Alright so you’ve booked a trip to Black Diamond Lake down near Collie, but feel like making a weekend of it. Of course, you can’t camp at Black Diamond, but did you know there’s an equally adorable little swimming hole just around the corner, where you can also camp?

No, we’re not talking about Stockton Lake (although we will soon enough), we’re talking about its very romantic little neighbour, Honeymoon Pool. So grab that special someone, and read on below.

What Is It:

Honeymoon Pool is a popular little picnic, camping and swimming spot in the Wellington National Park. It’s one of a few in the area, including Black Diamond Lake and Stockton Lake.

It’s a tranquil, shady little spot just off the beaten track, perfect for a day’s picnicking by the water, or night or two of chilled bush camping.

Where Is It:

The Honeymoon Pool campground is situated on the banks of the Collie River about half-an-hour west of Collie and two hours south of Perth.

If you’re coming from Perth it’s straight down the Forrest Hwy, before a left turn onto Raymon Rd onto Coalfields Hwy. From there head down Welling Dam Rd before veering off onto River Rd and follow the signs!

What To Do:

It’s just close enough for a day trip from Perth, but why not pack the tent and spend the night? It’s a small camp ground (20 spots), so bookings are essential, and the camp grounds are nice and sparse – a couple of gas barbies, picnic tables and toilets and that’s about it.

The tranquil waters at Honeymoon Pool are perfect to cool off in, or you can launch your canoe/kayak and do a bit of exploring under the shady peppermint trees that line the water’s edge.

In the bushland surrounding there are also some great walking and cycling trails, and if you’re a 4WDing fan, there’s a few trails in the surrounding areas you can hit up.

What Not To Do:

Head down expecting to camp without booking first! It can get pretty popular, especially in the warmer months, so make sure you book ahead (It’s $15 per adult per night, although cheaper for concession card holders and kids).

There are fire pits on the camp grounds, but especially during summer make sure you check ahead with regards to fire bans.

As we said, it can get pretty busy and it’s not the biggest swimming hole going around, so make sure you play nice and be mindful of letting everyone enjoy the serenity.

Anything else?

There’s plenty of beautiful inland lakes and walking trails in the area, so don’t be afraid to do a little exploring and see what you can find.

Check in with the rangers with regards to water quality in the area too, as it can get hazardous at different times of the year. Of course you can always just play it safe and keep your head above water.

If you are facing drug charges, you should contact drug lawyers Perth in Western Australia to assist you with the case. In Western Australia, possession, use, manufacture, cultivation and supplying illicit drugs is illegal. The penalty for the crime may vary depending on the exact crime committed. If you are convicted of any drug offence, you will get a criminal record and this can cause difficulties for you when looking for a job and visas for overseas travel. When small quantities of a drug are detected, police can issue a drug diversion notice or cannabis intervention requirement.

Cannabis intervention requirement (CIR) scheme

The use and possession of cannabis are illegal. However, if someone is caught by the police in possession of a smoking implement that has traces of cannabis or 10 grams or less of cannabis for personal use, the police may issue a CIR to the person.

You can solve a CIR by doing a cannabis intervention session within 28 days of getting the CIR by a police officer. You can hire the best drug lawyers Perth in Western Australia if you fail to attend the CIS and get prosecuted. The CIR scheme applies to anyone who is 15 years old and over.

Diversion support programs

There is a wide range of alcohol and mental health diversion programs provided by the mental health commission. These programs give support opportunities for people who are apprehended by the police, have alcohol interlock condition on their driving license or are appearing in court.

You don’t have to be charged with drug crimes for you to consult drug lawyers Perth in Western Australia. You can consult your drug lawyer to get advice about drug laws so that you can always be on the right side of the law. However, people make mistakes and end up using, producing or selling drugs. A lawyer can also help you in such a situation as well.

While summer in Perth obviously means BEACH, it’s also a ripper time of the year to learn to surf. The big winter swells are long gone, and with them the icy cold water – replaced with sun, sand and of course, you!

Summer’s gentle (see: tiny) swells are perfect for beginners to get out there and hang ten. Not surprisingly, Perth has a bunch of a great surf schools around the joint to suit people of all ages and skill sets.

Scarborough Beach Surf School

Self-proclaimed as the oldest surf school on the planet (and who are we to argue?), Scarborough Beach Surf School has been ripping it up since 1986. So it’s fair to say they know their way around a green room. They operate small classes (only 4-6 people/instructor) for longer (2.5 hours instead of 1.5), all at very descent prices. And they offer a heap of different levels depending on where you’re at.

Go Surf Perth

Another company operating down at Scarborough, you’ll find the Go Surf team at Brighton Beach in summer, and Leighton Beach in winter. They also cover all the bases, along with private 1-on-1 lessons, and even corporate or birthday party packages. And if you’re looking to shake the kids off for a few hours over the holidays, they offer multi-day school holiday courses too.

Surfing WA Surf School

Another mainstay of the Perth surf school scene, this one’s an arm of the state’s surfing governing body, so you know it’s legit. Operating off Trigg Beach for over three decades, the organisation has 7 full-time staff and over 20 coaches. Kids, teens and adults are all catered for, with a maximum of 8 students per class. Classes run at 7am and 9am every Saturday/Sunday.

Big Wave Surfing School

Despite their name, Big Wave Surfing School are actually more focused on the little ones, specialising in kids and families. Operating at Secret Harbour, the family owned and operated school is all about getting your kids cool, calm and confident in the ocean. They offer a comprehensive variety of levels to suit groms of all ages, along with courses of different lengths to save $$.

Aloha Surfhouse

And finally, if you’re a little wary of the ocean or cold weather, why not hit up Aloha Surfhouse in Joondalup? Their indoor wave breaks every day of the year, and has a variety of different settings to suit all levels. You can also bodyboard, check out their adventure climbing wall, or organise a little wave party with your friends.

You’re at an Indian restaurant and you can’t decide if you want butter chicken or beef vindaloo. Perhaps you feel like some dahl, too. It’s tricky being indecisive, but don’t worry, because the thali is here to make sure you get a taste of everything. While the word ‘thali’ literally translates to ‘plate’, it also refers to a set meal made up of various scrumptious dishes served on a platter.

Mela Indian Sweets and Eats, Northbridge

Located at 428 William St, Mela Indian Sweets and Eats has been a popular Indian restaurant for years. Their menu boasts an array of Indian curries, snacks and desserts. It can be difficult to narrow it down to just one choice, but luckily, they’ve taken the guess work out for you! Mela has three thalis available: vegetarian, meat or seafood. Each thali comes with a selection of their best curries, rice, raita, naan, pappadum and dessert! Mela is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

Thali Contemporary Indian, Perth

It goes without saying that Thali Contemporary Indian of course has a thali on their menu. Conveniently located in the CBD, Thali Contemporary Indian has a mini thali available featuring two curries and basmati rice – perfect to pick up on your lunch break. Or if you were after something with a little more variety, there is also a traditional thali available loaded with three rich curries, basmati rice, fresh naan and a crispy pappadum. There are a wide range of curries to choose from, including flavoursome chicken, fish and paneer varieties.

Curry Affair, Malaga and Joondalup

Curry Affair is a casual dining location in Perth’s north and boasts itself on offering authentic Indian cuisine. Having originally been situated in Subiaco for almost 20 years before moving to Malaga and Joondalup, Curry Affair have built a solid reputation in our city. Their menu offers a beautifully spiced thali to sample their range of tasty curries, which comes in two sizes depending on your level of hunger. The thali can be customised to suit meat lovers and vegetarians alike.

Chutney Mary’s, Subiaco

Located on the corner of Hay Street and Rokeby Road in Subiaco, Chutney Mary’s prides itself on cooking up delectable curries that are packed full of flavour. Each dish is lovingly crafted with fresh herbs and spices and delicious seasonal produce. Chutney Mary’s is conveniently open for lunch to serve up their rich and tasty thali’s, perfect for those on their lunch break or taking a stroll in nearby King’s Park. Each thali is loaded with an array of different curries, soup, rice and dessert to keep your tummy and your tastebuds happy.

Royal India, West Perth

For more than 30 years, Royal India has been somewhat of an institution for Indian cuisine in Perth. Royal India prides itself on its exquisite food and exemplary service, making it one of the most popular Indian restaurants in our city. If you’re stopping by for lunch, be sure to try their Lunch Time Thali. With a choice of seafood, vegetarian or meat, each thali comes bursting with three scrumptious curries, dhal, rice, bread and dessert!

First, full disclosure: the author and I follow each other on BookLikes and have occasionally commented on each other's posts. When she announced that Clockwork Gold would briefly be free, I snatched it up, because steampunk romance appeals to me. (This was a year or so ago – it's no longer free, but it is cheap.)

Rebecca Jones is a dirigible pilot with a rock solid reputation among the miners and prospectors in the Goldfields of Western Australia. Because they trust her enough not to shoot her down as a potential spy, she's able to go where many other dirigible pilots can't. However, she knows it'll take more than just her word to deal with the corruption in Kalgoorlie. She needs proof, but the arrival of Nathan Burton, Special Agent to the Crown, makes the situation more complicated than she expected.

I downloaded this because of its description and because it was free – I didn't even bother to read the excerpt. Which I'm mentioning because one particular detail took me by surprise: Rebecca and Nathan are estranged foster siblings. I'm not a fan of “siblings but not really” romance. It tends to hit my personal squick buttons. Nathan first joined the Tanner household when he was 14 and Rebecca was 11 (I think), so they weren't very young children, and it was clear that Nathan never thought of Rebecca as his younger sister. Unfortunately, I didn't get quite as clear a feeling from Rebecca, and so the speed with which she went from seeing Nathan as a family member (?) she'd once wronged to seeing him as a handsome man who was attracted to her and who she was attracted to in turn didn't work for me.

That said, I liked them as individuals. They both had a strong sense of justice, although Rebecca was more straightforward and naive in her methods for achieving it than Nathan was. I was horrified when I realized how she was planning to get the proof she needed, although thankfully she'd planned things out better than I feared (but still). It also helped that the villain was overconfident.

All in all, not bad, despite my “OMG they're foster siblings” moment. The Western Australian setting was a nice departure from steampunk romance's usual London or somewhere in America. I do wish there had been more of an opportunity to see Rebecca's mechanical creations in action, though, rather than just read about the aftermath of them going off.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)