We have booked in for 6 nights at Northbridge on the northern edge of the city to explore Perth. The map above shows some of our intended destinations during this time. Kings Park is home to the spectacular Western Australian Botanic Garden, which displays over 3,000 species of the State’s unique flora. Two thirds of … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 45 – Kings Park
In Queensland we tend to abbreviate place names with a “y” or “ie” – Brisbane becomes Brissie, Rockhampton “Rocky”, Bundaberg “Bundy” and Gold Coast “Goldy”. In the west “o” is the go. Geraldton becomes “Gero”, Fremantle “Freo” and Rottnest Island “Rotto”. It was an early start to catch the Rottnest Fast Ferry from Hillarys Boast … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 44 – Rotto
Before I commence today’s blog – I have identified this beautiful insect as the Green Clerid Beetle (Eleale aulicodes) – a real gem of the kwongan heath. Thanks to GJ for the messages and interest. Toodyay’s historic main street – Stirling Terrace has many fine old buildings. Toodyay is derived from the Noongar work ‘Duidgee’ … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 43 – Toodyay
We returned to Lesueur National Park and did the road loop through the park and the Gairdner Trail that circles a long rocky hill with some different species of wildflowers. Kingia in the morning light The Northern Queen of Sheba Orchid (Thelymitra pulcherrima) is listed on WA’s Declared Rare and Priority Flora List. We were … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 42 – Kwongan in National Parks
Lesueur National Park is home to over 900 plant species – 10 percent of Western Australia’s known flora. There is as much biodiversity here as in the Amazon rainforest. We are now in the kwongan – a Noongar term for the sandplains with low bushy heath. The Noongar are Indigenous Australian peoples who live in the south-west … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 41 – Lesueur National Park
Cervantes is a small seaside town with fishing as its major industry. Lobsters are caught off the coast here. I once stopped by a roadside lobster stand that said “lobster tails $20”. I paid my $20 and the owner of the stand says… “Once upon a time there was this lobster……” Known as the Bobtail … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 40 – Nambung National Park
A shorter drive south from Dongara to Jurien Bay via some wildflower Nature Reserves. The Big Lobster at Dongara. It was a clawfully good replica. Irwin River Lookout Eucalyptus blossom There were warning signs about wild bees that can attack and protect the nest. Luckily they behived for us. Grey teal on the Irwin River … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 39 – Banksias
Today we did a loop west, south then east through wildflower hotspots. Seen on early morning walk in Geraldton, a new take on Tolkien. There are a few mini lighthouses at roundabouts in the city Geraldton is a city with a big heart Wildflowers on the road to Mullewa Tryptomene Welcome to Mullewa After a … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 38 – Wildflowers
Dome of Souls HMS Sydney Memorial – commemorating the loss of HMAS Sydney II and her crew of 645 men during a battle with a German ship during World War II on 19 November 1941 about 200km west of Shark Bay. The roof of the dome has 645 metal seagulls – one for each sailor … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 37 – Geraldton
Wildflowers on the roadside as we head for Meanarra Hill in Kalbarri National Park. Malleefowl trail at Meanarra Hill – we are usually good at finding wildlife but this fowl creature continues to elude us. Red Bluff Wittecarra Creek Beach . This marks the spot where Europeans landed in 1629. The ship Batavia was wrecked … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 36 – Pink Lake
Kalbarri National Park (coastal section) – along the coast, wind and wave erosion has exposed the sedimentary layers in the sandstone cliffs that plunge more than 100m in places to the ocean. At Red Bluff there was a range of wildflowers across the cliff top heath. Eremophila Pine-leaved grevillea Caustic bush Donkey orchid Natural Bridge … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 35 – Kalbarri NP coast
Today we venture back into the Murchison River gorge section of Kalbarri National Park. Meanarra Hill Lookout with views over Kalbarri township and the Murchison River bar to the Indian Ocean. Bill E. Goat looking forlorn – the kids were out of control. The Murchison River estuary The road into the gorge was lined with … More Way Away in WA 2023 – Day 34 – Kalbarri NP gorge
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