Bunbury is the second largest city in Western Australia. From Albany, the bus took us though lush farmland, dense coastal forest around Denmark and then along the tourist route in the forest of giant trees from Walpole to Pemberton, Valley of the Giants to Manjimup. From here there are many vineyards and orchards from Bridgetown to Bunbury. I noticed changes in some of the orchard and town areas such as intensive land use and the city of Bunbury has grown and become more modern during the eleven years since my last visit.

The best newer tourist attraction is the Dolphin Discovery centre run by volunteers where you can watch an amazing 3D surround movie on a circular screen of dolphins interacting with each other under water. This is also a research and education centre on dolphins. There are displays of live marine life from the area and a tank where you can feel sea sponges, starfish and sea snails. It was good to go for a walk around to see what had changed around Bunbury city. We walked around the harbour overlooking Koombana Bay where there are new apartments and climbed up the Marston Hill lookout for the view of the new developments. The black and white chequered lighthouse and coastal walk to the surf beach and Wyalup Rocky Point where the shoreline consists of basalt rocks. We stayed at the gracious old Rosnewer motels units have benn built adjoining the hotel. This is where we stayed although the full English breakfast was still served in the old dining room. There was so much to eat for $12 that I did not need lunch.

Some of the hotels in the main street are now café bars while some just do accommodation. The youth hostel is in an old house and not very nice inside. So we were glad to have a bit of luxury at the Rose hotel which in fact was much better value. The staff let me go up to see the old bedrooms and lounge which are rarely used these days. This hotel was established in 1865 and is one of the most impressive hotels in the region. After a quick swim in the bay, it was time for Happy Hour to sample locals wines and beers before dinner.

Bunbury is a few hours drive south of Perth and is an excellent place to stay for a day or two on the way to destinations further south like Margaret River, Dunsborough, Yallingup and the magnificent forests on the way to Walpole and Denmark. Next morning after that scrumptious breakfast and a look around the shops we travelled by the Australind train to Perth. It was an enjoyable relaxing holiday in Western Australia and satisfying to revisit many places around this vast state which is as big as Europe.