Pemberton Hotel where we stayed and dined last night. This photo was taken in a brief moment of sunshine between squally showers. The Gloucester Tree in Gloucester National Park The 58 metre climb up the steel spikes was closed off causing this poor sap to be stumped on what to do now. Zoom lens view … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 57 – D’Entrecasteaux National Park
Today we travelled through six national parks – Blackwood River, Hilliger, Hawke, D’Entrecasteaux, Greater Beedelup and Warren. Heavy rain at times cut down on some planned activites as forest roads were very wet, slippery and potholed. Sunshine one minute, wet and windy the next. Blackwood River National Park Snail orchid Pink Fairy orchid Hakea The … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 56 – National Parks of the South-west
We had an appointment to attend to in Perth so took the opportunity to also catch up on washing as well a sleep in after our full and busy days. We managed a short walk to Lake Joondalup before a lower leg skin cancer removal in the afternoon. Another late drive back to Margaret River … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 55 – Day in Perth
Red-winged Fairywren (Malurus elegans) at Margaret River Immature male Red-winged fairywren Twenty-eight parrot Margaret River at Margaret River Cowaramup is the centre for dairying in the district. The answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything! Cowaramup is home to a herd of 42 life sized fibreglass Friesian cows and calves wandering … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 54 – Margaret River
Today we ventured south from Margaret River – first to Hamelin Bay. On the way, we passed the tranquil water of Lake Davies. Sand swirling around the carpark should have been an omen to turn back but we persevered to Hamelin Bay beach to be sandblasted in the howling winds. I ended up at Margaret … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 53 – Limestone country
Witchy Pies at Witchcliffe – maybe they used spell-t flour. Long before Korean BBQ became popular…. We sat under these at Witchy Pies – it was a whisk we were willing to make. Fallen gum blossoms at Witchcliffe Donkeys orchids near Augusta Philotheca We were bamboozled for a time by this oddity in the bush … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 52 – Cape Leeuwin
We have moved into the famed Margaret River Region on WA’s south-west coast. The map shows places we intend to visit over the next few days. Cape Naturaliste is the northern most point of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park that runs down the coastal strip to Cape Leeuwin. The vegetation varies from coastal scrub-heath to large areas … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 51 – Capes, caves and canals
Marlston Hill Lookout – step work to kick start the day. The view to Bunbury Port The striking Bunbury Lighthouse. We read up on its history – it has a checkered past. Natural channel through volcanic basalt on the Bunbury coastline. Big Swamp Wetlands at Bunbury As soon as we made our way down the … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 50 – Busselton
Herdsman Lake is a natural wetland that, despite human modification is a valuable urban habitat for wildlife. Tiger snakes are commonly seen in summer. Habitats include dense wetland rushes, fragments of remnant paperbark and flooded gum woodlands and well as maintained open grass parklands. Herdsman Lake contains a wetland dominated by Bulrush (Typha orientalis) and … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 49 – Herdsman Lake, Thrombolites and a Giant
We returned to John Forrest National Park at a different access point. Flowers along the Railway Reserves Heritage Trail The Railway Reserves Heritage Trail leads into a cutting… …and into the 340 metre tunnel designed by Chief Engineer CY O’Connor in 1895. The tunnel was blasted with explosives. The roof was unstable so was bricked … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 48 – Perth
On the way to Fremantle is Wireless Hill Park. It has a reputation for a very good range of wildflowers in spring. Red and green kangaroo paws are prolific. It is one of the few places near Perth where there is usually a good crop of the smaller cat’s paws. Brown honeyeaters were quickly going … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 47 – Wireless Hill and Fremantle
Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre. Sick and injured cockatoos are rehabilitated here and released once they reach beak performance. Kaarakin is based on the Noongar word “kaarak” which means “black cockatoo.” Kaarakin was developed on the site of an old wildlife park and has inherited a few animals that cannot be released into the wild … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 46 – Kaarakin and John Forrest National Park
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