Kings Park. My first impression of Kings Park was space. Vast expanses of green lawns, tall eucalyptus trees, clear blue skies and a feeling of height produced by the incredible views of Perth city below us. It was a clean bright space full of colour.  
The road leading into the park was lined with tall ghost gums, each one planted in memory of a person who died in the two world wars. Their height gave a feeling of importance. 
There were large flower beds set aside with plants from specific areas of WA. They included typical flowers and shrubs from that region with tall sculptures growing out from amongst them. 

There were clear views of the Swan River flowing past the city towards the sea with the Kwinana freeway weaving around the city and alongside the river. The water was full of white sailing boats and a few jet skis. There were also black swans, unique to Perth, in the sheltered parts of the meandering river.  

The most interesting tree was the Boab tree. It was hollow inside which enabled the tree to store water in its centre after it rained and so survive the scorching temperatures. The holes in the bark held nests for birds. 
In the days before prison cells the Boab tree was used as a prison cell for offenders. The offender would be dropped inside the tree over night and the tree and it’s contents guarded till morning. 

As we walked through the park we found a grassed amphitheatre which has hosted many famous singers and theatre productions. It also had a high walkway through the tops of the trees. So Chris, Summer and I walked through the trees tops and literally got a birds eye view of Perth and the tranquil Swan River.   
Our tour of Kings Park finished with a visit to see the oldest living organism on this planet. The stromatolites and thrombolites. They are lumpy, layered living rocks built by slimy, microscopic life forms with ancient ancestors called Cyanobacteria. They looked just like a normal rock and it was strange to think they have been around for 3,500 million years. They are the earliest evidence of life on earth. 

Kings Park was a lovely mix of the ancient, the old and the new. 
We had to leave because James and Fin were coming back from the WACA from a one day international cricket match. So we drove back to Fremantle along the Swan River. 

Kate