van wyk journeys October 21st, 2010 – Busselton and Margaret River
The Margaret River region is home to limestone caves, peaceful hamlets, picturesque landscapes and sparkling beaches. Discover the area’s beauty for yourself on this leisurely sightseeing trip to the quaint township of Margaret River. Your first stop is Canal Rocks, a natural phenomenon 700 million years in the making. These ancient and unusual rock formations of orange-colored granite jut into the ocean and are separated by a series of canals that have been hollowed out by the pounding sea. Marvel at the ocean’s beauty and power from the short boardwalk and bridge that traverse the canals. The next stop is the town of Margaret River.
As you approach, you will cross the famed river and enjoy views of a picturesque forest and parkland. Your time in Margaret River will be at your leisure to wander its one long street which is lined with cafes, gourmet food and curiosity shops, boutiques, galleries and much more. It’s the combination of the best food, wine, art and a love of nature which contributes to the heart and soul of Margaret River. At the conclusion of this trip, you’ll hop back aboard your coach and return to your awaiting ship. Borrowed from the Prince Patter.
The tour today started with a 20 to 25-minute tender ride from the ship moored about 5 km offshore as the Albany port does not have a deep-water port, hence the tenders. The morning trip was pretty smooth but the return journey was a little more boisterous as the winds had picked up to about 35 km/hr making for 3 – 4-foot waves that sometimes entered the tender getting a few passengers wet.
This tour was very much about the scenery with a stop at a neat rocky formation called Canal Rocks. With the number of people at feature, it was difficult to get photos but the ones that I took are below in the slider. The tour takes us through many vineyards before arriving in Margaret River. After looking around we stopped for lunch. Then boarded the bus for a return trip to the ship.
