It is not every day you climb the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia and observe breathtaking views of where the Southern and Indian Ocean’s meet.

Well it is if you work there, but we don’t 🙂

The lighthouse in question was in Cape Leeuwin – named after the first known ship to visit the area, a Dutch vessel called the Leeuwin (Lioness), who sighted the Cape in 1622. Since 1895 the lighthouse has been in full functioning order. One of it’s more famous employees was German World War 1 hero Felix von Luckner who spent some time there as an assistant lighthouse keeper – before the hotel keeper caught him in the act with his daughter!!

Cape Leeuwin is situated near the small town of Augusta, the third ever European Settlement in Western Australia, founded in 1830. It represents the most South Westerly point of mainland Australia and is the meeting place of 2 oceans.

We had a brief stop in Augusta town, which boasts magnificent coast line but sadly it is a very small ghost town. This is due to many tour buses no longer stopping in the town or tourist spending the night – because of this the little town is dying.

As good citizens we took the time to stop and walk along the town centre and jetty. We even supported the local bakery with an over priced lunch.

On our way to Augusta we stopped at Jewel Caves situated off the famous Caves road which is lined with Karri trees.

The Jewel Cave is full of intricate formation including a spectacular frozen waterfall and one of the world’s largest straw stalactites found in any tourist cave.

On our tour we met a lady who was originally from Pebbles Scotland in the cave. The Scots seem to be all over Australia, the stats for them are rising fast!

Near the end of the tour there was an impressive light show with one of the sections illuminated in various colours. John managed to capture most of them!

Not a bad day, just time for a stop at the olive oil factory on our way back to Margaret River.