Margaret River to Hamelin Bay

The day after the Ironman was not exactly a day of rest for Phil.  I was on vacation, which meant lots to see and no time to sleep in.  We had booked a whale watching tour in Geographe Bay in the morning, but that ended up being cancelled so we took the extra time to explore the breweries and wineries of the Margaret River region.

Our first stop was Castle Rocks Beach.  It was just another gorgeous Australia beach with crystal clear turquoise water, red rocks, and no people.  O, and a skink!
Skink
Phil on the rocks with Castle Rock in the background
Castle Rock Beach
Next up was Eagle Bay Brewery.  Phil tried the sampler paddle and we shared a really flat bread pizza with chicken, chilli flakes, pesto, buffalo mozzarella, and lime juice.
Sampler paddle at Eagle Bay Brewery
Next we stopped at House of Cards Winery and enjoyed some excellent Sparkling, Sauv Blanc, and Cab Sav.  Next door was a chocolate shop, so while Phil took his bike apart I enjoyed sampling the wares.
House of Cards Sparkling - perfect for our Christmas Eve picnic on the beach
Down the road we went to the Canal Rocks, a really striking rock formation that funnels waves into a canal-like feature.  It was amazing to see the powerful waves crash into the rocks and then calmly push through the canal.  The water was so clear that you could see heaps of sea life within the canal.
Panoramic of Canal Rocks
On down the road we continued until we got thirsty again.  We stopped at Duckstein Brewery for another tasting paddle and some churros.  Then it was time for a nana nap in the car park - that's the bonus of taking a camper van on holiday.
Tasting paddle at Duckstein Brewery
 After one more sip at Cheeky Monkey Brewery it was time to call it a day.  We stayed at the caravan park on Hamelin Bay which made for a nice evening stroll along the water.  Rays are often spotted swimming in the bay but they must have all been at happy hour when we walked around.
Sunset at Hamelin Bay

Old pier at Hamelin Bay

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