thawaio.a personal journal
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Part 6 of 10Western Australia, 2017

Margaret River and a Chalet in the Woods

A coach south from Perth, a second try at renting a car, and a quiet chalet deep in the woods that became our base in the South West.

By Thawaio2 min read8–11 April 2017 · Margaret River

Looking out from a shaded timber veranda over a gravel drive to tall peppermint and gum trees, with another brick building half hidden among them.
The view from our chalet into the woods.

On 8 April, we left Perth for the South West.

We had originally hoped to rent a car in Perth. The plan was for my father-in-law to drive. He had an international driving licence, but he didn’t have a credit card in his name, and that meant we couldn’t rent the car.

So we travelled south by coach instead, from the Elizabeth Quay Busport.

The two photographs from that day were taken in the city, probably before we caught the coach.

Glass office towers and a modern building with a green awning beside a broad, bright green lawn and a large leafy tree, under a deep blue sky.
In the city on 8 April.
A small child in a green T-shirt and red trousers leaning against a dark column outside a glass building, next to a camera bag on the ground.
Our son, beside the camera bag.

We arrived in Margaret River later that day.

Getting to the chalet

After getting off the coach, we still had to reach our accommodation. There weren’t many taxis or local buses to get us there, and I remember dragging our suitcases for a long time that afternoon before we finally reached the chalet, in the woods and well away from the town.

A second try at renting a car

The next morning, 9 April, we walked back into the town centre. We went to the tourist information centre to ask about places nearby and how we could get to them.

They suggested that we try our luck with a car rental company nearby.

We had already failed to rent a car in Perth because of the credit card problem. This time, in Margaret River, it worked. We rented a small car, and my father-in-law drove us around the South West for the rest of our stay.

The chalet

We stayed in a chalet set well inside a wooded area. I no longer remember the name of the place.

What I do remember is the setting. The trees, and the peace and quiet of the woods, made it a memorable place to stay.

Looking out from a shaded timber veranda over a gravel drive to tall peppermint and gum trees, with another brick building half hidden among them.
The view from our chalet into the woods.
Inside a two-storey brick chalet, with an open timber staircase rising beneath a red-painted underside, a small table with a vase of leaves, and a framed sunset print on the wall.
Inside the chalet.

We enjoyed walking around the woods, away from the town.

On the morning of 10 April, I photographed a footbridge across a dark, quiet river among the trees. I’m no longer sure exactly where it was.

A timber footbridge with metal railings crossing a dark, still river, with warning signs on a post beside the path and tall gums and green bush on either side.
A footbridge over the river.

There were playgrounds around the area, and our son enjoyed them.

From here, we drove out to Augusta, Cape Leeuwin and Busselton.