Backpacking Holidays in Perth, Western Australia - Part 3

This post will be the third one (i.e. Part 3) of my Backpacking Holiday trip to Perth, Western Australia. You can check out Part 2 HERE. This series will serve as a mini-travelogue for people that are searching for information on Perth Backpacking and Free-&-Easy Holidays.

Day 2: APT Tours to WaveRock + Historic York + Wild Flowers Viewing

Early in morning of 7.15am, we waited for day coach at the office area of Australian Pinnacle Tours office. Realised through my conversation with the driver (cum day tour guide) that Australian Pinnacle Tours is the official service provider for many other day tour agencies/companies in Perth. I.e. we booked and paid for the day tours with APT Touring but they have no offices in Perth, only Melbourne / Victoria area.

At about 8am when everyone (other tourists) have arrived, we headed east through the scenic Darling Ranges where we stopped to enjoy some morning tea & pastry at historic York, the first township founded in the Avon Valley. We were given about 30mins to take some pictures of the old Victorian buildings and enjoy the pastries on our own expense.

Surprised with the selections in this Old-Fashion Candy Shop in York

We then continue heading east where we passed through wheat belt plains and stop en route at the famous Dog Cemetery, a tribute to Australian working sheep dogs.

Our comfortable Day Tour Coach

Dog Cemetry Signage

Dog Cemetry @ Corrigin

Later we reach the small town of Hyden, home of Wave Rock. Before lunch we visit Hippos Yawn an unusual natural rock formation shaped like a yawning hippopotamus, regarded by the local Aboriginal people as a special place. We then went to the Wave Rock Wildflower Shop to take our Picnic lunch, prepared by the driver (cum tour guide).

After lunch we went for the tour of Wave Rock. Estimated at being an incredible 2,700 million years old, the rock has over time been sculptured by nature into the form of a huge breaking wave. It was an awesome sight! It is so high up from the ground that you enjoyed the consistent breeze blowing towards you.

Posing at the bottom of Wave Rock structure

Water found on Peak of Wave Rock structure

Leaving Wave Rock, we head off to view some other intriguing rock formations of the area including the Humps, a camel hump like granite rock and finally Mulkas Cave. Our guide explained the ancient Aboriginal cave paintings featured within it, telling the legend of the outcast Aboriginal, Mulka the Terrible. It was a mysterious tour i must say!

Our return journey took us along back roads through the heart of the Western Australian wheat belt to the small farming town of Babakin. Here we enjoy some country hospitality over an afternoon tea (own expense. we dint order any food due to the heavy lunch) with local town folk.

The only thing we missed was the supposedly wild flowers that should be covering the roadside. We dint see any. According to the day guide, the wild flowers has wilted a week ago before we arrived.

We ended Day 2 with arrival in Perth at approximately 8.30 pm, but not without our dinner at McDonald's. We were all excited about Day 3 as we went to bed.

PS: Do drop me a comment. Would love to hear from you.

PSS: This blogpost is part of a series titled: "Backpacking Holidays in Perth, Western Australia". Click on "Holiday Tips" for whole series.