Downunder Diary I: Western Australia

November – Dezember 2022

A short stop-over in Bangkok and we land in Christmasy Perth. Our mission: to find a vehicle as quickly as possible to explore Downunder in a roundabout way.

We could never have imagined that the detours would be as massive as we experienced over the next few weeks. But we already described this story in detail in our last post "How to buy a car in Australia?".

Well, after a few days in and around Perth, which we spend in various Airbnbs, we are ready to explore the Australian southwest, despite the overheating engine.

We drive down to the touristy area around Margaret River, listen to the birdlife while camping (that's where Seraina spies her first two kangaroos), experience the summer heat in Australia for the first time, and meet an old friend who takes us to his farm and tells us about his reforestation efforts.

We've only been in Australia such a short time and already we're experiencing the full gamut of travel stories. Yes, I know, we wouldn't have it any other way.

After a short detour back to Busselten where the mechanics support us courteously but not satisfactorily, we continue south.

In Pemberton, we hike through the fantastic karri forests. We even climb one, that's the test of courage here, and get a mystical far view into the green distance as a reward.

In Warren National Park in the middle of the forest, we find Draftys Campground. The ranger and campground keeper David is a friendly soul - and hobby mechanic. He inquires and finds out that we bought a Lemon; a rotten egg among the used cars. His guess: our Holden won't last much longer. We do not listen and drive on.

A little further in Northcliffe, we find the Understory Art Forest behind the Visitor Center. Various artists have immortalized themselves with figures and sculptures in this piece of forest. Certainly worth a visit.

We continue through the dense karri eucalyptus forests until we reach the seashore. After Walpole, we visit the Giant Tingle Tree.

In Denmark we camp under the shady Peppermint trees, check out the small village, and drive to the rocky beaches around Elephant Rocks.

In Albany, we still have the thermostat replaced, we naive imbeciles. And think, yes yes, it will be alright, we can cross the desert now. Over 3000 kilometers through the Nullarbor Plain.

We leave early in the morning and want to get as far as possible today. The next three days will be spent driving, today 700-800 km, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow the same, then we should arrive in South Australia and in an inhabited area according to plan.

Almost 500 km further we drive through Esperance, so far everything has gone well; as long as we keep an eye on the temperature gauge. Because there is still something wrong. It tends to rise from time to time, so we are forced to run the heater.

When we pass Norseman, it is already evening. Time to find a place next to the highway to camp. That isn't too hard. If there is one thing out here, it is space.

We enjoy the sunset in the Australian outback, tired from the long day in the car. Tomorrow we're supposed to carry on the same way, but we don't want to think about that yet.

We leave again quite early, we want to get far. After two hours of driving it happens. The engine is raging, Seraina can't get it going anymore, then steaming smoke.

"Yes, I guess that's it now." How sobering.

If you don't know the details yet, you might want to read about them in the last post in "Seraina's Diary" . Anyway, it doesn't take long until someone gives us a ride. Luck of the draw, we have a whole bus for us. The car we leave behind.