THERE’S a coastal retreat just two hours from Perth, yet it’s nowhere near the famed Margaret River region.
Jurien Bay is fast becoming a town that can’t be missed – and not just because it’s the first town you hit once you leave Wanneroo in Perth’s northern suburbs.
Much like the Perth-Bunbury Highway has done for southbound travellers, the completion of Indian Ocean Drive, a little over a year ago, has shaved more than 30 minutes off the trip.
The difference is that the road north is spectacular, cut right alongside miles of pristine sandy beaches and passing through magnificent open bushland, exposing tourists and city slickers alike to view stunning wildflowers at the right time of year and nature (beware the roos if you’re travelling near dawn or dusk).
What you get is amazing scenery and diversity, all in a two-hour road trip.
The coastal road has opened up Jurien Bay to day-trippers, international backpackers and holidaymakers keen to take the family north for a change, but be wary of the long-haul misgiving that once sat naturally with plans to head anywhere past Lancelin.
That attraction to so many travellers is why Jurien Bay is changing from a sleepy fishing village to a destination.
It’s not quite there yet, but it’s easy to see why it will be when you pass the number of new housing estates and meet locals with a vision, such as Skydive Jurien Bay operators Pete Lonnon and Chrissy Sparrow.
Pete’s been in skydiving for over 30 years but he wasn’t able to pass up what Jurien Bay offers, being able to drop people out of a plane and on to a beautiful beach so close to Perth.
Having enjoyed a jump myself, I could list many reasons to do one, but here’s what motivates most to skydive at Jurien Bay:
The beautiful view from 4km up of the aptly-named Turquoise Coast and the area’s beautiful bay.
- Landing on the beach at the water’s edge.
- The airstrip is less than five minutes from town – so less time on the road, more in the air.
My instructor had 1000 jumps under his belt before his first tandem and many more before he gave me the cheek-flapping exhilaration of a full minute’s free fall at 220km/h followed by the comparatively sedate couple of minutes appreciating the view once the chute opened.
He was also good enough to video-record the whole experience just in case I ever need more than my memory to remind me of how much fun it was.
They’re definitely onto a good thing and this summer are hoping to take their option a step further by linking with another of the town’s tourist operators.
Jurien Bay Charter ‘n’ Dive can give people their choice of on-the-water experience, be that fishing, diving, whale-watching or an encounter with the area’s sea lions.
The whale-watching season is coming to an end, but it’s the sea lion interaction that is giving tourists the biggest thrill.
Boat skipper Garth Dobney knows and respects the protected marine park waters and has fallen in love with the sea lion colonies that live year-round at rocky outcrops just offshore.
Almost as much as his sister-in-law Penny, who moved to Jurien Bay to run the business.
Their popular sea lion tour allows people to spend a couple of hours in the water with the inquisitive creatures, who seem to love having us in their natural environment even more than we love being in the water with them.
“The ones that come out want to play and they’ve got so much personality,” Penny said.
Daytrippers can experience skydiving and sea lions in a day through a new venture between the two tourist operators.
The one-day experience also involves a visit to the Pinnicles and transfers to and from Perth.
If you love the water, fancy skydiving onto a beach and want an all-round relaxing weekend with some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met, then Jurien is indeed the place to be.