It almost come to an end to our Western Australia outskirt travelling, as we are going back to Perth city tonight. It will be a pack day on the 5th day, as we will be going to Lake Cave, Mammoth Cave, Jewel Cave and proceed to Amaze'n Margaret River, Chocolate Margaret River company and Providore. Every morning in Western Australia during winter is chilling cot, and best started the day with a cup of coffee.
We woke up to realise the Airbnb's host cat - Kendrick has sneaked into our room when I went out to toilet in the midnight. Then this playful car was trying to play hide and seek with me in the room and refused to go out!
We thought we were late to Lake Cave, a cave with beautiful stalactite and stalagmite and the only cave on the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge that has a permanent lake, and hosting a "suspended table - a spectacular crystal decoration weighing several tonnes that hangs from the ceiling. Therefore, we sped throughout the way there only to find out the first tour starts at 9:30am instead of 9am.
The cave is one of the deepest on the ridge, with entry access through a spectacular doline - a large hole in the earth's surface. Physical inactive person may find some challenge to go down to the cave.
Indeed, Lake Cave is truly one of its kind in the world. The pictures above tell you the entire story. For best visual, please make a trip physically to Lake Cave... haha
Mammoth Cave was our next destination and it is a self guided cave. Therefore, feel free to go anytime when it opens and no tour guide is there to guide through the cave. On the contrary, a device with headset is provided and when we arrive at a certain destination, what we needed to do is to press the 3 digit code and listen to the detailing. There are several fossils located within the cave and the radio guide will tell you to look for it.
This special rock is spotted inside the cave. If we are not mistaken, this rock will absorb the light shines upon it and emit them.
Had some fun time shooting some photos when on the way to pick our car at Mammoth Cave. Basically there are only a handful of cars pass by, allowing us to walk around there like nobody's business.
So we headed to Jewel Cake, our last cave destination for the trip in Western Australia. It was a public holiday season during our trip and luckily we secured a place at 12:30pm through advance booking. The guide shared with us it is the largest cave with three massive chambers in Western Australia that has been recently discovered. Inside the cave, you will see some beautiful of the nature's works, including a straw (tubular stalactites) which is reputable to be the third longest in the world.
However, the guide also share concern that entrance of visitors, particularly those irresponsible ones are endangering the nature's works here, as the oil and foreign materials on one hand will stain the rock permanently, and for the case of straws, it will stop its "growth" permanently.
As for the beauty of Jewel Cake, let the pictures speak itself.
We stopped by a small town nearby to Margaret River - Witchcliffe for a gas refill. If you have a pair of sharp eye, you will see the witch mannequin sitting at one corner of the gas station.
We then head to Amaze'n Margaret River, a small but well maintained garden. The garden is scenic and feature a few gardens within the vicinity, but the real fun was the big giant maze. Admission fee is now AUD 20 but it was only AUD 18 a year ago.
We mimicked the moment in the movie "The Maze Runner", whereby the adept runner Minho runs into the maze.
As a matter of fact, there will be a sense of urgency inside the maze as we were eager to search for the exit. When we kept bump into the roads we have traveled prior or a dead end, the feeling is devastating. It was real fun inside the maze.
Meanwhile, the other part of the garden are some picturesque spots. Just stop by and take some pictures or relax yourself there.
Passed by Margaret River town in the afternoon before heading to The Margaret River Chocolate Company.
The Margaret River Chocolate Company is big for a chocolate retailer but we felt it was rather commercialized and more like a destination for tourist instead. A wide variety of chocolate are sold here, and some samples such as white and dark chocolate are available to try.
We tried a rum and raisin ice cream for AUD 4.80, which we felt was not impressive. Same apply to some chocolates we bought for trying as well - salted caramel chocolate, red wine truffle and chocolate nougat. It cost a staggering AUD 7.30, but none left an impression. Perhaps we are not good in appreciating chocolate?
We found more pleasure to indulge at the neighbouring Providore, selling a variety of unique sauce, jams and etc. It is like a heaven for those cooking at home. Most of the items are available for trial, and we were particularly impressed with Somarina Chocolate Liquor, a good and classic pair for a dinner. Moreover, this place is less crowded than The Margaret River Chocolate Company.
There is a vineyard just beside the Providore building as well.
It is late in the evening and we took a 3 hours (270km) journey back to Perth city.
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