PERfect School Holidays

[MattA]

September school holidays, and we’re heading west.

Heart sank when I saw a text from QF first thing that started “we’re sorry…” but luckily it’s just the IFE. No biggie.



Now I don’t fly with the Roo all that much (focus on the VA/SQ side of things), but I add to my QF points balance from time to time if the opportunity cost is low enough. The problem is that chances to redeem seem pretty minimal when travelling as a family of 4.

Last time we visited PER was pre-COVID in mid 2019 and we took VA’s The Business (rip). This time it’s QF’s A330 J product. Heaps of availability when we booked at the start of the year, so seems a good use of QF points for family travel, provided you don’t suffer from a last minute equipment swap (or get unceremoniously bumped).

Luckily, neither of those happened. VH-EBA is taking us to PER today. Seems appropriate given some recent QF downgrade-related chatter here…



But first we kick off with brekkie in the very pleasant and quiet QF dom J lounge.

 

[MattA]

We’re in row 7 in the mini cabin at the rear of J, which has just 6 seats. Stuck the kids in the middle pair, with my wife and I taking the window seats. The middle seat dividers don’t retract on these so the girls are slightly more separated than on some other J configs but it’s otherwise pretty good for a family of 4 (with applogies to the two strangers in 8E/F).





Went for Kung Pao Chicken for lunch with a glass of Shiraz (other choice was Beef Massaman).





Inflight wifi somewhat spotty.



Have we jettisoned a case?



All in all a very pleasant way to cross the country. Touched down just a few minutes behind schedule.

 

[MattA]

We’re staying with friends here, so no hotel reviews this trip. Friday arvo we hit the road with them in convoy to spend the weekend down south in Yallingup.

Not quite a carpark view from the balcony at the beach house:



Intermittent showers on the way down on Friday, but this morning it’s cleared up nicely for a stroll on the beach:

 

[MattA]

A lovely long lunch at a nearby winery, Swings & Roundabouts: Swings & Roundabouts Winery Yallingup & Margaret River Restaurant

Kids were happy with the massive playground and plenty of grass to run around on.

 

[MattA]

Stopped off down by the water in Yallingup to take some photos on the way back home:

 

[MattA]

Back to the beach at Yallingup for a dip in the (bracing) Indian Ocean…




And a quick game of Finska on the beach.

 

[MattA]

There’s only one pub in Yallingup: Welcome to Caves House Hotel Yallingup

Built in 1903 to feed, water and house tourists visiting the nearby caves, it’s a beautiful old art deco building. A good choice for our Sunday night fish and chips. Loved the old 1930s photos on the walls.

 

[MattA]

We couldn’t leave Yallingup without taking a trip down the Ngilgi caves. I’m not sure my photos do it justice, but it’s pretty amazing down there. Well worth a visit.

 

[jrfsp]

The wifi uses land based receivers, hence dropping out over the bight

 

[MattA]

And of course we couldn’t leave the area without visiting at least one winery. Called in at Cellar Door – Howard Park Wines for a tasting and to pick up a few bottles. We’d last been here a decade ago, pre-children (a very different trip).

 

[MattA]

One final stop for the day: Canal Rocks, just out of Yallingup. Stunning.

 

[Scarlett]

And a quick game of Finska on the beach.

View attachment 344047

What is this game?

 

[MattA]

What is this game?

An Australian take on an ancient Finnish log throwing game: you have to knock down the pins and score exactly 50 points to win. Lots of fun (plus good maths practice for the children keeping score!)

What Is Finska? Rules & Origin Explained

Finska is as essential to Australian summer holidays as huge family gatherings, prawns on the barbecue and cracking open a couple of cold ones. You may

www.dmarge.com

 

[MattA]

Home in time to catch the last of Monday’s sunshine with a glass of that Howard Park 2018 Shiraz on the balcony.

 

[MattA]

Tuesday and time to pack up and head back to our friends’ place in Freo.

Stopped on the way to see a big jetty…



Kids only had eyes for the pirate ship playground:



So Mrs MattA and I took it in turns to take a long walk off a long pier (and it *was* a walk: the train was down for maintenance).

 

[MattA]

Our second stop on the way back north: trying to catch a couple of the Outdoor Art Exhibition | Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah







I first heard about the giants via another TR post (applogies but I forget who posted it), but very glad that we stopped by. They are fantastic.

Only had time to see these two before dinner was calling. We’d spotted a sign to Boundary Island Brewing so swung past for a quick bite.




Nice place. Good food. Another boat playground out front for the kids to climb on, *and* we ran into an old friend also visiting from Melbourne. What are the chances?

 

[MattA]

Back in Freo and the sun was out. After a quick coffee stop we headed to the water. Had a little look around The Round House, which was used as a gaol from the 1830s.

There’s a small display and you can ring the bell or get a photo in the stocks.




Plus if you are there at 1pm they fire the canon out front. Actually to be correct a member of the public fires the canon. You can register to do this via the website—today they had no one signed up so a member of the crowd had volunteered. Probably best not to do it if you’re flying out that day though—according to the guide the gunpowder residue has on occasion been picked up by those swab/scans at the airport.

 

[MattA]

Time for refreshments: found a pretty PERfect spot at nearby Gage Roads where we could watch the Rotto ferries come and go while the kids played in yet another boat playground.








(Actual playground slightly bigger than this).

 

[MattA]

Went to Subiaco to find the Giant who escaped Mandurah and is hiding out behind the Arts Centre…






Then a quick google led us to the excellent Community Coffee for lunch:

 

[MattA]

Took advantage of some free babysitting from our hosts and nipped out for a few drinks at Darling Darling in Freo. A tiny hole in the wall bar decked out in sea paraphernalia and the most Monkey Nuts I’ve seen in one room since Raffles.