I find it difficult to write about New Norcia as it took me by surprise. It was a town that had been on my bucket list for a very long time and we just hadn’t had the time to venture so far out of Perth during more rushed holidays. But caravanning is a timeless way of travelling and distances, especially as small as 140kms, mean little.

To say that New Norcia it is a monastery town is probably the most accurate description, but it is an understatement. New Norcia is a place that has to be seen to be believed. It comes as a surprise to find a village of grand European architecture set amongst wheat fields and stands of gums. The town tour takes about a half day and explains how this place came to be and one doesn’t have to be Catholic or even Christian to appreciate its beauty and significance. And when one is emotionally spent from touring these magnificent buildings and appreciating the priceless artifacts in the museum, a peaceful night can be spent camped on the football ground as a guest of the monks and within earshot of the church bells.