6th April 2017 Arrival at ParkRoyal Airport Hotel , Melbourne and our flight to Perth.
/We were picked up by a driver sent by our regular driver Gavin. His vehicle was a new BMW 740 and we enjoyed the trip to Melbourne Airport. Despite travelling from Wheelers Hill to the airport in peak traffic, it still was an easy 50 minute trip.
The checkin at the ParkRoyal was smooth and we were in our room by 5.15pm. The room is comfortable and whilst it is a little"tired" it is a good choice particularly with tomorrow's very early start.
We eat in and then it is an early night. We have a wake up call for 4.30am, and this arrives on time and we have both slept pretty well. We then check out and walk across the air bridge from the hotel to the domestic terminal and using our Qantas "Q" tag we are checked in within 10 minutes and then gave about 50 minutes to boarding of our QF 775 flight Melbourne to Perth. We enjoy our aisle seats 44 a and b. The meal for breakfast is fine. We have a very good flight arriving on time at 8.45am collect our luggage by 9.15am and make our way to Hertz Car rental, where we pick up a Holden for the day.
We quickly programme our GPS and travel easily through the city and arrive in King's Park and Botanical Gardens on a perfect day with clear blue skies. We walk through the beautiful gardens overlooking the Swan River and take in the stunning views over the city. We also drove by the new Stadium being constructed across the Swan River. In the Burswood casino precinct.
Jeanette takes several photos and we then decide to have a coffee, before finalising our arrangements to meet up with Terry and Lindy Budge for dinner.
Following the coffee we again walk back toward the driveway entrance to King's Park and take more photos including the magnificent gray gums which line the avenue.
We have enjoyed these beautiful gardens on several occasions and take in the beauty and the colours overlooking our most distant capital city.
Lunch then becomes our next subject, and we decide to travel to Fremantle the former major port and still a working harbour. We aim to have a late lunch of fish and chips and sit and watch the harbour activity. This is an easy 25 minute drive and we enjoy again seeing the old architectural type buildings of the 1880's, many of which have now been restored to their former glory.
Ken parks the car and we walk to a former wharf store, called "E" Markets, where there are a variety of stores and restaurants. We select a small restaurant specialising in fish and select the daily specials of fish and chips and calamari etc. We then spend over an hour watching the bustling port with several large container ships entering and departing Fremantle. In many respects it still traces back to its working origins, despite it now being a trendy "yuppie " type area with major accommodation developments occurring and a stunning collection of restaurants.
We conclude lunch and Terry suggested that we visit Rockingham some 40km South, but also drive past the frigate construction area. We did this although have to admit couldn't get close and the wind was blowing a gale, but it showed us another Town of WA.
our drive from Rockingham to City Beach involved about 45 minutes, changing freeways. Ken knew the general area, not far from Scarborough, where we have previously visited. We arrived at City Beach for dinner at Odysea Restaurant, and Terry and Lindy arrived at about the same time. We met in the car park and it was great to see them again and to catch up. They are a lovely couple who have now been in Perth almost 20 years. We worked together in NAB in the Australian Bank.
Dinner was superb with beautiful food and a stunning outlook over a surf beach with spectacular waves. It looked beautiful but it was also cold with a very strong breeze.
It was great to catch up and enjoy their company for a couple of hours, before we said our goodbyes and then drove the rental car back to the Hertz drop off and return at the International terminal.
Checkin was quick and we were in the Qantas lounge by 9.30pm so we still had almost 2 hours before our 11.15pm boarding. The lounge is undergoing major refurbishment so seating was tight. We have enjoyed a terrific day in Perth and to catch up with good friends over a lovely meal was a bonus.
Boarding commenced at 11.10pm and was very smooth. We have travelled with South African airways previously and very much enjoyed their service. We are seated in Business 15A and 15C and are comfortably seated by 11.25am. We instruct the staff that we don't want any evening meal, but will change and hopefully sleep well following departure. Interestingly, following departure and seat belt sign being turned off the service staff come along yo make up the beds with comfortable mattresses and warm doonas and good pillows. We both then sleep really well over the next 7 hours, with only the occasional waking. Breakfast is then served some 2 hours before landing. We have had an excellent flight. Over the 10 hours 30 minutes everything gas gone well, we have slept well and are refreshed. We are excited to be returning to Cape Town at the start of our African safari holiday.
Arrival goes like clockwork, we are through immigration and customs with all of our gear inside 35 minutes and are welcomed by a representative from Go2Africa, who then guides us to the Bidvest Car rental area at Capetown International Airport . There is a lengthy queue and a delay of some 50 minutes. We are taken to our car a light blue BMW320d, the luggage is loaded and all fits into the boot and we gave to make our way into Cape Town City centre. The GPS works very well and some 30 minutes later we arrive at the Hilton Cape Town City Centre. We are greeted by the Concierge named Paul, who arranges for transfer of our luggage.
As Hilton Honors Gold members we are entitled to our room on arrival at whatever time anywhere in the world. This is a great bonus, we check in and are ushered to the Executive lounge for a cool drink advised our upgraded room will be ready in 10 minutes. Sure enough we are then shuffled to our room at 1.10pm and we are very pleased. We have an executive king room with views out to Table mountain which is stunning.
We unpack and then plan our 3 days in CapeTown, a beautiful city with stunning scenery.
Ken goes for a walk down Bree and Long Streets, but we decide a rest and early night is the most practical thing before a busy day tomorrow . We have a light meal in the executive lounge and a drink. We are in bed by 9.00pm after a very long day travelling. We are delighted that our flights worked well and Hilton Cape Town is very comfortable. An excellent start.
Beautiful Perth from Kings Park
Entering Kings Park
Arrival at Hilton Cape Town
