72 Hours in Cape Town: The best things to see and do.

Cape Town has drawn us back. A year and a half after our first experience of the capital of South Africa's Western Cape, we couldn't resist another visit. What is it about Cape Town's eclectic mix of African and European culture which is so compelling?  Last visit we had only two days to explore the city, much of it spent in a jet-lag induced haze. This time, armed with a couple of Cape Town Passes, we were determined to see all the things we missed.

Our Cape Town Passes gave us entry to the city's best attractions and the phone app which came with them worked like a travel guide with descriptions and photos of each attraction and turn by turn directions showing how to get to them.

Mantra Geraldton on Western Australia's Coral Coast

David has a golden rule when it comes to holiday accommodation. Find the best place in town and stay there - who can argue with that - and so we found ourselves at Mantra Geraldton on the Coral Coast of Western Australia. This was meant to be a quick stop over on our way further north but Geraldton turned out to be a hidden gem. Four and a half hours from Perth by road, it is the last large town for more than a thousand kilometres. It has a 'leaving civilisation' kind of feel to it. You want to stay somewhere nice because it might be a while before you get the luxury of good accommodation again.

Whales in Paradise - Whale Watching on Australia's Gold Coast

Every year from April to November humpback whales turn the east coast of Australia into a whale migration super highway. In the southern hemisphere's summer humpbacks gorge themselves on krill in the waters off Antarctica, then as winter approaches they head north on a 10,000 kilometre journey. The females give birth in the warm sub-tropical waters before returning to their feeding grounds in Antarctica. This makes Australia's east coast a world class venue for whale watching. Combine that with a near perfect winter climate and south-east Queensland must be one of the best places on the planet to see these magnificent creatures.

Willie Creek Pearl Farm and the Perfect Pearl.

Have you ever heard the expression, 'you don't choose the pearl, the pearl chooses you.' At first blush it sounds like just another advertising slogan - except this time it's true. On our first trip to Broome in Western Australia, way back in 2004, David gave me an Australian South Sea Pearl. Out of hundreds of pearls on display, that pearl was the one I fell in love with. It remains my most treasured piece of jewellery. A single, tear-drop shaped white pearl on a simple gold chain - I wear it everywhere.

David decided to buy it for me when he saw me admiring the pearls in the showroom of Willie Creek Pearl Farm.  With not a lot of time to see the sights of Broome on this trip, the one thing we did not want to miss was a return to Willie Creek and its tour of how these exquisite gems are produced.

Berkeley River Lodge: A wilderness resort in the Kimberley, Western Australia

There are few places left on the planet where you can visit an untouched wilderness. Berkeley River, on the far northwest coast of Western Australia is one. Beyond the outback, the landscape stretches from one horizon to the other without a single sign of human habitation save Berkeley River Lodge - and perhaps a lone sailor sheltering for the night in the safety of the river mouth.  Access is by light plane from Darwin or Kununurra and supplies arrive by barge. There are no roads in or out.

Wai-O-Tapu: Geothermal Wonders in New Zealand

You know an attraction is good when you do it again the first chance you get. Wai-O-Tapu was like that for us. We discovered this geothermal wonderland two years ago on a trip to New Zealand's North Island. On our return this year, Wai-O-Tapu was top of our list of things to see.

Wai-O-Tapu (meaning 'sacred waters' in Maori) is a stunning geothermal attraction with a well-deserved reputation for being the most colourful and diverse in New Zealand. Wai-O-Tapu is part of one of the most extensive geothermal systems in New Zealand;  literally covered with steam vents, boiling pools of mud, multi-coloured mineral laden pools and collapsed craters.

Q Station Manly: A unique place in Sydney's history.

On Thursday 18 May 1882, 25 year old Thomas Frost, his wife Evelina, 23 and their three children Clara 5, Florence 3 and Christina 1, set sail on the ship Orontes from Plymouth in England en route to Sydney, Australia.

Clara was my great grandmother.

Two months later, on 19 July the Orontes arrived in Sydney Harbour. It was a migrant ship and my forbears and their fellow passengers came to Australia to begin a new life. However before they were allowed to disembark, the Orontes like all other migrant ships arriving in Sydney had to be declared free of contagious diseases.

A Ghost Tour at Q Station, Manly

Do you believe in ghosts? I do - now! A ghost tour at Q Station,  the old quarantine station at Manly in Sydney's north, will shake the scepticism out of the most ardent non-believer.

It is well after dark. We have had a long, enjoyable dinner at the Boilerhouse Restaurant where, under the guidance of chef Matt Kemp, the food is nothing short of spectacular. Bob, our ghost hunting guide, meets us below the giant stairway which leads to the upper levels of Q Station. Earlier today we were told contestants on The Biggest Loser run up and down these stairs as part of their weight-loss regimes. I wonder how many don't make it - no wonder they say the place is haunted.

Self-contained accommodation in Albany: Albany Harbourside Apartments and Houses.

David and I came to Albany in Western Australia for the whales. In September 1998, when our boys were little, we arrived to discover two of these magnificent creatures had taken up temporary residence in King George Sound. The weather was warm, the sun was shining and the whales were making the most of a temporary respite from their long journey south. They stayed in the sound for three or four days, putting on a great show of frolicking, slapping their tales and generally, dare I say it, having a 'whale of a time'. One afternoon as I walked along the boardwalk at Middleton Beach, I saw them directly below me, no more than a few metres away - their massive, sleek bodies gliding effortlessly through the water. It was an experience I will never forget.

The National ANZAC Centre, Albany, Western Australia

Perched on a cliff, high above Albany, the National ANZAC Centre looks out across King George Sound toward the Great Southern Ocean. In 1914 in response to the outbreak of World War I, Australia raised a new army -  the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). At the time Australia as a nation was little more than a decade old. The AIF was joined by a force from New Zealand and together they became known as the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs). For the 41,265 men of the First and Second ANZAC Convoys, the coast of Albany was their last sight of Australia. 60,000 Australians and 18,000 New Zealanders perished in the war at a time when the two countries had a combined population of just 6 million people - every Australian soldier was a volunteer. The National ANZAC Centre is dedicated to telling the stories of the men and women of the First and Second convoys and the stories of the ANZACS who followed them. David's great uncle was among the Australian dead.

Fraser Suites, Perth - a review.

Check out the kangaroos in the foreground!

UPDATE: 2025 FRASER SUITES HAS CLOSED

In June 2025 The Western Australian Government announced it had purchased Fraser Suites in order to provide affordable housing. The refurbishment for this purpose is currently underway.

David says I am an easy wife to please - 'give me a five-star hotel and I am happy anywhere!' Personally, I think that's a bit harsh, although I do confess to being partial to a comfortable bed, crisp sheets, fluffy towels, and a nice, modern bathroom - add in a flat screen TV, complimentary wifi (I am a blogger after all) and a separate living room, and I am in seventh heaven. At Fraser Suites Perth, we had all that and then some. Our particular suite had the ultimate of all active traveller extravagances - a washing machine and dryer!

Captain Cook Cruises Hop On Hop Off Sydney Harbour Explorer

'Get out on the harbour!' - This is the one piece of advice I always give visitors. You can't truly appreciate Sydney without seeing it from the water. I also used to say it didn't matter whether you went on a tour or a ferry, but David and I recently spent a day with Captain Cook Cruises Hop on Hop Off Sydney Harbour Explorer and the experience was so much better than riding the ordinary ferries I can't believe how much we have missed over the years.

One of a Kind apartments, Canberra

One of a Kind apartments, Canberra prides itself on its eco-friendly design and environmentally sustainable business practices. I sometimes worry about the massive carbon footprint David and I create with our constant travel. At One of a Kind my conscience was able to take a break for a few days.

The apartments are quiet, modern  and well-located.  David, not a green warrior in any sense of the word, just loved the tranquil surroundings.

Charlestown Executive Apartments, Newcastle.

Modern, spacious, quiet, and with all the comforts of home, Charlestown Executive Apartments is an example of the kind of accommodation sadly lacking in Australia until a few years ago.

We have come to Newcastle to cycle the Fernleigh Track rail trail and explore one of Australia's most beautiful and under-rated cities. From our home in Sydney, Newcastle is less than two hours by road - the perfect destination for a couple of nights away.

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures is 40 minutes north of Cairns in Far North Queensland. We have just boarded a boat for a twenty-five minute lagoon cruise. The murky water is swarming with massive, prehistoric-looking monsters: saltwater crocodiles, the largest living reptiles on the planet. The safety briefing is short, sweet and sparks a muffled chorus of nervous laughter.

"If you look under your seats you will find there are no life vests. The reason is obvious."

Several crocs notice our presence and swim silently toward us. Luckily our boat has a solid, unsinkable feel to it.