Manjimup
Strange name and strange attitude at the caravan park, (could not use any nearby free camps as they did not allow dogs, so I booked into the caravan park for the remaining time before I was due in Perth. (mistake on my behalf had I known then what I now know I would have by passed this park)
Why is this a strange place, unfortunately my opinion is coloured by the attitude of the park management. Everywhere else I have been if the site is clear no matter the time they let you in, here not so, I knew that their book-in was 1:00pm and arriving in town much earlier I waited not seeing them till 12:45 I was promptly told 1:00pm not earlier but I was welcome to buy a cup of coffee and sit outside I did not do that. (booking in was inside a Deli owned by the park) another van arrived at 12:55 again they were told to wait till 1:00 not before, yet once we were allowed to enter the park the area where we were both allocated was completely empty not another van in sight and from later observations the sites would have been ready at no later than 11:00am, the cynic in me suggest waiting to 1:00pm would encourage people to buy lunch from the deli (the opposite for me I was determined not to buy anything from that deli) we were also charged a $20 deposit in the amenities key which we would only be refunded IF WE BOOKED OUT BEFORE 10:00 no later.
Later during my stay instead of spreading caravans around the park they crowed us all into one area so that we were on top of each other, no wonder the park and deli are for sale. Two visits in one for me FIRST & LAST I would not recommend Manjimup Central, even though the location is handy as you can walk to the shops including Woolworths. So where would I go to see this area well there are three main alternatives, Bridgetown, Greenbushes or Ballingup especially if it were the 4th weekend in August when they have a two day Medieval Carnival, all are close enough to Manjimup for any grocery shopping at Wollies.
Manjimup is a typical small country town do not expect the shops to open on Sunday, even Woolies did not open till 11:00am, many did not open at all as the town is dead on Sunday.
he town was ideally located for me to explore more of the coastal areas Like Bunbury, and Busselton, Margret River and Augusta/Cape Leeuwin thought they were a reasonable drive away.
Bunbury, Busselton and Margret River did not overly impress me other than seeing the Busselton Jetty which I would have loved to walk but did not for two reasons, I could not take MM and I had to pay for the privilege, I could have left MM in the car but it was a warm day and the time I would have been away would be too long. Bunbury is just another big town, Margret River is just another wine growing area, (as is the whole area I travelled through from Mount Barker) the coast line not very dramatic so I was happy I was not staying there.
Cape Leeuwin and Augusta on the other hand were well worth the visit not just for the lighthouse but the whole coast, staying here would have been worth it (Note to self. Come back again this time stay local)
Cape Leeuwin Light House
Where Two Oceans Meet
The drive there took me through some very tall timber country one stop I made where it was safe to stop not only had the tall trees but also hidden behind them a natural solid granite wall.
Look through the trees and see the granite wall
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Becoming a Grey Nomad