A Hop to Perth Puts the Size of This Country into Perspective!

After a fantastic week in Melbourne, we packed a bag and said our temporary goodbyes to the Lawrence fam. We were off on a walkabout—or rather, a jet-about—to see more of Australia. Next stop: 4.5 hours west to Perth!

I have to admit, I didn’t quite realise just how far it was from Melbourne to Perth—or how different the climate and terrain would be. When we landed on the other side of the country, we were greeted by Dave’s Aunt Mary, gorgeous weather, and beautiful beaches. We’d found out that Dave’s cousins Joe and Naomi were living in Perth (relocated from New Zealand), and we couldn’t miss this opportunity to visit family and explore another part of the country. Aunt Mary was also in town visiting, which was a bonus for us. After picking us up, she took us straight to Hillarys Boat Harbour for a breezy lunch and a stroll along the water.

We instantly fell in love with Perth—its stunning weather, beautiful beaches, and laid-back vibe. With kite surfers cutting through the waves, white cockatoos overhead, and bougainvillea spilling colour across fences, it felt like we’d landed in a slower, sunnier corner of Australia.

When we arrived at cousin Joe’s house, we found what seemed to be the official Aussie welcome: a goodie bag of Tim Tams waiting in our room. Clearly, this country knows how to host—we’d been spoiled with Tim Tams at the Lawrences too. Bless this land of biscuits.

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The Freo Monster!

We spent the next few days exploring Perth and nearby Fremantle—or Freo, as the locals call it. We wandered through shops and galleries, strolled around Kings Park, and even learned a bit of local history at The Round House, the oldest public building in Western Australia.

One of my favourite stops was the Glen Cowan Gallery—absolutely stunning ocean photography. Funny story: after leaving the gallery we stopped for a bite of lunch and I wrote a quick online review of the gallery. A bit later, as we were walking down the street, I heard someone calling my name. Who on earth could know me in this far corner of Australia? Turns out Glen Cowan had already seen my review and stopped us on the street to thank me. I’m already making friends!

We took a tour of the Fremantle Prison—gritty, intense, and fascinating. We walked through old cells, saw artwork prisoners had created, stood in the courtyard where men on death row took their final steps, and even visited the execution chamber. Absolute chicken skin moment.

After that intense tour, we needed something lighter, so we headed to Little Creatures Brewery. Our tour guide was a total character—in the best possible way. Funny, informative, and generous with the samples (cheers to that!). After the tour, we grabbed lunch on the deck out back. There was a giant sandpit where kids ran wild while parents sipped pints. We couldn’t stop laughing at one little guy we dubbed The Freo Monster. He made roaring noises and chased every bird in sight.

Freo was just my vibe. If I ever found myself moving Down Under, that’s where I’d want to land.