Locations

Wave Rock

The Wave formation is on Hyden Rock which is one of Australia's most famous landforms. Wave Rock is located 4km east of Hyden on a160 hectare nature reserve.

Geologists believe the original formation was sculptured by weathering and water erosion over 2,700 million years, before dinosaurs roamed the earth to take on its wave-like character. The coloured wave rock face occurred by the mineralisation of water running down the face and algae developing a spectacular colour display. Wave Rock rises 15m above the ground and 110 metres long is like a giant wave about to break on the surrounding bushland.

There is Tafoni rock formation on and around Wave Rock that have attracted Aborigines to inhabit the area. The rock formations are hollowed out creating a cavern like feature the Aborigines use to take shelter. Mulka Cave and Hippo’s Yarn are excellent examples of tafoni. Painted hand marks can be seen on rocks at Mulka’s Cave at The Humps and at Wave Rock. Gnamma Holes (aboriginal water hole in the granite rocks) can be found in the area.

It is believed the aborigines kept away from the district for the past century and a half for fear of the spirit of Mulka. Many stones used by the aborigines have been found on their campsites throughout the region.

Top

The Pinnacles

The Pinnacle Desert is located in the Nambung National Park, one of Western Australia's most intriguing areas and popular scenic destinations. The Pinnacles Desert is a spectacular sight where thousands of huge limestone pillars rise from the shifting golden sands, resembling a landscape of an ancient ruin. In places they rise four metres high featuring dome and pointed topped columns.

The formation of the Pinnacles Desert has taken probably scores of thousands of years. Due to shifting sands the Pinnacles were exposed about 6,000 years ago then once again covered up. To be again exposed within the last few hundred years.

This process can be seen in action today with the prevailing southerly winds exposing pinnacles in the northern part of the Pinnacles Desert and covering those in the south. Over time the limestone pillars will eventually be covered again by other sand drifts and so repeat cycle to evolve strange and wonderful shapes all over again.

Top

Kalbarri

The spectacular scenery surrounding Kalbarri is the result of many millions of years of geological formation. Beneath the landscape are deep, horizontal bands of multi-coloured sands which were deposited in layers some 400 million years ago.

Along the coast south of Kalbarri and in the Kalbarri National Park along the Murchison River thinly bedded, red and white banded sedimentary rocks can be seen, were deposited on tidal flats. Rippled surfaces can be seen in many places, such as around Nature's Window at The Loop, the Z Bend and various places along the coast.

The ripples were formed by waves moving over the tidal flats. Some beds look as if they have been inundated by a 'can of worms' an appearance which is most surprising and spectacular. These are burrows left by worms sheltering in the sand. Tracks and trails on flat surfaces show where animals of many millions of years ago crawled across the damp sedimentary surface.

Along the stunning coast, wind and wave erosion has exposed the layers of the coastal cliffs that rise more than 100 metres above the ocean and so exhibiting colourful coastal limestone and sandstone ledges.

Top

The Valley of the Giants, Tree Top Walk

The red tingle (Eucalyptus Jacksonii) is the dominant tree in the Walpole Nornalup National Park. They are very rare and only grow in this region. The red tingle tree has the largest based of all the eucalypts with a girth of up to 26 metres. Growing up to 75 metres tall this buttressed, rough barked tree, can live to over 400 years old.

Tingle trees are often ‘hollowed out’ by fire and fungal attack yet their structure means that they can continue to grow. An example of this is the “Giant Tingle Tree” other examples are found at the Valley of the Giants at the Tree Top Walk. .

Giant Tingle Tree is the largest living girthed eucalypt known in the world its 24 metres girth and hollowed out base gives the appearance of an oversized tepee with branches and leaves perched on top.

The best way to get an overview of the Tingle trees is to visit the Tree Top Walk at the Valley of the Giants which was purpose built because many people wanted to visit the red tingle trees but they were harming their fragile root systems. The Tree Top Walk gives people the experience of a bird’s eye view of the forest canopy.

Top

Monkey Mia

Monkey Mia is well-known for the bottlenose dolphins that decide to visit and interact with the humans at the beach. They are part of a large pod of around 300 wild dolphins that live in Shark Bay area.

The name Monkey Mia is not really known of it’s origin. There is of much speculation and debate all points of view are appealing. The term Monkey Mia was probably given by the European pearlers in the 1890’s. What is known is ‘Mia’ is an Aboriginal term for shelter.

It is possible that the term Monkey was derived from Malay pearlers who camped at Monkey Mia during the previous pearling era may have had pet monkeys with them.

Monkey Mia was used by early pastoralists for loading and uploading sheep. The term ‘Monkey’ is a colloquialism for ‘Sheep’. It is also possible that the name was derived from a schooner called ‘Monkey’ which arrived in 1834.

Top

Ningaloo Reef

Ningaloo Marine Park and Cape Range National Park comprises tranquil pristine beaches, colourful coral reef, rugged ranges and magnificent canyons and is situated on North West Cape.

Cape Range the backbone of the cape is a huge upward fold of limestone originally formed below the sea. Erosion of the limestone has gouged vast canyons in the sides of the range and subsequent deposition of the eroded material along each side of the range has helped build up coastal plains.

These have been modified over the ages by various processes such as wave action at times of higher sea levels and the formation of dunes made from wind-blown sand along the coast.

The Ningaloo Marine Park is adjacent to the Cape Range National Park and encompasses 260 kilometres of coastline. At the closest point the coral reef is within 100 metres of the shore at Turquoise Bay.

The reef itself comprises 200 species of hard corals and 50 species of soft corals and is a divers and snorkellers paradise. The beaches on the west coast have the most pristine blue, aqua to turquoise waters with white breakers flowing over the reef, and pure white sandy beaches.

Turquoise Bay is snorkelling delight and is considered on of the best snorkel sites in the area for the novice as well as the experienced snorkeller. Turquoise Bay is suited to swimmers of average fitness and snorkelling ability.

Top

Albany

Albany was the first established European settlement in Western Australia and is now one of the largest cities outside of Perth with a population in excess of 30,000. A thriving City, seaport and is the commercial centre for the region. Albany has a stunning coastline, fascinating history and outstanding natural attractions.

In and around Albany there are magnificent eco walk trails. The Bibbulmun Track, which starts just out on Perth and wends its way in the great southern region through Jarrah, Karri and Tingle forests to arrive at the Princess Royal Harbour at Albany.

Amazing natural features in the Albany area include The Gap and Natural Bridge; part of the awesome and spectacular rock formations at the ocean's edge in the Torndirrup National Park.

Less than an hour from Albany is the magnificent Stirling Ranges which has Western Australia’s highest peak Bluff Knoll and is also known for its biodiversity of wildflowers and orchids.

Waychinicup National Park is a nature lover’s treat with spectacular coastlines, tree filled gullies, rivers, streams and lush vegetation. Threatened animal species such as the quenda and western ringtail possum and quokkas can be found in the park.

A major attraction to the park is the Waychinicup River, at is mouth as massive polished granite boulders.

Top

Wildflowers of Western Australia

The Southwest Australia eco region is a region of Global and National Significance

The south western part of Western Australia is know as a biosphere for wildflowers, With over 12,000 species. Western Australia is globally recognised as one of the planet’s major biodiversity hotspots

Western Australia seems an unlikely place for wildflowers. Much of the state is harsh and dry with very low nutrient soils. Yet that is one of the very reason the flowers here are among the most colourful and abundant in the world.

Wildflower season in begins in June, and lasts until December the best viewing time is August September and October.

When most people think of wildflowers in Western Australia they think of the larger sweeping areas of everlasting daisies and mulla mulla, pinks, yellow, mauve and white.

Western Australia is also know for its diversity regional colour and displays. Each region you visit there is always something different to see and flora this is very special to that area.

Veiwing wildflowers is relatively easy to walk in to the bushland and find see abundance of big, small, colourful, prickly, dainty flowers and orchids.

Some of the most famous of the wildflower are the banksias, pin cushion hakea, wreath lechenaultia, blue lechenaultia, everlasting daisies, Queen of Sheba orchid, spider orchid and many more.

Top

New Norcia

In the Western Australian agriculture Wheatbelt region is Australia’s only Benedictine town this is unique town is different from other rural towns.

Just a comfortable two hour trip north of Perth and another world opens up to you. A small pieces of old Spain in the Australian bush.

New Norcia is a town of extraordinary architecture, richly decorated interiors, European and contemporary Australian art, Nyoongar Aboriginal culture and Mediterranean food.

The Monks came to New Norcia is 1846 to farm and to do mission work with the local aborigines.

The Museum and Art Gallery where European religious art in the grand style hangs alongside contemporary Australian religious art. The Museum contains one of the finest collections of moveable heritage in Australia including gifts from the Queen of Spain and a fascinating array of artefacts.

Today New Norcia is known for it delicious bread baked at the Monastery bake house.

New Norcia’s Nut Cake and Dom Salvador Pan Chocolatti famous cakes are baked in the Monastery wood-fired oven and are distributed Australia wide and overseas.

The Benedictine Community is known and respected for their growing and manufacture of quality Olive Oil. The monks are once again involved in the production of premium wine with their own label New Norcia Abbey Wines.

Top