Big Island - driving North

On our first day on Big Island we decided to follow one of the routes mapped in the wonderful app we had downloaded prior to our trip. It was amazing to see the differences in the vegetation on the different sides of the Northern tip of the island - so dry and then so lusciously green.
The Polulū Valley lookout was definitely one of the highlights, and we braved the approaching rain to trek all the way down to the beach, which was absolutely stunning (and a good little workout!).

On the way back South - this time along the coast - we stopped for a swim at Hapuna beach and then at Anaehoomalu Bay where we watched what would be the first of many absolutely magical sunsets we were lucky to witness during our holiday.

Barbecueing in the sunset

We spent a couple of nights at Celestine Retreat, in Denmark. It was such a beautifully tranquil place; we loved it.

Sunset cruise

Stromatolites

Before I show you photos of our recent trip to Sydney, I'd like to finish off our honeymoon... it's been so busy during the weeks leading to our holiday that I didn't get the chance to finish it all.

I know this all happened a few months ago already, but I really enjoy looking back at all these photos so... bear with me! 

:-)

 

Just like for the tree top walk, I had read about the stromatolites in Bill Bryson's book. I was quite intrigued to go and see the most ancient living creatures on earth and... I have to admit I was pretty nonplussed once we got there. :-) They are not exactly hugely entertaining in 'normal' conditions, but let me tell you, with wind and waves these circular rocky formations are pretty much as boring as it gets (mostly because you can hardly see them). We did manage to take a peak at one or two in between waves, but it wasn't exactly earth shattering. Still, the idea that these things were there before dinosaurs is pretty cool. And the weather was good. :-)

That evening we reached Monkey Mia, where we witnessed the first of several magnificent sunsets from our cosy little place on the resort.  


 
Stay tuned for more photos of this beautiful area in the next few days!

More of the same

♥

Two things that are immediately associated with Western Australia in my mind? Sunsets and fish & chips.

Flying into the sunset...

See how much my brother enjoyed that sunset? He wanted to fly into it!

:-)

Best sunset ever

The evening I saw what must have been the most beautiful sunset I have ever witnessed we were having fish & chips in Fremantle harbour with my brother Fabien. It was his last full evening in Australia before going back to cold Switzerland and so we wanted to do something really Aussie (hence the choice of dinner). Little did we know that the skies would also be putting up an absolutely gob-smacking light show to wish him farewell!

 
The whole evening turned out to be totally amazing from start till end; there was the always wonderful drinks at Little Creatures, the delicious food, the incredible sunset of course, and the joyful walk back home in the warm night... everything felt truly special. We even got to watch a bit of live underwater nature show in a part of the harbour that was lit up with a strong lamp: we saw a squid chase and feed on a school of tiny fish. How cool is that?! It might have been the white wine talking, but we thought it was pretty darn amazing.