I took advantage of the Australia Day long weekend and jumped on a plane to Perth for the first time to visit one of my best friends, Gemma.
Everyone complains about how long the flight is… honestly, I slept the whole way. Didn’t even eat my food on the way over! Although, I do really enjoy plane time. I’m either fast asleep (90% of the time) or pretty productive working or writing blogs.
We spent our first day at the gorgeous Rottnest Island, cycling in stupid heat, snorkelling and searching out Quokkas. Read about it here.
We were going to head in to watch the fireworks for Australia Day in the city but there was a terrible plane accident and they were cancelled. We were both buggered anyway from a massive day exploring, instead deciding to lie on the couch, drink a bottle of Moët and watch a movie.
Friday we went into the city, walked up Jacobs Ladder (twice, 250 stairs – gahh) around the gardens overlooking the city and back around. We had lunch at Revelry in Elizabeth Quay and some delicious gelato. Our friend Renee met us and we went back home for some bevvies on the deck and a lovely dinner Gemma made. Side note – Nando’s peri peri chicken marinade is awesome.
Saturday I met Renee’s beautiful son Max. Gem and I napped the arvo before dumplings in Northbridge and the Limbo show at the Perth Fringe Festival at the Pleasure Garden. Phenomenal show in the Speigaltent, incredible music and talented performers with a burlesque style. Had everyone in the audience raptured in the performance. After the show we went for some drinks, Shady Tony’s was a trendy, hidden prohibition bar with great cocktails.
Sunday I was treated to a winery tour from Gemma and Celia with D’vine wine tours around the Swan Valley. We visited three wineries, a chocolate house and a brewery. My favourite was Fig Tree Estate, they had a fab dry sparkling, a chocolatey merlot and the best cheese and olives. I bought some of the French soft cows cheese, it was rich and creamy. If I had room in my luggage I would have purchased some of the Sicilian green olives too.
For our last evening together we ate cheese (yup the one from above) and had pasta with a movie at home. We had both enough of drinking by then!
Monday we checked out Little Creatures Brewery in Freo for a scrumptious lunch (you can read about that here) and the local boutiques.
Now here I am on the plane heading back to Brisbane and battling to keep my eyes open… night!