The next part of our journey took us into the lovely forest region of Pemberton for a few days and then to Augusta, where the Blackwood river meets the sea and you can stand on the southern most point of Western Australia. This idyllic region is a nature-lover's paradise, with magnificent karri forests, dark, winding rivers and spectacular coastal vistas. The water is clear, tropical and rich in diversity with warm currents from the Indian Ocean mixing with the colder Southern Ocean.
Pemberton
After witnessing the magnificent forests around Walpole, we weren't sure whether they could be surpassed, but Pemberton certainly has its share of natural gifts and wonders. We camped at a lovely, quiet bush camp near the Big Brook Dam, which was surrounded by giant karri trees and an abundance of birdlife. The Karri Forest Explorer drive provided us with an insight into Pemberton's premium forest attractions, including the Gloucester National Park, the Cascades, Beedelup Falls and the Warren River. It was a wonderful few days of walking through the forests, admiring the tall trees and spotting birds, including the pretty but elusive, red-winged fairy wren. We also managed to fit in a visit to the Lavender & Berry farm for a delicious lunch. It was nice to be inland for a while to enjoy the coolness and peacefulness of the forest environment.
Join us on a short drive through the forest:
Augusta region
After leaving Pemberton, we headed towards the coast again to enjoy the southern part of the Margaret River region. We camped in a fantastic bush camp at Alexandra Bridge, around 20km north of the town of Augusta. The camp-site was situated on the banks of the Blackwood River, which is the longest permanent river waterway in Western Australia. The river is also home to a variety of birds including the red-tailed black cockatoo.
Alexandra Bridge
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
The southern coastal region of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is spectacular for its diverse heathland, tall forests, gorgeous turquoise water, excellent swimming and snorkelling spots and vast coastal vistas. We had a wonderful time, visiting the sites of Hamelin Bay, the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Boranup Forest, Foul Bay and Cosy Corner.
Cape Leeuwin
The lighthouse provides a key feature for some fantastic vistas of this part of the coast, which is the southern most point of Western Australia and one end of the famous Cape-to-Cape track that travels along the coast to Cape Naturaliste.
Hamelin Bay
Hamelin Bay is a jewel in the crown of this region, with its sweeping semi=circular bay of turquoise water and regular sightings of graceful stingrays that feed in the shallow water. It was fun watching the people who were watching the stingrays and being so entranced by this lovely creature. Also a great place to walk and swim.
Foul Bay and Cosy Corner
Just south of Hamelin Bay, was another couple of gems - Foul Bay and Cosy Corner. Don't let the name put you off! Foul Bay was named by Matthew Flinders most probably on account of the prevailing weather at the time of his visit. It was far from foul when we visited. Cosy Corner was deserted, just like beaches in Tasmania, so we took the opportunity to plunge into the pristine ocean. We were also rewarded with some sightings of local raptors on the hunt, which was very exciting. We watched as an osprey caught a smaller bird in mid-air and carried it in his talons back to the nest.
Flinders Bay, Augusta and Blackwood River
The coastal village of Augusta is where the Blackwood River meets the sea in spectacular fashion. We went on a 2 hour cruise along the river and saw a rich diversity of wildlife, including pelicans and dolphins hunting together in the pristine shallow water. We also had the opportunity to photograph some caspian and common terns showing off their acrobatic diving and hunting skills.
The point where the river meets the sea is a mecca for thrill seekers on kite-boards and wind-surfers, particularly in the afternoon when the sea breeze is strongest. It was great to watch them buzzing around our boat. Check out the action:
Next stop - heading towards Cape Naturaliste.
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