Australia day 88 – Perth, WA

This is our last full day in Australia before flying out to Bali tomorrow. It’s sunny so we resume our walk around Perth. Sterling Gardens is a beautifully-tended little park in front of the courthouse, the oldest building in Perth dating back to 1837. Tall palms and majestically towering figs makes it a lovely spot for a picnic lunch. The modern Snow Bell Tower on the river front a short stroll from the gardens, houses 18 bells, 12 of which are the original 15th century bells from St Martins-in-the-fields in London. The bells were gifted to Perth in return for ore to make replacement bells; the originals apparently being too heavy and tinny for the church’s bell tower. The tower provides good 360 degree views of Perth city centre and the expansive Snow river as it snakes through from the suburbs on its way to the sea. For an $11 entrance fee it’s also possible to view the campanologists at work and the bells in action.  

The walk takes us up Jacob’s Ladder, a steep, zig-zagging staircase that leads to King’s Park. Apparently the stairs are a regular haunt of exercise fanatics who run up and down them as part of their fitness routines. It takes me all my time to walk up them, so jogging up doesn’t bear thinking about. 

King’s Park is probably the equivalent of London’s Hyde Park – and immense open space in the edge of the city centre – but considerably more beautiful. With superb views of the city and the Snow River stretching out below, the 4 sq km park stretches all the way back up to the inner suburbs of West Perth, Subiaco and Shenton Park and is a delightful combination of wild bush, beautifully manicured lawns and tree-lined avenues.

Back at the hostel we sort out our stuff and donate the food and cooking utensils we are not planning to take with us to the kitchen. There is a free food box in the kitchen and nothing stays in it for very long; our spices, lentils and rice is quickly snapped up by a young Taiwanese girl who needed a bit of assistance identifying the lentils and some of the spices. The rest of our gear is packed and ready to go and our backpacks are considerably lighter for having culled our possessions a few days ago. Tomorrow we will be leaving for the airport at 9.30 am.