We only had one definite plan on our Big Lap, and that was to avoid towns whenever we could in favour of being in the bush, but every now and then – when we really needed a washing machine or internet, or the weather was so foul that we figured life would be better with a roof over our head – we succumbed to the lure of bright lights and pub-cooked meals and spent a day or two in a town.
Picking a favourite is tricky – my partner Bill and I have spent countless hours arguing the merits of various mini metropolises – but I reckon Kalbarri about halfway up the Western Australian coast was a pretty good spot. With its stunning coastline and fantastic gorges, wonderful walking trails, great local seafood, and a top spot to watch the sun set, I just had to snap this on the way to the pub in the middle of town!
Here are five more small towns with which we fell in love:
- Seisia, tip of Cape York, Qld: great fishing and gorgeous beaches
- Beachport, SA: laid-back seaside town on the Limestone Coast, south of Robe
- Burketown, Qld: on the gulf of Carpentaria and home of the ‘Morning Glory’ cloud formation
- Denmark, WA: beaches, forests, food and wine in southern WA – what more could you want?
- Port Lincoln, SA: Australia’s seafood capital on the Eyre Peninsula, surrounded by fantastic national parks.
You can follow Lee’s road-tripping adventures at www.facebook.com/OzyRoadTripper, or order a copy of her new book, The Big Lap, at www.leeatkinson.com.au
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