Last weekend was all about one thing: nature, nature and a bit more nature. This ultimately came from my desire to visit Perth Zoo from just about the moment we landed (KOALAS!) and six-year-old Liv’s memories of Oz. You see, when the last time you visited a place was at a time when the most important things to you in life were animals, dresses and toys (only really the latter has suffered and even then is debatable) your memories of a place are a bit jumbled. This is how I mentally envisaged Australia from such fragments – beaches, bananas in pyjamas playing 24/7, playgrounds absolutely everywhere and kookaburras, kangaroos and koalas round every corner*. Inevitably therefore, I was somewhat disappointed when I found out that Aussie Wildlife hadn’t found a way to fully turn urban suburbia into a second outback and decided we had to visit the Zoo to make up for it.*

I’d definitely visited the Zoo when I was little and so had distinct memories of some of the animals and their enclosures. As I remember it, the Zoo was absolutely huge. Turns out, it was pretty big but its fascinating what difference an extra two and half feet in height can make to your sense of perspective. This however, did not mean I was any less excited to go. I was not disappointed either – some of the highlights are below!

Zoo times!

Koala

This Kangaroo took a liking to us!

Emu.

In a while Crocodile (SO BIG!)

Cassowary Crossing!

So there’s such a thing as a TREE KANGAROO. Here’s one chillaxing on a bonafide branch.

Having visited my furry friends on the Saturday, we headed for AQWA on Sunday. My cousin is over visiting with his girlfriend as he does some audio work for the many festivals and gigs on at the moment, so the trip may or may not have also been accompanied by a trip to the beach and the pub. You know it’s a good pub when it even has it’s own little mini drawbridge! It was such a great day! I loved spending time with my cous and even managed to temporarily overcome my not so rational fear of getting eaten by a shark out here, swimming out to a platform in the sea with slides on and jumping in for a bit. Not so great a feat I admit – however then a dolphin swam in and I may or may not have freaked out a bit just incase in wasn’t a dolphin and something else so went back to chilling on the beach. Yes world, I am a scaredy-cat.

The bar at Hillarys

Beach!

Visibly awestruck by the size of this huge stingray!

Fish. Fish. Fish.

Jellyfish are possibly the weirdest creatures on the planet. Pretty though!

Somebody else thought they were pretty too.

Touching some stingrays and starfish at AQWA.

I had such a good weekend, even without the playgrounds, little Liv would have been proud.

Over and out amigos,

Liv xxx

*My visit to Jodhpur Zoo was more disturbing than exciting and distinctly put me off the idea of any animals in captivity. Luckily Perth Zoo are very good at looking after their animals!

*Has anyone else noticed the tendency for Australian animals to begin with K? I can’t think of any European ones that do… curious.