Fri, 30th Dec, 2016 Kev & Linda’s, Eaton, WA (sightseeing Bunbury)

Lovely morning chatting. Drove into Bunbury and posted my broken camera off – should be covered under warranty.

Bunbury was explored in 1830 and named after Lt Henry William St Pierre Bunbury, the first European to trek here from Pinjarra. Bunbury’s first settlers, the Scott family, arrived in 1838. From its slow beginnings Bunbury was boosted by the arrival of convict labour, between 1851 and 1868. The demand for goods increased, the workforce was expanded and the economy stimulated. By 1900 a boom in timber cutting for the construction of railways and the gold rush in nearby Donnybrook took Bunbury from a small colonial outpost to a town. The Port of Bunbury became the region’s main focus for exports. During the 1890s Bunbury became known as the ‘Brighton of the South’ and was a favourite holiday destination. There are historical buildings and museums we will check out another day.

We drove up to the Marlston Hill Lookout. It is only the original lighthouse site which was used by the early whaling fleet as a vantage point for whale spotting. Around and around we went up the steps to the top.

Fabulous view from the top. Looking across Koombana Bay and Beach with the Channel leading into Leschenault Inlet and further down to Bunbury Point and the Channel where the big ships go in to unload and load their cargos.

Then around to the south showing more of Leschenault Inlet.

Over Bunbury city centre.

Then Back Beach in the Geographe Bay of the Indian Ocean.

Point Casuarina and Jetty Baths Bay.

Back around over Koombana Bay – looking across to Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park and beaches then the Cut which allows sea water to flow in and out of the Leschenault Estuary.

Stopped off at a fish & chip shop run by New Zealanders to grab some lunch then we went around to Jetty Baths Bay. Nice and sheltered here though the flies think it is great too!!

Across the Jetty Road point to Dolphin Cove where the local dolphins can be seen and the entrance to the Koombana Channel into the Inlet.

My phone’s camera is ok but there is no zoom on it and it is hard to hold so we might buy another camera any case as a backup – I am lost without my trusty camera in my hand!!

Home again to get dinner going. The boys took the dogs for a walk down to the park.

Watched a good show in Netflicks – wish we could get this in our van.