Gold Coast, Hinterlands and Brisbane, Australia/ Family Travelogue 13 May~19 May 2017

Currumbin Beach, Gold coast, Queensland, Australia

Gold coast is at present the 6th largest city in Australia and the second largest city in the state of Queensland.  Gold coast was originally known as South coast - located South of Brisbane, the state capital.  Tourism is the city"s main industry globally known for its: sub tropical climate, long sandy beaches. great surfing spots, theme parks, rainforest hinterlands and home to mursupial such as the Koala and Kangaroo.  

Fast ferry to Rottnest Island, Perth, Western Australia/ Family Travelogue 19 November 2016

approaching Rottnest Island

Our second day in Perth started with buffet breakfast at the hotel.  We then prepared for our today's adventure,  to the many amazing beaches on Rottnest Island.

We booked our tour a month before online through Adams Pinnacle tour.  Check out below our tour booking.  The fees include round trip fast ferry to Rottnest Island and Grand Island tour.

Grand Island Tour coverage:

Historic Train ride to Oliver hill Guns making and Tunnel Tour

Coach to the pride of this island, its many beautiful beaches and bays

light lunch and bottled water

Local informative guides

Fremantle, Western Australia: Fishing Boat Harbour, Bathers beach, Shipwreck Museum, Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Markets/ Family Travelogue 18 November 2016

Fremantle is a port city in Western Australia, half an hour away from Perth City.  It was founded in 1829 when the ship HMS Challenger (British ship)  arrived near the mouth of Swan river.  Fremantle was named after the captain of the ship, Capt Fremantle. 

Fremantle  was at first a free colony.  It was populated by English people who migrated by choice.   Parmelia, 36 meter vessel, was chartered by the English govt to carry the first settlers from England to Western Australia.  The voyage took four months.

Settlement in Fremantle was not good in the first 20 years, England decided to make Fremantle a penal colony despite the great concern of the current settlers then.  Convicts from New South Wales were transported to Fremantle  and in the later years, mixed with convicts from India.  The convicts were used as labour for the construction of buildings and public works.  The Fremantle Prison, a World Heritage site, was constructed using convict labour.  The convict era period started in 1849 and transportation of convicts ceased in 1868.  The Fremantle Prison was used for the local prisoners till 1991.

Perth City Downtown Hay Street Mall Murray Street Mall/ Family Travelogue November 2016

We had a short visit to Perth in November 2016, from 18 to 22.  It was  our firm trip and school holiday  had just started in Singapore, I was able to take our youngest.  My husband and the eldest had no more annual leaves to file. A week after this Perth trip, we had a 3 week vacation in US.

The following are the other posts that I would be sharing later:

Fremantle  18 Nov 2016
Swan River and Elizabeth Quay  18 Nov 2016
Ferry to Rottnest Island  19 Nov 2016
Rottnest Island 19 Nov 2016
Kings Park and Fremantle Market 20 Nov 2016
Yanchep National Park 21 Nov 2016
Lancaster sand boarding 21 Nov 2016
Pinnacles 21 Nov 2016
Takeaway Meals at Coles Supermarket

TakeAway Ready-Meal at Coles Supermarket, Perth City, Australia