Hooroo

As I sit here in the Blasta Brewing Company, slowly working my way through their food and beer menu, I contemplate the last eight weeks of travelling across this wild and beautiful place.

With the end insight, I must confessing to loving the journey. I have seen things, such as the technicolor reefs, that I have never seen before, and I may never again. The red outback sands with their soulful indigenous stories truly opened my mind and enriched my spirit. Above all though, life on the open road in a country rich with possibility changed my outlook on life.

I would urge everyone to travel as far and as widely as possible. Find out how other people live. Learn from them, wherever you go...

Fremantle

Fremantle's relaxed spirit is just what is needed for this weary traveller. I wander around the formerly grand Victorian and Edwardian buildings that line the streets of the city. Ducking into the Western Australian Museum to view the impressive Shipwreck Galleries, which are considered the finest display of maritime archaeology in the southern hemisphere.

After, I settle down for a long lunch and an opportunity to rest my legs whilst completing a beer tasting session at the Little Creatures Brewery.

Final stop of the day is a tour of the Fremantle Prison. With its 5m-high foreboding walls, the convict-era prison is a real eye-opening experience into the harsh conditions that greeted most new arrivals to Australia in the early days.

My day ended in my own prison cell, packing my bags for tomorrow's departure...

Meet the Quokkas

After the bounciest of boat rides to Rottnest Island, I spend the day cycling around the tiny island. En-route I see pods of seals sunbathing on the rocks, pods of dolphins playing the bay and pods of whales cruising by the island all from the comfort of my bicycle.

My favourite of all the wildlife on display are the quokkas. The cute little docile bundles of fur have a reputation of being the happiest animal on Earth and have little fear of humans. Which, given the behaviour of the majority of the tourists, is not a good thing!