スワンバリー . 스완 밸리 . 天鹅谷
Mom rented a car today, and it's our first time driving in another country!
Mom said this was the best way to move around Swan Valley, and we could also keep warm because it was chilly.
We visited 4 places today.
Swan Valley Visitor Centre
Mom picked up a trail map, and Grandma and I waited in the car.
Address: Corner Meadow & Swan St, Guildford WA 6055
Tel: (+61 8) 9379 9400Directions: Click here
Opening Hours: Open daily from 9am - 4pm (excluding Dec 25th)
Caversham Wildlife Park
Our first stop, after Mom drove for 30 mins (and also because Mom missed the entrance), was the Caversham Wildlife Park.
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| Second gate of Whiteman Park. Caversham Park is located inside. |
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| Watch out for them! |
I saw many animals and birds, and some of them can only be found in Australia. The Kangaroo Walkthrough was the scariest because the kangaroos were so close to me!
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| Mr Wallaby? |
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| Kangaroo Walkthrough - be careful of the kangaroo poo! |
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| Uncle was very brave |
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| Most of the kangaroos were doing this |
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| Oops! Pointed to the wrong direction to Molly's Farm |
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| Llama |
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| Huge pig, and he can bite! |
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| Koalas |
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| Acks, it's sleeping |
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| Dingo - beware of the electric fence |
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| Spotted Quoll - it can bite! |
Time to "Meet Wombat and Friends"!
There were other shows but we did not have time to catch them.
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| Kindy Field Trip |
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| Show times at 11am, 2pm, and 3.45pm |
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| Wombat |
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| Kookaburra |
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| I forgot what this is ... |
Address: Whiteman Park, Whiteman, WA, 6068
Tel: (+61 8) 9248 1984Directions: Click here
Opening Hours: Open daily from 9am to 5.30pm (closed Dec 25th)
Admission Fees: Adult A$25 / Child (3 – 14 years) A$11 / Student A$18
Note: To arrive before 3pm (time taken = 2-3 hours)
Sandalford Winery
Grandma wanted to visit only one winery, so Mom chose the Sandalford Winery because its restaurant - Sandalford Restaurant - had a children's lunch menu.
It started to drizzle ... lucky that we made it to the Caversham Wildlife Park first!
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| It was drizzling and cold so we did not sit outside |
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| Sandalford Restaurant |
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| It even had a real fireplace! |
Mom said that the food and the place were nice, but expensive.
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| Kids Meal - Chicken Nuggets ... yum! |
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| Delicious ice cream for desert! |
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| For Grandma - Chermoula Roast Baby Chicken, Warm Quinoa & Asparagus Salad, Saffron Tzatziki A$38 |
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| For Mom - Grilled Derby Barramundi Fillet, Sweet Potato Gratin, Artichoke Cream A$42 |
After that, Grandma bought one bottle of red wine from the cellar.
Address: 3210 West Swan Road, Caversham 6055
Tel: (+61 8) 9374 9343Directions: Click here
Opening Hours: Open daily 10am - 5pm (closed on Good Friday, Dec 25th, Jan 1st)
Restaurant is open daily from 12NN - 3pm
The Margaret River Chocolate Co. and Providore
Mom loves chocolates so we had to make a stop at The Margaret River Chocolate Co. Next door was a gourmet shop called Providore.
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| I took a peek at how chocolates were made |
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| Free and unlimited samples - 3 flavours |
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| Outdoor terrace |
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| There were jams, chillis, wine etc |
Tel: (+61 8) 9250 1588 (TMRCC) / 6274 4040 (Providore)
Directions: Click here
Opening Hours: Open daily 9am - 5pm (closed on Dec 25th & Jan 1st)
Mondo Nougat
Our last stop for the day was at Mondo Nougat, before we headed back to Perth City. This was my first time trying nougat, and I really liked the soft nougat!
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| Grandma bought some nougats for me! |
Address: 640 Great Northern Hwy, Herne Hill 6056 WA
Tel: (+61 8) 9296 0111Directions: Click here
Opening Hours: Open daily 8am - 5pm (closed on Mondays)
Mom's Notes
- The Caversham Wildlife Park is a nice place for kids to see and learn about native Australian animals. Not sure how it compares to the Perth Zoo?
- There were plenty of wineries to choose from, and are lovely and scenic places to dine in. But the meals are pricey, and it was a pity that I could not drink as I was driving! Note that the menu changes with the seasons.
- We would have loved to cover more places, if not for the fact that most places close at 5pm, and we had to return the rental car. Perhaps an overnight stay in Swan Valley would have been ideal
- Highly recommended to include a GPS/navigation system in the car! Moving around was a breeze!
- Compare the full rental rates before booking a car (ie. include extras like GPS, upgraded collison damage waiver, car seat if you need it etc), and worldwide chains need not always be expensive. I compared both local and global companies, and with the frequent flyer discounts, Hertz offered good value, plus the office was only about a 5-min walk away from my hotel (Hotel Ibis Perth), and it had the latest return timing
- Check to see if you need to produce an international driver's license
- Always get specific directions from the car rental company on how to get to the gas station to re-fuel (if unsure, you may end up being delayed), and ask if the company can allow a slight delay in the return timing. The staff can also advise on the traffic conditions and recommend a time to head back to the city
- Most car rental companies in Perth city close at 5/6pm on weekdays and by noon on weekends, so plan ahead!
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