Southern Forests WA photos

Driving through the Karri Forest, Boranup.

 

This lovely drive through the beautiful Karri trees was a highlight. Boranup Drive

 

This more southern section has older trees and not so many of the towering Karris. Boranup Drive

 

Exploring Boranup Drive on foot.

 

All that remains of the jetty at Hamelin Bay, and a snapshot of its history.

 

Overlooking Hamelin Bay.

 

Cosy Corner – definitely a lovely cosy little bay.

 

Pretty wildflowers at Cosy Corner.

 

Looking out to sea from Cosy Corner.

 

Augusta, at the mouth of the Blackwood River.

 

The best marina I’ve seen by far. Augusta

 

The beautiful marina at Augusta.

 

Cape Leeuwin lighthouse. Two of the lighthouse keepers houses are in the photo as well as some of the maintenance huts.

 

Just the kind of day a ship would be happy to see the light from Leeuwin Lighthouse.

 

Cape Leeuwin – the most south-westerly point of Australia

 

Where two oceans meet.

 

This now defunct waterwheel was used to channel fresh spring water to a point where the lighthouse keepers could pump it up to their homes. Cape Leeuwin

 

Our campsite off the highway and through that puddle. Quiet night! I think the puddle scared everyone else off.

 

The totems at Nannup

 

The old bridge at Nannup

 

Flood level markings of the tree beside the old bridge at Nannup

 

We’ve only just started seeing these. I guess it’ll be no time at all before they’re everywhere.

 

One of the lovely public gardens in Nannup

 

Clematis, or Grandads beard.

 

Clematis, Grandads Beard

 

At Barrabup Pool, on the Old Timberline Trail

 

At Barrabup Pool, on the Old Timberline Trail

 

Walking the Old Timberline Trail

 

The old rail bridge on the Old Timberline Trail

 

Moss and flowers on the cuttings. Old Timberline Trail

 

These cuttings were dug by hand back in the day – what a job! Old Timberline Trail

 

Orchids

 

Orchids on Timber3line Trail

 

Eucalypt flowers

The lithium mine at Greenbushes

 

Our campsite at Workers Pool.

 

This is the symbol for our walk trail. This is the Forest red-tailed black cockatoo. We’ve been seeing them and their cousins the white-tailed black cockatoo frequently in the forests as we’ve been travelling.

 

The whole walk was very pretty – here’s just one example.

 

A well-deserved break on our Loop Walk at Greenbushes.

 

Only one way across – chilly, but clean water.

 

It got pretty deep!

 

Bob tail skink. This one we saw on our walk, however we’ve seen lots and lots of them soaking up the sun on the roads – not a good place to sunbathe.

 

The Bobtail Skink frightens potential predators with a gaping display of its blue tongue. Usually slow-moving and docile a bite from one of these lizards may hurt, but it’s not poisonous.

 

Amazing blue-flowering shrub – not one I’m familiar with, but that’s not saying a lot!

 

Beautiful flowers in someone’s garden – it was still a part of our Loop Walk at Greenbushes.

Just a quirky photo. Before and after shearing!

 

The path around the Jarrah trail.

 

Fallen logs in the middle of a walking path are dealt with as easily as possible – just cut a wedge out.

 

Mossy log. Just look how big these trees are when fallen.

 

This is a West Australian Blackbutt. Note, I’m not West Australian!

 

More trees – more very tall trees.

 

Looking up. Karri trees.

 

A fallen log crossing a tiny stream.

 

Now that’s an Old Grasstree

 

Wildflowers – native wisteria I believe.

 

Wildflowers – Grandma’s bonnet.

 

Loved the mosses growing on the old fallen logs.

 

Flowers

 

Our campsite at Greens Island.

 

Getting ready to cook dinner. Greens Island

 

Our campsite at Big Brook Dam.

 

The swimming and picnic area at Big Brook Dam. Picnic tables under shelters are behind the photographer.

 

The bridge over the spillway at Big Brook Dam. This area is lacking in water at the moment.

 

One of the many lookouts over the dam accessed from the sealed pathway around it.

 

The site of people power! An interesting look at the protest, and where it occurred.

 

I’ve never seen this before. A fire had recently been through this area and all the grass trees have responded with these funny little martian antlers.

 

Another photo of the martian antlers that grass trees apparently grow after a fire has been through.

 

The Big Karri Tree.

 

Common Clematis or Grandpa’s Beard.

 

The Lookout over Beedleup Falls

 

Beedleup Falls

 

Beedleup Falls, downstream.

 

At the base of yet another huge Karri Tree

 

A highlight of our camp at Grass Tree Hollow

 

Karri Resort – yep, I’d stay there without too much enticement.

 

The Warren River at Maidenbush

 

Maidenbush, along the Warren River walk

 

Interesting moss.

 

Details of the ‘Walk Through’ Tree

 

The ‘Walk Through’ tree.

 

Looking through the ‘Walk Through’ tree.

 

The ‘Walk Through’ tree even fits two people.

 

Wildflowers

 

The Bicentennial Tree

 

Climbing the Bicentennial Tree

 

That’s me, on the way up the Bicentennial Tree.

 

The National Parks track maintenance team was out and about. They’ve just cut a gap through this fallen branch. Just look at the colour of the timber and sawdust. Isn’t it beautiful.

 

Steve, the tree hugger.

 

Maidenhair fern growing alongside the path.

 

The maidenhair ferns and the mosses tell you how moist this area is, under the canopy of the big trees. Warren Loop Walk.

 

Steve and the tall trees. Love these Karri trees.

 

The trees alongside our walk.

 

Tall trees on our Warren River Loop Walk.

 

The view from the Warren River Lookout on the Loop walk.

 

A moment of contemplation. On the Warren River Loop walk.

 

On the Karri Explorer Driving Trail. Excellent drive.

 

Reflections on the Warren River at our campsite.

 

The Warren River

 

The Warren River

 

The Warren River

 

The Warren River

 

Tassle flowers.

When it’s not National Parks big forests this is what the countryside looks like.

 

Swarbrick

 

This is actually our reflection in the huge entrance wall.

 

Information on the reflective entrance wall.

 

It’s art! Swarbrick

 

The Ghost Feather

 

The Ghost Feather

 

A seat to rest on. Artistic. Swarbrick

 

Tassel flowers

 

Steve, cutting his ‘birthday camembert’.

 

Mark, Denise, Trish, Bryan and Annie – enjoying a drink at our campsite at Peaceful Bay