It was quite exciting to arrive in the big smoke! It had been a long time since our last capital city and lure of shops and cafes was too much to resist!

We were lucky to have a good friend of ours Mark live in Perth and welcome us to stay at his place. With our local tour guide we set out for the iconic Kings Park.

Over the next few cold and rainy days we explored some of Perth’s highlights. We strolled through the city, gazed at the bell tower, stopped in at the mint, took a few quiet moments in the beautifully restored St. Mary’s Cathedral and had a BBQ along the banks of the Swan River. Mark also took us to a great café in the suburb Leederville, which boasted the most impressive cake cabinet I have seen in a long while!

Before leaving Perth we set aside some time to wander through Freemantle. Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas and were welcomed with hail. Thankfully we happened to be driving under a tree when it started and managed to protect the car under the branches. Despite the weather we decided not too miss the old Freemantle prison, which is a very interesting place that leaves your stomach in knots! The prison has recently been world heritage listed for it’s cultural significance. The tour was not complete without of course a visit to solitary confinement and the gallows. It remained in use until 1991 and to its last day the prisoners used a bucket as a toilet. What a nightmare.

A very very big thank you to Mark for having us stay and for all your hospitality and generosity. Mark even gave up his bed for us so that we could have a few nights sleep in a real bed! You are a legend Mark and we look forward to next time we see you. x