After months of being neck-deep in development, we finally hit pause and took a proper family trip — just us, the open roads of Western Australia, and a very packed van. The plan was simple: land in Perth, wander a bit, then road trip down to Margaret River with the kids and my brother-in-law’s family. In the end, it turned out to be a pretty enjoyable trip — low-key, well-paced, and a nice break from our usual routine.

We started off in Perth, staying at the Novotel in the CBD — a perfect base, walkable to just about everything. On our first evening, we took a damp walk around Elizabeth Quay in light rain. The kids mostly huddled under umbrellas, and we didn’t linger too long by the water. But we ducked into The Island for shelter, and it turned out to be a great call. The beer was cold, the pizza was solid, and for the first time all day, we could just sit, warm up, and enjoy being somewhere new.

Scitech was a surprise hit. I’ve always been a sucker for science museums, and this one really hit the sweet spot for kids and adults. It had that old-school charm — exhibits you could touch, buttons to mash, strange contraptions that lit up or spun wildly depending on what you did. Watching the kids get completely absorbed reminded me of why these kinds of places are still magical.

Later in the trip, we made our way to Caversham Wildlife Park. We’ve done the whole kangaroo-koala thing before, but the kids were still excited to see the animals up close. The open enclosures and slower pace made it easy to stroll through without feeling rushed. While I mostly hung back and pushed my younger daughter around, the other kids had a blast — getting right up close to kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas.

Then came the drive south. We stopped for lunch in Mandurah at Bellini Italian, which was lovely. After lunch, we continued the long drive down to Busselton. We arrived later than expected, so we headed straight to Rocky Ridge in Busselton for dinner. It was a relaxed meal — craft beer, good food, and the kind of casual vibe that instantly made it feel like we’d left the city behind.

We spent our Saturday in Margaret River, starting with pastries and produce at the farmers’ market, then headed underground at Mammoth Cave, which was just the right amount of eerie and fascinating. Lunch at Xanadu Wines was a standout — a long, relaxed meal with genuinely good food and space for the kids to wander without giving anyone a heart attack. Near sunset, we took a walk out to the Busselton Jetty. The light was perfect — soft and golden — and we ended up taking some of our favourite photos from the trip.

We wrapped up the trip with a night in Fremantle, and for our final dinner, we went to Kailis Fishmarket Café. We sat indoors with the kids and shared a sumptuous seafood platter — fresh oysters, lobster, prawns, and more — along with cold beer and ice cream for dessert. Everyone was happily full and content. The night outside was cool and clear, and when we stepped out, the sky was filled with stars. It was a quiet, simple end to the trip, but one of those moments that sticks with you.

Looking back, it wasn’t a trip packed with bucket-list sights or crazy adventures. But it didn’t need to be. It was about family, food, space to breathe, and a reminder that slowing down — really slowing down — might be the best part of travel.