The morning after our incredible day in Rottnest, we packed up and encountered our first significant mishap of the trip. I accidentally left one of the caravan support legs unfolded, and as we pulled away from the campsite, it bent beyond repair. Fortunately, this happened while we were still in Perth, allowing us to find a replacement at a caravan supply store on our way out of town. A quick swap, and we were back on track, heading north.

We departed from Mandurah and made our way to Perth. Along our journey, we paused to catch up with old colleagues (for anyone from work reading along, it was Brad and Chloe White), who had just returned to the area. It was wonderful to reconnect and see some familiar faces over breakfast. After our reunion, we set off for the caravan park, which boasted two inviting pools and a large spa that the kids immediately enjoyed. Refreshed and cool, we ventured into town to witness the last of the Giants, which was all the way up here. We also grabbed a few supplies in anticipation of the next day’s adventure to Rottnest Island.

After a wonderful time in Margaret River, we ventured inland to Collie, eager to discover its renowned blue lakes, natural pools, and vibrant town artwork. We parked in a free campsite alongside the Clarke family, whom we befriended in Margaret River. Their two children clicked instantly with Ollie and Lily, making for great companionship.

After leaving the cozy confines of our tiny house for the final time, we set off to explore a few remaining beaches in Albany that we hadn’t yet visited. Our first stop was Emu Point, followed by the scenic Middleton Beach. There, we paused for a coffee—milkshakes for the kids—while they enjoyed themselves on the playground. Our time in Albany was memorable.

After wrapping up our adventures at Cape Le Grand, our journey led us to Albany. We initially returned to Esperance to explore a few beaches we had missed, but the weather initially had other plans as we got caught in a torrential downpour. We patiently waited out the storm while replenishing our supplies and enjoying a leisurely lunch. By the time we reached the iconic Twilight Beach, the rain had cleared and we got some lovely sunshine. We spent a few hours there before heading off to find a place to park up for the night.

After our adventure across the Nullarbor, we made a stop in Esperance to replenish our supplies. Having crossed two state borders with strict quarantine rules, we found ourselves missing fresh fruit and vegetables. However, the steep prices—some as high as $12.99 per kilogram for bananas and apples—limited our choices. Despite these challenges, we did our best to restock before heading to our first caravan park, located an hour east of Esperance. Our main reason for visiting was to experience Wharton Beach, celebrated as one of Australia’s finest.

After a night spent in Hamley Bridge, we set off for the scenic Eyre Peninsula. Our first stop along the route was yet another dried-up Pink Lake—there are more of these than we ever imagined! But this one had its own unique twist: a Loch Ness Monster sculpture perched right in the middle. Though we hadn’t planned to stop, the kids were captivated, and it proved to be a worthwhile detour.

On Saturday morning, we wrapped up our packing, bid a heartfelt farewell to Renjo, and readied ourselves for our journey westward. It was wonderful to have friends and family drop by throughout the morning to say their goodbyes, with some even staying to wave us off as we set out.