Driving through Western Australia during winter and spring will leave you with a vivid, more personal impression of the land. If you are starting off in Perth, consider spending one day doing a first aid course. St. John's ambulance run them all week long but for $130 you can do the Senior First Aid course at Training Course Experts at 3 Aberdeen street. It is a 10 minute walk away from the central train station. The course covers everything from deadly jelly fish bites to using the tiny defibrillators at swimming pools. There is a booklet that you have to complete and hand in (you will need to pick it up at least the day before). The small classes are usually attended by students, medical staff, prison guards and men with plans to work in remote areas. www.training-course-experts.com
Wicked campers have a camper van vehicle hire yard in Northbridge if you are travelling in a group www.wickedcampers.com.au . Some travellers swear by Flight centre for cheap flights but the Qantas agents have special deals and short-stay packages which include accomodation for similar prices to all major cities www.qantas.com.au .You can easily fly to Kalgoorlie (Kalgoorlie has about 25 pubs) and drive out to the Oro Banda Hotel if you feel like a little bit of the wild west. Sky West fly from Perth to Albany during the week. Albany itself is not an exciting city but the region has long, cold beaches and the surrounding ranges and parks have their own secrets. Locals will tell you how the Japanese sheltered their submarines in lonely coves during WWII.
The road between Gnowangerup and Albany can be deceivingly calm...it is deadly.....this is where you may be graced by glimpses of wildlife. On one of the emergency runs down this road, ducks smashed the windscreen of our rural ambulance.You are likely to see a large eagle tearing at a kangaroo carcass or different marsupial species grazing on this stretch of road. Remember: Not all kangaroos look like "Skippy". Our roads are often long and straight but wildlife steps out in front of you without warning. Do not drive without a phone with 'Next-G' or you won't be able to make emergency calls for fire or a smash . Don't take your eyes off the road.
