Tag Archives: Ray Chaput

Australia

Sydney Australia Part 1

We knew it would be an adventure visiting Sydney, but we didn’t realize just how much the city would capture our hearts.

We began our first day by  taking a stroll through the lush Botanical Garden of Sydney which is located in the heart of the city. We were surrounded by an array of beautiful unique flowers and vegetation.

The sound of birds singing from the trees was everywhere and as we strolled we came across a few of the local residents of the Gardens.

We walked along the winding paths of the Gardens working our way towards the Opera house. Eventually we could see the iconic white sails of the Sydney Opera House in the distance. 

We continued walking until we turned a corner of the Gardens and found ourselves in the heart of the Sydney Bay. What an amazing sight, there were restaurants and activity everywhere. Our first stop was to check out the Iconic Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House was one of the top things we wanted to see and it did not disappoint.  Seeing it in person was something special and photos just don’t do it justice. We took a guided tour and learned about the building’s fascinating history. We were able to walk through the interior of it and enjoyed seeing the amazing architectural design. 

When we were up close, the tile design is even more incredible. The tiles are made from ceramic created by the Swedish company. They have a self-cleaning glaze, which helps them stay bright despite the weather.  There are two main types of tiles, a glossy white and matte cream which are arranged in a chevron pattern. This gives the shells their shimmering appearance. There are approximately 1,056,006 tiles that cover the roof.

The inside of the Opera house is spectacular with glass walls, pink granite floor tiles, white birch plywood and brush box timber. (an Australian hardwood).

After exploring the Opera House we strolled along the waterfront admiring the views.  

That evening, we dined on a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Opera House, and honestly, it felt like something out of a dream.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the harbour turned gold and the lights of the city began to twinkle. We enjoyed our meal and celebrated our first day in Sydney. What an adventure it was.

“Cheers Mate”

Australia

A Magical Day at the Pinnacles

Our day began early, leaving the bustle of the city behind for the golden sands of Nambung National Park.  We stopped several times along the way to explore some unique and interesting points.  One stop was to walk to the Nilgen Park and lookout point. A beautiful view of the Indian Ocean, wild flowers and unique plants.

We continued on our trip stoping along the coastline in the Nambung National Park to explore the secluded beautiful sand beach which overlooks the Indian Ocean. 

Shelley walked to the waters edge to feel the salt water of the Indian Ocean.

We also took some time exploring the small coastal town of Guilderton. It is located at the mouth of the Moore River in the Shire of Gingin in Western Australia. What made this particularly interesting was the history of this region.

It was originally known as Gabbadah, an Aboriginal term meaning “mouthful of water”.  The river mouth regularly opens and closes depending on the seasons, and alternates between a closed lagoon and a tidal estuary.

The mouth of the Moore River in WA.
Shelley at the lookout area

We walked to the lookout and took in the stunning views. It was a great little coastal town. When we finally arrived at the Pinnacles, it was like stepping onto another planet.

Pinnacles in Australia

Thousands of limestone spires stretched toward the sky, casting long shadows across the desert floor.

We walked throughout the pinnacles exploring the spires,  from small ones to large spires each one unique in its own way.

The late afternoon light painted everything in rich golds and ambers. It was the perfect atmosphere and backdrop for photos and quiet reflection.

Shelley in pinnacles of WA Australia

Just when we thought the day couldn’t get any better,  out of the scrubland, in the Pinnacles a wild kangaroo appeared. It was great to see and to our delight, she had a baby kangaroo tucked safely in her pouch. We stood silently, watching as she grazed for a few moments before hopping gracefully into the shadows.

Kangaroo and “Joey” in the wild of the Pinnacles in WA Australia.

As evening settled in, our tour guide set up a lovely spread for us. We enjoyed sparkling wine, a variety of cheeses, and a delicious meal as we watched the day fade.

We relaxed together, plates and wine in hand, while we watched the sun set over the Indian Ocean and the sky transformed from glowing gold to deep violet. 

After dinner, as the last light faded away,  we gazed at the stars of the Southern Hemisphere’s night sky. It was our first time seeing those constellations, and we were struck by how vast and brilliant they were, unspoiled by city lights. 

There are few experiences in life as unforgettable as watching the sun dip below the horizon in the Australian outback,  especially when you’re with the one you love and a glass of sparkling wine in hand. That’s exactly how our day went in one of Western Australia’s most mesmerizing natural wonders. Our trip to the Pinnacles will be one for the memories we will carry with us for years. 

Australia

Adelaide National Wine Centre of Australia

Shelley and I spent a wonderful afternoon at the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide. It was a great spot for anyone who enjoys a fine wine and a touch of history of the wine industry.

The building itself is an elegant architecture, designed to reflect the rolling curves of wine barrels and the beauty of Australia’s wine-growing regions.

We began our visit by wandering through the interactive displays that explain Australia’s winemaking heritage. The exhibits walked us through the process of wine from the vine to the bottle.

There was a map which explained the diverse wine regions spread across Australia.

 

We were intrigued by the digital tasting tables, where we could explore information about hundreds of Australian wines at the touch of a screen.

After taking in the exhibits, we decided it was time for a more hands-on experience.

We settled into the area entitled “Wined” its a very cozy and inviting space that overlooks the Botanic Gardens.

There, we indulged in a tasting of several South Australian wines, each one unique. To complement the tasting, we shared a platter of local cheeses and meats. They paired very nicely with the wines.

As we enjoyed our wine, one of the staff members shared a bit more about the centre’s history. The National Wine Centre opened in 2001 as both a tourist destination and an educational hub dedicated to promoting Australia’s wine industry. The centre gave us more of an appreciation of Australia’s remarkable wine culture. The combination of history, taste, and atmosphere made it a great experience.

“Life is meant for good friends, adventures and wine”

Australia

Swan Valley Wine tour

While we were in Perth, we decided to take a local wine tour to explore some of the excellent wines they have there.  We headed out to one of Australia’s oldest and most beautiful wine regions, the Swan Valley.  It was just a short bus trip from Perth but it felt like we’d drove into another world. The weather was overcast and rained a bit while on the way through rolling hills and vineyards that stretched for miles. We were greeted with a beautiful double rainbow as we arrived at our first winery.

One of the highlights of our day was the visit to Houghton Winery, one of the most iconic names in Western Australian wine. We enjoyed tastings of several beautiful wines. 

We went to different wineries and tasted an array of different Swan River Valley wines. 

Ray in the field with vines in Swan River Valley

We were lucky to even walked through some of the estate and saw some unique things like sheep grazing between the rows of grapes. we even saw a few kangaroos hopping along the wines as if they owned the place.

There’s something magical about seeing Australia’s iconic wildlife living seamlessly with the charm of the vineyards.

We sampled an impressive variety of wines throughout the day, including some beautiful expensive rich reds.

Shelley overlooking the wine estate and vines

Beyond the wine tasting itself, seeing the scenery and driving through the Swan Valley was great. We were able to see a unique area of Australia known for their amazing wines.  By the end of the day, we were full, content and ready for our next adventure.

“cheers”

Australia

Perth, Australia

Shelley at the waterfront in Perth

We started our adventures by flying with a direct flight from London Heathrow to Perth Australia. The 17:30 hour flight was a tad long but it actually was nice knowing when we landed that we were there.  


Perth’s city centre is a mix of sleek glass towers, modern buildings and older heritage buildings which was quite interesting. 

We found ourselves slowing down often, pausing to look up and take in the architecture that gives Perth its unique character.

We noticed that there were lots of statues and unique features almost on every corner.  So of course Ray had to interact with some of the statues.

We took a day and decided to explored and enjoyed the beautiful weather. We walked along the waterfront of the Swan river and this quickly became one of our favourite spots.

 
View of Perth from the shore of the Swan River
walkway along the Swan River in Perth

The waterfront is awesome with well manicured plants, trees, and walking trails. From there  we headed on a short bus ride to the Botanical gardens.

What an amazing spot, the gardens are nestled within Kings Park, overlooking the city skyline and the Swan River. 

Shelley at one of the many look outs in the Botanic Gardens

It covers 17 hectares, and showcases more than 3,000 different species of the state’s unique flora. 

We wandered through the paths, and encountered an assortment of plants and flora. The botanic gardens also celebrates the Aboriginal culture.

we walked along some of the interpretive trails that shares stories of the land’s traditional custodians.

That was quite interesting and enjoyable reading about the history of the land and plants. 

We strolled on the paths, stopping to admire flowers and trees we’d never seen before. There were birds singing and flying about.

It was so peaceful and relaxing. It was the kind of place where time seemed to move slower, and we were grateful for that pause in our trip.

We were tired at the end of the day having walked over 15 kilometres, we went back to our room to rest up for tomorrows adventure, wine tasting tour.

“Laters”