Perth and Geraldton

After a few rainy days in the Western Australian winter - can be quite chilly - we are now heading north.

In Fremantle, Perth, we took a ship to Rottnest Island. This island got its name because it was believed to have rats. In reality, they are quokkas, small marsupials like kangaroos. They are cute and friendly. On the island, there is the largest bike rental in the southern hemisphere, with 1,700 bikes waiting for tourists from all over the world to explore the small, car-free island. In a bay, we were able to observe 2 dolphins as they swam around.

Then our journey began with a rented Landcruiser (called Landy) and a pop-up safari camper. The first overnight stay in Lancelin was accompanied by stormy rainy weather. The test of the folding camper tent was successful, the children were absolutely thrilled and we had to restrain them so that the trailer wouldn't turn into a bounce house and tip over on the first evening....

After an initial off-road drive through the dunes at Lancelin with a lot of sand and screams from the four female occupants, we went to the Pinnacles, a World Heritage site. These rock formations have formed over thousands of years from the drifting sand dune and are a fascinating spectacle of wind and weather known as the Pinnacle Desert.

In Geraldton, we settled in at the Sunset Beach Caravan Park and met our acquaintance Mark and his family with their dog Indy. We spent a good week here and did all sorts of activities. On a boat trip, we even saw sea lions. Surfing with a boogie board and simply swimming in the Indian Ocean until the burning red sunset were fantastic experiences for Lakira.

One evening, we organized a beach barbecue in the sand dunes, grilled Australian lamb chops, and enjoyed the magnificent starry sky well into the night.

A real highlight was the flight over the Abrolhos Island Archipelago. One of the most beautiful reefs in the world, located off the coast of Geraldton. We were able to experience beautiful coral reefs and fish while snorkeling. Lakira were almost speechless from amazement and excitement.