Hamelin Bay

Augusta to Cape Leeuwin and Margaret River, day 4, Thursday 4 December 1980. After coming all this way and not getting much time in daylight in the area the previous afternoon, I needed to visit Cape Leeuwin and have a swim at Flinders Bay, where two oceans meet. I had an early breakfast so that I could leave most of the stuff in my room and get to the Cape, have a swim, come back and get ready and check out by 10 am.

I checked the map carefully then set off with a minimum of luggage in the backpack. I whooshed down into the town, then through it and along the coast road, passing through woodland and seeing many attractive beaches.  … Read more

Hamelin Bay is a bay and a locality on the south west coast of Western Australia between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste. To the north, the beach leads to the Boranup Sand Patch and further to the mouth of the Margaret River, while south leads to Cape Leeuwin. The nearest locality to the east is Karridale on the Margaret River to Augusta road.

Augusta to Margaret River, day 4, Saturday 25 October 1997. There was no particular hurry on this day. I left Augusta with regret at 8:45 on a fine morning with a light WSW wind that got a bit stronger with some WNW tendencies that were to set in for the two days after this. I turned left into Caves Road and reached Jewel Cave at 4045. It was $12 to get into this cave and the 9:30 tour was late starting because they were waiting for a tour bus which eventually arrived, disgorging a huge number of people.

I didn’t think they would allow such a number on one tour but they did, and it rather spoilt it. I was reminded of Monkey Mia with hundreds of tourists standing six deep in the water looking at a few dolphins and being ordered about by rangers, and of the Gloucester Tree at Pemberton with hordes of people constantly climbing up and down and scrawling graffiti all over the tree and the steps.  ... Read more