3 Days at sea – Leaving Bali we headed south and west towards Freemantle sailing through the Timor Sea and into the Indian Ocean. On our second day at sea, we passed just east of the Northwest Cape, a peninsula situated in the northwest of Western Australia. The area was first visited by western explores of the Dutch East India Company in 1618.  The area was named in 1818 by Phillip Parker King, a royal navy officer responsible for early mapping of the Australian and Patagonian Coastlines. On our third day we headed on a more southernly course and then southeast as we continued to pass around the western coast of Australia (through the Tropic of Capricorn) and the state of Western Australia – the largest of Australia’s six states.

Freemantle: One of western Australia’s most historic cities. Many 19th century buildings remain including those from its gold rush period. Founded in 1829, at the mouth of the Swan river, Freemantle was intended to be a port for the new colony, but was only used as such when an artificial harbor was dredged at the end of the 19th century. It hosted the America’s Cup in 1987.

We started our day with an excursion to Perth about 45 minutes north of Freemantle driving through various neighborhoods along the Swan River stopping at Kings Park and Botanical Gardens. The park is dedicated to those who lost their lives fighting in World War one and beyond. The park provides an excellent view of downtown Perth. We continued our bus tour through the city and to Victoria Quay where we boarded a tour boat for a cruise back to Freemantle.

In Freemantle we left the tour and walked the city on our own. Highlights of this very walkable city included: numerous 19th century and Victorian buildings; City Hall; St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church built in 1882; Freemantle Market; Freemantle Prison; Tourist Wheel; Wester Australia’s Shipwreck Museum; The Round House – a 12 sided building which was the city’s first jail and the schooner Leeuwin 2.