Subject: Re: Oz - Perth & Margaret River
Hi Candice & Ziners,

We drove across to Western Australia to visit my sister-in-law and her family in Busselton (not far from Margaret River) in January about fifteen years ago. Given that the area has changed and grown into a popular tourist destination since then I can't recommend any accommodation but from memory the drive south from Perth was not difficult and there were lots of places to see. I'm sure some of the Perth Ziners will have more up-to-date information for you.

The one thing that sticks in my mind, however, was the flies!! Never in our lives had we seen anything like them (and we lived on a dairy farm in New South Wales so were used to flies in summer). Even at the beach we had to sit inside the kiosk to eat an ice cream and my husband remembers going about five klms out to sea on a fishing trip and when they opened the bait box flies appeared from everywhere. They nearly drove us crazy. The locals didn't seem to notice them as much and my in-laws didn't even have screens on their house which was an old sandstone building and maybe because it was so cool inside flies and other bugs just didn't come in.

I don't know if the year we were there was particularly bad but it is an experience I'll never forget. Despite all that we had a great holiday and I'm sure you will too.

If you're staying in Sydney, Candice, let me know and perhaps we can organise a GTG.

Regards Josie Wollongong, Australia