Busselton, another port added to our itinerary due to cancellation of Bali, Phuket and Singapore.  We’re just loving Australia and this port is definitely one of my favorites.  We had a fabulous day here and found out there are direct flights from Melbourne.  Adding this to our future wish-list. 

Early this morning we arrived in this small port and dropped anchor.  Keep in mind, the anchor is close to front of ship where our cabin is located so it’s very exciting when suddenly you hear this loud clang, clang, clang of the chain and anchor dropping.  They don’t have a dock for cruise ships because it’s very shallow, but they have the most amazing jetty I’ve ever seen.  Busselton Jetty is the longest wooden piled in the Southern Hemisphere and located in beautiful Geographe Bay.  The first section was opened in 1865 and has been extended over time to it’s current length of 1,841 meters (6,000+ feet or over a mile long!).  What a cool place to take a walk.  For those that didn’t want to walk, they have a small red train on a track that goes to the end.  At the end of the jetty is one of only five underwater observatories in the world.

We didn’t book a tour from the cruise and decided to ‘wing it’.  Great decision.  We went into the information center by the jetty and said we were interested in a private tour for four people.  She welcomed us to Busselton and immediately called a guide with a van.  Chris (the guide) showed up 5-minutes later.  We told him that we’ve never been to the area but would be interested in the highlights, anything he’d like to show us.  He was excited to give us a tour.

First we stopped at a flower shop and restaurant where we were offered tea and biscuits, but we just ate breakfast, so we opted to move on.

Next we drove through the picturesque countryside in a setting of expansive vineyards, across rolling hills, natural bushland and arrived at the manicured gardens of Aravina Wine Estate.  Recognized as one of the ten Best New Wineries in the area.  The estate was stunning.  A lake in the foreground, a driveway lined with native trees, gardens filled with gorgeous blue hydrangeas and Australian tree ferns.  We were the only visitors at the time, so we walked in for a wine tasting and met some very nice young ladies.  I told her I really wasn’t a big wine drinker so I would skip the tastings.  I mentioned that I prefer sweet wine.  Well, that’s all I had to say and she had several samples lined up for me to try.  Delightful!  We bought a few bottles to take back to the ship.

We left the winery and headed to a place called ‘The Colony Concept’.  It’s a new business with beekeepers that collect many types of local honey (from native trees and flowers).  We went into a room where we could see bees coming through a clear tube from outside and into a honeycomb where they were all working very hard to make honey.  Our guide explained the various kinds and colors and then we all had samples.  Bought a couple jars since it was so delicious.  The business was also a farm to table restaurant and the menu looked amazing, but we weren’t ready for lunch. The area is also famous for their crayfish. Chris went into the kitchen and grabbed one from the chef to show us.

We got back into the van and Chris pointed out an olive orchard.  We stopped at their business where they made olive oil, soaps, lotions, honey and much more.  We had some samples, bought a few things and then moved on to Margaret River Dairy Company.  We went in and sampled various kinds of cheese.  We definitely would have bought some if we had a cooler with us.  Off we went on our grand tour, destination – Chocolate Factory (Margaret River Chocolate Company).  Went in for some samples and bought a dark chocolate bar.  Not that I have not had my share of chocolate on this trip, but we’re doing our best to support the local economy.

It was time for lunch and Chris had the restaurant picked out.  It was a brewery with outdoor seating on a lake.  It was such a lovely view I really didn’t care what they were serving.  We had lunch and yes, it was good but spending time with our friends and our guide Chris was a special time in a beautiful setting.

After lunch we drove back to Busselton, along the beach where Chris showed us all the vacation homes.  We drove down this windy road and right before us was a gorgeous beach with blue water.  Would be a nice place to spend a day or two.  It was Friday and everyone was coming to the beach for long holiday weekend (it was their Labor Day).  Chris also pointed out wild kangaroos resting under shade trees.  He said their territory is getting much smaller because of the new housing development that was build here recently.

Before heading back to the ship, Chris said we must go to the well known ice cream shop.  No arguments from us.  We have found some flavors here that we don’t find at home so enjoyed some ice cream that had honey comb mixed in.

The beach was beautiful and we could see our ship and jetty in the distance.  By the time we got back, it was time to take the tender back to the ship so we were not able to walk the jetty.  We thanked Chris for his great tour and making our day so enjoyable.  I just love our Aussie friends.  

Carmen, Pedro, Bob and I all agreed this was a special day with great memories made by all!

We got ready for dinner and watched the sun sink back into the ocean.  Beautiful sunset again…just amazing.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•