Perth, Western Australia (2016)

I couldn't help smiling when we had coffee in the main shopping street in Perth, Western Australia when I noticed the clock. I immediately recognized the windows 'Blue screen of death', so apparently the clock is a small computer running on Microsoft Windows. No idea why as it seems a bit overdone. However, it would be a nice picture to hang on an office wall in an IT company as it will turn some heads.

"Let silent contemplation be your offering" reads the inscription in the State war memorial in Kings Park in Perth, Western Australia. It's the perfect place for a memorial with amazing views all around.

While wandering around in Kings Park in Perth, Western Australia there are many different trees and flowers to admire from all regions in Australia. I was amazed to see this beautiful peppermint tree (Wonnil). It was especially beautiful with the light shining through its leaves.

The Wittenoom floral clock is located in the botanical garden in Kings Park in Perth, Western Australia. Many wildflowers can be found here making it a colorful sight to see.

Kings Park in Perth, Western Australia is an enormous city park consisting of a well-maintained botanical garden as well as bushland. Ths peaceful pond can be found in the maintained section of the park and it's a joy to just sit here and relax for a bit.

Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Western Australia is the place to go to for a wonderful sunset in combination with some great swimming. Many people are usually gathering here which makes it a nice experience. Golden hour at the beach is particularly beautiful.

Looking over Perth, Western Australia in the evening is an almost magical experience and Kings Park is the place to be to be able to do just that. The skyline in the background and Elizabeth Quay are clearly visible.

These days I'm no longer going to a zoo of any kind as I feel animals should not be kept in captivity. However, a few years ago when I was staying in Perth, Western Australia me and my wife went to visit AQWA in the township of Hillarys. AQWA is a sea aquarium showing off many fish species including sharks and manta rays. We liked this little striped one who looks just like Nemo in the movie.

Beaches like this one in Hillarys near Perth, Western Australia are plentiful and easy to find. They are a great place for windsurfing which many people do. We spend quite some time enjoying the various windsurfers on the Indian Ocean.

Enjoying the windsurfers on the beach in Hillarys near Perth, Western Australia. Lots of young people here make use of the excellent conditions that the Indian Ocean offers. We particularly enjoyed the shenanigans of this windsurfer against a backdrop of the late afternoon sun shining on the water.

Spending some time on Elizabeth Quay in Perth, Western Australia around sunset. Crossing the Elizabeth Quay bridge is a wonderful experience, especially at night when all the LED lights are lit. I just love the design.

All along the coastline of Western Australia views like this one are common. Lots of small isolated beaches to enjoy the ocean all by yourself. Most can easily be reached by car. This here is the rocky coast at Iluka beach in Joondalup.

Visiting Yanchep National Park in Yanchep, Western Australia, A beautiful place for hiking, admiring wildlife and enjoying nature. They host a number of koalas in a preservation area. This one was particularly curious.

While out for a day while staying in Perth, Western Australia we ended up in Yanchep National Park. Beautiful park for some great hiking and admiring wildlife. Here we stumbled upon a kangaroo that was hiding from the sun.

Whenever we are in Perth, Western Australia we always try to visit The Pinnacles. It's a nice drive North for a couple of hours before you end up in a totally different and unique environment. Driving your car through the desert between the yellow limestone pillars is an other-worldly experience.

Driving on the Great Northern Highway in Western Australia on our way back to Perth we just had to stop to admire the orange skies. No views over the Indian Ocean but still an amazing sunset. The sky seems to be on fire.

Opposite the airbnb we had rented in Perth, Western Australia we discovered a gem of a small park called John Oldham Park, tucked in between several highways. Although small in size it offers a really good nature experience including this (artifical) waterfall.

Officially we were a little too late for wildflower season in Perth, Western Australia. In late Spring (November) there are not many wildflowers left to admire. However, on a trip inland we did manage to see some, like these fields with lots of yellow wildflowers.

We took a day to drive from Perth down to Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia. Apart from the flies it was a great place to explore some amazing nature and walk along the cliffs. We loved the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse.

Our awesome walk in the area around Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia led us to the edges of some amazing cliffs. The view here was magnificent and in the right season it would even be possible to watch migrating whales here. Getting down there is possible but hard to reach.

On the way back from our day trip to Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia we stopped for dinner in Bunbury. Found a nice little restaurant with a beautiful ocean view. Great place to witness another Indian Ocean sunset.

We had such an early rise this morning and walked towards Elizabeth Quay in Perth, Western Australia to board the fast ferry to Rottnest Island. I loved looking at the Perth skyline while passing the Elizabeth Quay bridge.

Up early to spend the day on Rottnest Island in Western Australia. It's an easy boat ride by the fast ferry from Perth, following the Swan River towards Fremantle and then onwards to the island.

It's one awesome bay after another on Rottnest Island in Western Australia. Renting a bicycle is easy and allows you to see the whole island at your own speed. Here we are at Salmon Bay and I loved climbing the rocks.

While cycling around on Rottnest Island in Western Australia we were lucky to come cross quite a few quokkas. Quokkas are small marsupials and by far the cutest and happiest animals in the world. They only live on Rottnest Island and are very much used to people so getting close to them is very easy. Even petting them is possible. We loved seeing this quokka mum protecting her young.

During our bicycle trip on Rottnest Island in Western Australia we came across many beautiful turquoise bays. Here we arrived at Stark Bay looking at Ricey Beach where we sat down for a nice picnic lunch.

We were enjoying our picnic lunch on the beach at Stark Bay on Rottnest Island in Western Australia when this seagull was circling above us. It was obviously on patrol searching for food and thought it might get a piece of our lunch.

Rottnest Island in Western Australia has a couple of awesome beaches. They can easily be reached by either bus of bicycle. This here is Ricey Beach and our personal favourite. Almost every time we went to this beach we were all alone there.

When we wanted to take a look at Little Parakeet Bay on Rottnest Island, Western Australia we stumbled upon this ceremony sign. We followed the sign and saw the intimate setting of a wedding that would take place on the beach. Such a great spot for a wedding.

We were quite taken by this tunnel of light while walking home from downtown Perth, Western Australia. Even though it was just there for construction purposes it looked great at night when the light literally draws you in.

Next to St. Mary's cathedral in Perth, Western Australia is a large office building. The cathedral is nicely reflected in the windows.

St. Mary's cathedral is around the corner from where we stayed in Perth, Western Australia. It's a beautiful Roman Catholic church and a combination of original gothic architecture with some modern additions. Even though we are not religious persons we do love this cathedral.

Spanda on Elizabeth Quay in Perth, Western Australia is a truly beautiful piece of art. Here it is intertwined with the arches of the bridge in the background.

Spanda is located on The Landing and links between the river, the land and the sky to welcome visitors to the quay. The form of the sculpture represents ripples or orbits, referencing the ripples of water in the pavement design of Elizabeth Quay and its connection to the sky and the universal form of elliptical orbits from atoms, to planets and galaxies.

The Elizabeth Quay bridge at sunset in Perth, Western Australia is truly magnificent to see. The amazing design goes so well against the backdrop of the orange sunset sky. We had a drink at a restaurant on the quay while the evening unfolded.

The area around Elizabeth Quay in Perth, Western Australia is one of the nicer places to hang around at. From one of the restaurants you have an excellent view on the beautifully designed Elizabeth Quay Bridge. Especially at sunset it is a sight to behold.

On our final morning in Perth, Western Australia we left for the airport but had some time to visit the famous Crawley Edge boatshed. It is definitely a must-see on the list of places to visit and has become the most photographed boatshed in the world. This blue boat house at sunrise is a truly lovely sight, especially when no other visitors are present.