Now that Jane was making good progress and after a couple of days relaxing out of hospital, it was time to move on. We had been due to go to Melbourne next and pick up a campervan to drive the Great Ocean Road. However, we’d already cancelled flights and campervans and decided to skip Melbourne altogether and just get ourselves to Perth where we could take it easy before our flight home.
To get to Perth we had to go via Brisbane on a late afternoon flight (1hr +).We had arranged wheelchair support with Qantas and their service was excellent. They looked after Jane and I superbly and not only did Jane get pushed around the airports in the electronic wheelchairs and help carrying all our bags but we also got to board the planes in Category 1 ie first which meant no stress whatsoever. Just to be clear, we didn’t get upgrade to First Class but what they did do was perfect. On the plane from Brisbane to Perth (5hours +) the aircrew even arranged to move the chap who was supposed to sit next to us to another seat so that we could have all the space to ourselves. 🙏
We arrived very late into Perth and got a taxi upto our accommodation in the Perth Hills. Rosebridge House Bed and Breakfast in Gooseberry Hill. Jane had found this place when looking for alternatives as we’d had to cancel in Freemantle. It was described as an ‘adult only retreat’ and we had 4 nights here which were absolute bliss. We had our own little garden apartment right next to the lovely pool. The owners Pete and Julia have been running the place for 18 years and had thought of everything you could possibly need. They were super accommodating and even helped me do a load of washing (much needed after 13 days at the Ibis!).
Every morning we had breakfast in the old fashioned but gorgeous dining room over looking the tropical gardens. Here Julia fed the ‘pets’ including the Bandicoots (very small cute marsupials and not rats despite their similar appearance), Rainbow Lorikeets and Australian Ring Neck parrots. We even had a brief visit from a Kookaburra one morning.
We spent two days just relaxing by the pool but we mostly had to stay in the shade because the temperatures were just too hot at 38 degrees. We’d also retreated into the Air Con to avoid the midday sun. I made the most of the pool and did lots of sketching whilst we were here. Jane meanwhile enjoyed reading her book and relaxing.
This lovely retreat attracted some interesting people who we chatted to over breakfast, all attracted by the peaceful nature of the place.
Cate, a scouser, living in Tasmania after a career as aircrew with Qantas. She was there with her partner Anthony and her son, as well as her Mum (aged 91) who had been visiting from the UK .
The couple from Hertfordshire who were very keen to tell us all the things we needed to do in Perth. The Bell Tower, the car Museum and as Jane described it…’several more very boring suggestions’!!!
Another Kate who was there visiting family members who were all elderly and ill.
Paul, the German chap probably in his 90s who could hardly walk but liked his sausage for breakfast and was on the phone looking for a bridge partner.
Emily, (well, let’s call her that) the very young backpacker from the UK who was on her own but feeling very over-whelmed by Perth. She’d had a great time in the hostels in Melbourne but come to Perth for the sunshine. However, she found the hostels here to be less friendly. She’d obviously been quite upset and her Mum had booked her into this lovely place for a couple of nights. She was going back into Perth looking more cheery and hoping to get work.
The house itself is v historic. It once belonged to a magistrate, and has classic Australian style architecture of a single storey, made of wood, with verandahs and a picket fence all around. The garden had been built from scratch by Pete and Julia and had lots of ‘secret’ shady places to sit. The trees are stunning and I enjoyed the challenge of trying to identify them with the help of Photos on my phone but I’m not sure how reliable it has been. But there were Eucalyptus, Hibiscus, Moreton Bay Ash, Honey Mesquite, Orange Jasmine, Magnolia, Tree Ferns, roses, geraniums and bourganvillea. Beautiful.
The only slight issue with staying up here in the Perth Hills without a car turned out to be eating out…but I’ll save that for the next post!
Where shall we go to next? 