THREE GENERATIONS ON A ROAD TRIP - W AUSTRALIA

In March, my son invited my wife and I to join his family for a road trip in Perth, W Australia. Settlers' Rest in Swan Valley was our home for the first few days when we caught up with friends and relations. Settlers' Rest is a farm where horses are trained, and other animals are kept. There is a separate house used as guest accommodation which is in high demand.
 

 

This is the best part of the house for with a fire going, we sang, talked and played some games after dinner.

Catching up with Pema Fernando, an old and cherished friend, who migrated there with his wife, Malika. 

We also met up with Jeremy Ho who lived in our estate and has undertaken to work in Perth.

At Sandalford Wines for wine-tasting - their Founder's Reserve has an average age of 30 years and is styled as a classic port-style liqueur.

Cheers to a Blanc included in the wine-tasting package!

Where the children played while we tasted wines.

At the Belmont Forum - a tribute to Australia's First Nation. As we had an MPV in Perth, in Belmont, my son picked up a camper van suited for his family of four. From that point, we drove a "convoy" of two vehicles down south.

Pemberton Tramway offers a popular ride through the bush to visit the Cascades featuring small rapids along Lefroy Brook set within a Karri Forest. Kangaroos and Wallabies may be sighted on the way.

Tumbling rapids of Lefroy Brook at the Cascades.

Father and daughters (the small one is partially hidden) hunched for a good view of the brook.

Mother and her daughters, with the small one endeavouring to be a ninja?

Featuring one dish from Oz Cuisine which I enjoyed with their craft beer

The Gloucester Tree (named after the Duke of Gloucester) which I first visited in the late 80's. It serves as a lookout for fires. It used to be that if anyone climbed all the way to the fire lookout tower on top, a certificate attesting to the feat would be awarded.

The Gloucester Tree was closed for repair when we visited so climbing was off limits. Eight trees are used for fire lookout purposes in the area and each is around 65 m tall.

Our young adventurers on the Dave Evans' Bi-Centennial Tree. They were very brave to climb on the metal spikes fixed to the tree. Had they not been stopped, they might have gone higher.

Can you spot the bigger girl in front of the Dave Evans Bi-centennial Tree?

 Its girth is huge requiring three adults and two children locking hands to go round it! 

Grandmother is happily leading the young ones for a train ride in an animal farm