Perth - Food

Holidays are always a chance to try different restaurants and we dined at several restaurants within easy walking distance of our hotel during our stay in Perth.

Caffe Italia was a short distance from our hotel and we dined there on two occasions. This is a great Italian restaurant with a wide selection of dishes including varieties of pasta, gnocchi and pizza. On the first visit I had the chicken parmigiana and the scaloppine al funghi on the second visit - both great dishes. We also shared entrees of bruscheta al pomodora and calamari fritti. This is a very busy restaurant and when, on the Sunday, we were looking for somewhere to eat there were queues waiting for a table. We went for a walk and were able to get a table a short time later. On our return visit later in the week we arrived at the restaurant relatively early but while we were enjoying our meal we noticed queues forming again.

On our free day during the cricket championships we had lunch at Jaws Japanese Sushi restaurant in the Hay Street Mall where we enjoyed trying selections from the sushi train. On the Friday evening we selected from the sushi train at the East Perth Jaws restaurant, also in Hay Street, a short distance from the hotel.

The restaurant at the Comfort Hotel in Hay Street Perth is the Bluerock. This is where we had a Continental Breakfast each morning. Compared with a number of hotels where we have previously stayed a really good selection of cereals (for adults) including muesli was provided as well as natural yoghurt and a variety of fruit. I enjoyed breakfast on this holiday. There was also toast, a selection of pastries plus cold meat, hard boiled eggs etc (there were a number of visitors from Europe staying at the hotel). A hot breakfast was also available and, in the restaurant garden, egg and bacon rolls were cooked and sold to passers-by on their way to the cricket at the WACA around the corner from the hotel.
We also had dinner at the Bluerock on two occasions. While the test match was on a special menu was provided.

While in Perth we discovered a Miss Maud pastry house in the Carillon City Arcade. This cafe serves good hot chocolate. We also had a light lunch there one day. There are a number of these cafes, based on Swedish Pastry Houses, throughout Perth and suburbs.

On the Saturday night the First Division Victorian teams had dinner at the Antico Caffe on the corner of Plain Street and Royal Street, East Perth. The restaurant is close to Gloucester Park, where the Championship Meet and Greet was held, and the WACA and a short walk from the hotel where we stayed. This is another fine Perth Italian restaurant and I enjoyed the risotto.

Another team dinner was held at The Royal on the Waterfront, a hotel and restaurant diagonally opposite the Antico Caffe. The colonial beer battered coral trout and chips was very good.

Perth - Drive to the Swan Valley

On our last day in Perth Gina and Andrew took us for a drive to the Swan Valley, north east of Perth.

Bindoon Bakehaus

Our first stop was at the bakery at Bindoon, 84 km from Perth city, where we had lunch. The bakery is the main attraction in Bindoon and was a popular stop at lunchtime, particularly for motorcyclists.

Gina and Andrew then took us for a drive through part of the Swan Valley.

Margaret River Chocolate Company

We stopped at the Margaret River Chocolate Company at Swan River where we explored the range of chocolates and I sampled their hot chocolate.

Vineyards abound in this region and there are also orchards and some market gardens.

Around the corner from the chocolate factory is Lavender Bistro and Boutique where we stopped to have a look at their products.

Before arriving home we stopped off to watch part of a cricket match in which Chris was playing - a good way to end a cricketing holiday.

The next day we returned home to Melbourne after ten days in Perth.

Perth - exploring beaches

After the completion of the Senior Cricket Australia National Championships we stayed in Perth to spend the weekend with my brother and his family. This was also an opportunity to explore Perth outside the central city and cricket grounds.

JOONDALUP LAKE: Recently a duck had made a nest in my brother's garden and eight ducklings were hatched. When the duck family was ready to leave they were escorted to Lake Joodalup where hopefully they are now living safely. We therefore wanted to see the lake, the home of many ducks and other water birds.

MATILDA BAY: We had lunch at Matilda Bay on the Swan River, a peaceful place with views of Perth and the nearby marina.

Andrew relaxing - taking in the view

COTTESLOE BEACH: North of Fremantle is Cottesloe Beach.

Cottesloe Beach Pavilion

When we arrived a shark spotter plane flew over the beach, the alarm sounded, the flags on the beach were removed and the swimmers left the water. Only one swimmer ventured back into the water for a short time before deciding to return to the beach.

View of the beach

Looking towards Fremantle

HILLARYS BOAT HARBOUR: Hillarys Boat Harbour, south of Joondalup, was the final destination.

We explored the shops and had a drink at San Churros before returning home.

Perth - Fremantle (part 2)

We arrived in Fremantle at lunchtime and after a lunch of fish and chips at E Shed Markets we then made a quick visit to the nearby Western Australian Maritime Museum.

WA Maritime Museum

On our visit we saw a number of interesting exhibits on early visitors to the Western Australian coast before European settlement, sea trading along the Western Australian coast and the development of fisheries by Europeans, particularly families from Italy. Australia II is a featured exhibit at the museum. The memory wall shows the significance of Fremantle as the first entry to Australia for many new migrants.

Dugongs - mother and child

STS Leeuwin II

 Older buildings have been retained in many Fremantle streets adding character to the city.

High Street, Fremantle

High Street, Fremantle

At the end of High Street we located the Round House. The Round House was built in 1831 as a prison and in 1837 a request was made by the Fremantle Whaling Company for permission to build a tunnel from Bathers Beach to High Street. The tunnel was used to transport whale products from the whaling station jetty on the beach to the settlement.

Round House and Whalers' Tunnel

We walked through the tunnel to Bathers Beach. Bathers Beach was where Captain Charles Howe Fremantle claimed British sovereignty over the west coast of New Holland in May 1829.

Looking through the tunnel towards the beach

Interior of the tunnel

During World War II the tunnel was used as an air raid shelter. A small side tunnel was excavated to provide access from cottages above to the tunnel if required. From 1905 to 1919 electricity cables ran through the tunnel while from 1916 to 1975 a sewerage pipe also ran through a trench in the tunnel.

Bathers Beach

View from beach towards tunnel and Round House

After exploring part of Fremantle for a couple of hours it was back on a ferry for the return trip to Perth.

Perth - Freemantle (part 1)

Perth from the ferry to Fremantle

The day after the end of the championships we set off to Fremantle aboard a Captain Cook ferry.

On the journey to Fremantle we were on the left (port) side of the boat so had a good view of that bank of the Swan River.

A Captain Cook ferry travelling to Perth

Rainbow - a colourful sculpture made from sea containers

We were then in part of the port of Fremantle.