Adventure in a van.: Week 39- Sunday 11th- Sunday 18th December

Karri Valley Resort, WA

Star Rating:★★★★☆

★=Full Star☆=Half a Star

At Karri Valley Resort there was a massive lake (Lake Beedelup) that had a pontoon floating close to shore. Dad, Jackson and I had heaps of fun trying to push each other off, whilst also trying to stay on. I also paddle boarded across to the other side of the lake and I went on a walk, and a ride, to Beedelup Falls, which was on the opposite side of the lake. Jackson and I also enjoyed the pump track and the playground at the campground. In the morning there were lots of kangaroos all through the campsite, but when Jackson and I rode to the pump track they all hopped away quickly. We also saw lots of cute joeys that were either in their mum's pouches or exploring (as long as they were only 2 metres from their mums!). It was a lovely place and I could have definitely stayed longer than the 3 nights we spent there.

The pontoon on the lake.👆

On the way to Beedelup Falls, Mum and I stopped to have a look at a walk-through tree. It had a ladder to climb up on one side and one to get down on the other! It was really cool.

Beedelup Falls.👆

Laying on the grassy banks of Lake Beedelup.

One of the joeys that was hanging around the campsite with its mother.

Bicentennial Tree (near Pemberton)

Star Rating:★★★★★

★=Full Star☆=Half a Star

We climbed the Bicentennial Tree - to the TOP!!

We came back after trying to climb the tree a couple of days ago. The last time we tried we only climbed to the first platform (20m high) but this time we climbed all the way to the top- which is 65m high! It was such a great view from the top.

To climb up we went on steel bars that had been hammered into the tree. There was also a bit of thin mesh on the side to keep you from falling off the edge- but there was nothing underneath!!

Mum was really worried about us but when we got down Jackson and I said ‘Are there any higher trees to climb?’ We thought it was easy.

On the platform on the top of the tree.👇

The Bicentennial Tree.

Gracetown Caravan Park (near Margaret River)

Star Rating:★★★☆

★=Full Star☆=Half a Star

Before we arrived at Gracetown we spent a night at the Blackwood River National Park where an angry magpie kept swooping me as soon as I left the safety of the awning!!

On the day we arrived at Gracetown, Jackson and I went straight to the playground where we loaded huge rocks on one side of the see-saw to see if it would hold both of us up - it did! That afternoon we checked out Gracetown beach then grabbed our boogie boards and headed off to the Margaret River Surf Beach. Even though the waves were massive we had lots of fun, but I got dumped many times. After Jackson and I had too much salt in our eyes and noses we went to swim in the Margaret River Mouth - which, even though it is right next to the ocean where we'd just been swimming, is not salty at all.

The next morning Jackson wasn't feeling great.....we soon found out he had Covid. After Mum and Dad had sorted everything out with Jackson, I went to the Gracetown Jetty with Dad where I took the kayak out and followed Dad whilst he went diving (this is usually Jackson's job!). I didn't like it as there were really big breakers crashing right where I was supposed to be with Dad. Though, before we went in, Dad got a mega crayfish- the biggest we have got on the trip so far. That afternoon I went out with Mum and we went exploring multiple beaches. At the first one we had fun jumping the big waves and at the second one we swam out to a pontoon (there was heaps of seaweed that kept brushing against our legs so I wanted to get to the pontoon really quickly). The final beach we went to was Margaret River Surf Beach, but Mum and I decided not to brave the ridiculously big waves so we swam in the calm river mouth instead.

The next day Jackson was feeling a bit better so we went to Kilcarnup Beach, which is a surfing hot spot. There were awesome waves to boogie board on and they didn't crash on us too many times. It was so much fun jumping the waves that I didn't want to get out, even when we were about to leave. That afternoon we went back to the Margaret River mouth where we met up with some friends and had another swim. After dinner Jackson, Mum and I went to watch 'Minions; The Rise of Gru' which the caravan park was playing on a big outdoor screen.

On the morning we left, Jackson, Mum and I played a round of mini-golf on the fun course in the caravan park. I won!! We still had heaps of fun at Gracetown, even though Jackson wasn't feeling great.