The group not involved in the CHOGM Youth Forum closing ceremony went on a fabulous day trip to Yanchep National Park, about an hour’s drive north of Perth city. This was a great opportunity for all involved to see something of the bushland and indigenous wildlife. The Chets staff hired a minibus for the day and we all set off up Waneroo Road in search of koalas and kangaroos! We were all delighted to see a beautiful day begin to emerge out of a fairly grey start as we ventured northwards and by the time we arrived at Yanchep, the weather was warm and sunny.

We headed straight for koala boardwalk, where 11 koalas are to be found – usually asleep up trees (a diet of purely eucalyptus leaves contains no carbohydrate so they have zero energy and sleep for 20-21 hours a day!), although Mr Oliver managed to film an unusually active little chap darting up a tree!

After a leisurely picnic by the lake taking in the wonderful array of colourful birds all around, we headed over to the crystal caves and had a great guided tour through the glistening caverns only discovered relatively recently as the native aboriginal Nyoongar people believed that evil spirits dwelt in caves and therefore left them well alone.

The 3pm koala talk drew us back over to the boardwalk and Bruce (!) our ranger was informative and entertaining – a few gross koala facts thrown in! We then walked around the wetlands trail, a bush walk which took us through some extraordinary native landscapes, in which we saw snakes and spiders and a very friendly grey kangaroo!

At the end of the trail we found the green area by the lake where we had earlier had our picnic overtaken with families of kangaroos, including several who had joeys in their pouches and a very little fellow clearly only just up to hopping!

On our way home we took a detour over to the ocean at Burns beach and spent half an hour or so until sunset enjoying the white beach and coast path alongside the shore.

We got back just in time for takeaway pizza and Singaporean entertainment – all much-needed after a brilliant long day out!

Pictures on the way…