March 20, 2023
A spectacular pre sunrise with the crescent moon in full display started the day in Brusselton, Australia. The day was slow to start as we were anchored off shore and dependent on the tenders to take us ashore. The tender ride was over 40 minutes each way as we were anchored over 3 miles out due to the shallow bay.
Busselton is a city on the southwest tip of Western Australia. The beachfront features the 19th-century Busselton Jetty. This wood pier stretches nearly 1.6 miles over the protected waters of Geographe Bay, the heritage listed Busselton Jetty is the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere and is home to one of six Underwater Observatories in the world! Busselton is the gateway to the Margaret River wine district
Once we got to shore we headed out to the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse. This working lighthouse is surrounded with peppermint trees and provides incredible view of the bay that is used by humpback whales to breed.
Our local Wadandi guide provided insight to his culture and how the Aboriginal people moved through the area during their seasonal migrations. They have six seasons (2 months each) that correspond to both the weather and the hunting seasons. He then demonstrated a range of tools and artifacts including the boomerang that they use to hunt. Yes, I now know the correct way to throw a boomerang so it returns to you!!!
The sounds he created from the didgeridoo were incredible. The didgeridoo is made from a tree branch that has been hollowed out by termites and each one is a different note. I was privilege to get to try the didgeridoo and was able to get a couple of notes out. All those years of playing wind instruments in high school helped but it really is not easy!!!
Lunch included a sampling of the Margaret River wines and BBQ kangaroo. No kangaroo for me after holding the joey!!!!
Once we returned back to the Jetty I set out to walk out to the Underwater Observatory at the end of the Jetty. I could of taken the jetty train but heck it was only a mile and a-half and I had time so I headed out. It was a beautiful but hot walk out, thankfully the wind was blowing so that cooled me off.
The Underwater is 8 meters below the oceans surface where it’s piles create Australia’s greatest artificial reef. Due to our tenders churning up the water there were not a lot of fish but the vibrant coral was worth the trip.
Heading back on the jetty to our tender spot I was able to reflect on another fun day in Australia.
One last port in Australia tomorrow then off to Africia.
