Sand boarding at Lancelin. — Photos: SU KOK
I have always been intrigued by the wonders of nature, so last November, my sister and I went to Western Australia for some nature exploration. I felt like Indiana Jones ready to embark on a thrilling and exciting adventure of a lifetime... minus the whip, gun and fedora hat!
It was a thrilling adventure indeed with various elements of nature awaiting us: Earth, water, air and fire.
We visited the mysterious Pinnacles desert at Nambung National Park, and the story of how these natural limestone pillars were formed is very interesting. Basically, after the sea receded many years ago, deposits of sea shells were left in the area. Over time, the surrounding sand was blown away by the coastal winds, thus exposing the pinnacles.
The limestone pillars range in height of between 1m and 3.5m.
The Pinnacles desert is found within the Nambung National Park.
As we travelled the Australian outback, we got to witness and track the magnificent Wave Rock which is 15m high and 100m long.
The large rock formation is impressive as it looks like a giant wave breaking on the shore. The colours of the rock, a mixture of red, orange, yellow, brown, grey add to the illusion of a wave. It was worth the four-hour drive from Perth to appreciate this mystical beauty.
One of the main highlights of my trip was sandboarding in Lancelin. This was the first time I tried sandboarding, and it was great fun. The sand was pure white, and it was over three storeys high.
The adrenaline rush and excitement came when I slid down the dunes while screaming my lungs out, with my hair “flying” freely!
The reader (right) with her sister at the impressive Wave Rock.
The adventure continued when we were taken on a thrilling four-wheel drive tour of the steep sand dunes.
Australia, being an island, is of course surrounded by water. As such, the country is blessed with beautiful coastal lines and beaches. Since we were there during spring season, we enjoyed the sun, sea, and beautiful blue skies.
Mandurah, which was less than an hour’s drive from Perth, had several magnificent beaches. It was a perfect place to rest and relax while embracing the peace and tranquillity. Even walking on the soft sand had a calming effect on me.
One of the giant sculptures by Thomas Dambo at Mandurah.
We tracked down Thomas Dambo’s Giants Of Mandurah. The renowned artist did a great job in creating the gigantic wooden sculptures.
Western Australia produces some of the most sought-after seafood, too. We enjoyed the lobsters, mussels, prawns, oysters and not forgetting the famous fish and chips, which we had in Fremantle.
For those who drink alcohol, you can pair these delicious seafood with some wines from Swan Valley’s vineyards.
The weather was hot but not humid with occasional gusts of wind... it was the best time to walk and explore places. I loved smelling the fresh wildflowers which we passed by in the national parks and outback; my sister drove while I was in the passenger seat.
In Perth, I gazed in awe as the jacaranda flowers were blooming. The gorgeous purple flowers lined up along the streets and gave off such a magical vibe that made the place seem like a lavender wonderland.
Glamping at Avon Valley.
More wildflowers greeted us when we went glamping in Buckland Estate. It was a cool experience to camp in a farm amid some wildlife and farm animals, without losing much of the usual modern amenities.
The Internet was patchy in the tent but that gave us a chance to really unwind, without any digital distractions.
The only item that I could not tick off from my bucket list this holiday was the hot air balloon ride. My sister got me a hot air balloon ride as a birthday gift, and we were supposed to “fly” over the beautiful Avon Valley. Unfortunately, due to unfavourable weather, the ride was cancelled.
We were also alerted on the bush fires that hit Western Australia. At one point during the trip, we could smell and see smoke but the places we went to were quite a distance away from the bush fire, so no one had to evacuate.
By the end of the trip I actually found myself comparing Western Australia to Ipoh (Perak), as I thought there were some similarities. Both these places are surrounded by wondrous landscapes, beautiful limestones, adventures, good food and charming people.
A holiday back to nature is exciting and teaches us to have gratitude towards nature and learn more about the history of a place. I look forward to sharing my adventures with my students.
The views expressed are entirely the reader’s own.
