Today I rose early at 6am to get ready for my 7am pick up for my tour of the south west of Oz with Planet Perth.
After checking out of the hostel and arranging to store a few bits and bobs, Reg met outside the hostel and we made our way to the meeting point. It was really nice having a friend to go on a tour with and to share the experience so I was a happy bunny!!
Our driver for the 5 day tour is Simon. It is Simon's last Planet Perth tour before heading to Switzerland!!! There are 11 other people on our tour. All people were single travellers. There was Jonas and Andrea, both from Switzerland!!! More damm Swiss !!! He he Philly, an older lady from Ireland, taking a one year career break. Anita, another older lady, originally from England but now living in Benidorm. She is over in Oz for the summer to escape the winter blues. Martine and Tony from Holland, both taking 3 month breaks between jobs. Nat from the USA, who is travelling around Oz after spending 8 months in Asia. There was also Uny and Monica from Korea, both learning English in Perth. Mudoka from Japan who is travelling around Oz and Martina from Italy who could not speak a word of English.
After leaving Perth our first stop was to the historical town of York, guess what, modelled on the UK version.
It was then onto the highlight of the day - The Dog's cemetery he he!! Very Odd!!!
Lunch was at Hyden and its famous wave rock. We went on a walk to check out the wave rock and take some photos of our best surfer looks and then also walked to the sacred Hippo's Yawn, where women once upon a time gave birth in Aborigine culture.
After lunch it was off to Esperance travelling along the great ocean drive. Once in Esperance we had time to check out the town's jetty and see Sammy the resident sea lion.
All in all we had travelled today 700km - the longest drive on the tour.
We then checked into our lodge for the next 2 nights, opposite the ocean. After dinner Jonas, Reg and another swiss guy called Phil who was staying at the lodge played a few rounds of cards and drank a glass or 2 of vino.
All in all a good first day!
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