cruise and this is a major plus for the brand. I mean c’mon those lounge chairs look comfy right?! (And they were, trust me.)

P&O Edge is the newest attraction offering all kinds of fun on-board (additional costs do apply, unfortunately this does not come inclusive in your cruise fare)

Activities from Rock Climbing, Abseiling, Segway Obstacle Course, Walk the Plank, Bungee Tramp, Laser Tag and lots more are now available to be purchased on-board. Pictured is the Flying Fox which is located above the Main Pool Deck. Passes are available for these cool activities or you can book separately if you want to experience one of the many options P&O are providing.

P&O Aria features Oasis, P&O’s first adults only (18+) area. With easy access to the Pantry and its own separate bar with plenty of deck chairs, you can spend your days lazing by the sun here with maybe a cocktail or two in hand. It is a lovely pool area, but it was a shame that there is no spa area in Oasis as the spas in the main area did get quite full.

Overall for a P&O ship, they have definitely stepped up with this ship and the new on-board experiences they have to offer definitely makes it a good cruise to be on! I would highly recommend this ship for couples and for families with older children that can experience P&O Edge.

 

If you would like any more information on P&O’s new ships, feel free to speak to either myself, Lisa or Vanessa!