After breakfast on the balcony we set off down Cave Road with verdant bush on either side and too many vineyards to count on our way to Lake Cave, one of several to be found in this area. Cave Works provided useful information on the range of cave types found in Australia. We took the 300 plus steps down into the doline amongst ancient Karri trees to the cave entrance and were taken on a brief but informative tour of the cave by an enthusiastic guide.
There were some very beautiful white crystal stalactites, an amazing suspended table (see photo) and beautiful reflections in the ever present water. A huge number of delicate straws were suspended from the ceiling.
The nearby Tea Room and Cafe provided their own roasted coffee, a reasonable selection of teas and tasty snacks served by friendly staff. A general feature of Western Australia seems to be relaxed and chatty staff who seem happy to pass the time of day with customers as well as being talked to by members of the general public as one waits in queues, travels in lifts, etc.
We then made our way to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, the highest on mainland Australia built in 1895 after a number of shipwrecks in the area. We took a guided tour which allowed us to enter the lighthouse and climb to the top of this working monument with the original lens still in place along with the mechanism for turning the light. Standing on the outer deck was a bracing experience and during the tour we heard about the lives of the many lighthouse keepers. Their duties were many and the rules governing them and their families were legion!
We stopped briefly at Flinders Bay which was used as a whaling depot during the 19th Century but in the early 1980s a huge rescue took place of a whole pod of whales that had become stranded in the shallow waters of the bay and over 500 local people participated in the rescue.
Onwards to Margaret River and an early dinner in Swings & Roundabouts Taphouse and Kitchen, an eclectic cafe/restaurant serving local wines, beers and ciders and mostly sharing plates of food and pizzas. We settled for pork sliders, roasted herb potatoes and aioli, a green salad and prawns and chorizo in a tomato sauce which were all very tasty followed by a chocolate delice with orange infused creme fraiché and an orange crisp and a lemon meringue pie with poached plums and basil. Again, all very tasty and the knowledge and helpfulness of the staff was very much in evidence. Their wine was wonderful and we settled for a local Gamay by Marqwines. Our server wished us a safe journey home and warned us to be watchful for kangaroos who tend to be active just after sunset!
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