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Mandurah Day Trip

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Published April 30th 2012
The Lake Clifton Thrombolites & Cape Bouvard Winery & Brewery - Mandurah

Thrombolites', I hear you cry - 'What the hell are they?' Without going into too much detail Thrombolites are one of the earliest known life forms on Earth and they live in your backyard.

Thrombolites
To the Thrombolites


Don't feel like a trek down to Lake Clifton (32kms south of Mandurah) to look at some ancient micriobials? Perhaps a trip to a local Winery and Brewery may satisfy your curiosity in these rock-like structures and satiate your thirst at the same time. For those who are really keen there is a five kilometre walk through the bush, lakeside and the Cape Bouvard Winery and Brewery is then only a short walk from the Thrombolites.

Thrombolites
Jetty out to the Thrombolites


Okay I admit, I have lived on and off in the area for a long time and never had been to see the amazing reef of Thrombolites. The day I went down to see them, the car park was nearly full and when I went to leave, more cars were coming. It was busy! It's a perfect spot to take the kids and give them a mini science lesson, these unpretentious formations are the only known form of life on Earth some 350-650 million years ago (this includes Stromatolites) and the only other place in the world where they can be found is on a small island in the Bahamas.

Thrombolites
Hanging at the Thrombolites


Next stop. Pourt Bouvard Winery and Brewery, where the kids, having recovered from their Science lesson, will love the grassed space, where there is plenty of room to play bocce, cricket or footy, whilst the adults relax. The best part about this spot is that it's surrounded by Tuart and Willow trees on three sides and a lake on the fourth. Peace and tranquillity abound and the wine and beer is made on the premises. Try a Vienna Lager or Pale Ale on tap or perhaps clean crisp 2011 Verdhello for fifteen dollars. In fact you can buy a 2008 ruff red for ten - good for quaffing, vintage port or muscat as well as chutneys, olives, jams, pickles and relishes all sourced from the local area.

Thrombolites
Thrombolites themselves


Coffee and cake is served for around ten dollars and nothing on the menu is over $20 - the menu is good honest Australian cuisine which included bruschetta and wedges or salmon and salad. The Cape Bouvard Winery and Brewery has a lot to offer. So why not kill two birds with one Thrombolite? Lake Clifton makes for an excellent day trip if you feel like that Sunday drive and something a bit different.

Cape Bouvard
Cape Bouvard Winery & Brewery
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Why? See the Thrombolites
Where: Mandurah
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Very interesting :) just a quick note, Thrombolites can also be found in Lake Richmond in Rockingham. But there's no winery there, so this place sounds great.
by Anne (score: 1|50) 4058 days ago
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