The Pinnacles (Nambung National Park)

The Pinnacles - limestone structures formed naturally

The Pinnacles (part of the Nambung National Park) near Cervantes do not need introduction. It is one of the most visited places in Western Australia. Located only 2,5-hour drive from Perth along the Indian Ocean Drive, it can be just a day trip or you can take a few days to explore the area. There is a 4,5km driving trail through the desert with many parking bays to stop and enjoy the marvellous creations.

What are exactly the Pinnacles and how were they formed?

The Pinnacles are natural limestone structures formed thousands of years ago. They are of different shapes and sizes, some as high as 3 meters. Up to date scientists are still puzzled as to how the Pinnacles were formed. There are a few theories which contradict each other and little evidence to support each. The Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre within the Nambung National Park has some posters explaining different theories. One thing is clear – the Pinnacles are nature’s creations! Interestingly, the Nambung National Park near Cervantes is not the only place in Australia where the Pinnacles are found. But here there is a greatest concentration of them.

Pinnacles are photographer’s delight

Not only the Pinnacles is a very popular attraction but also one of the most photographed iconic places during the day, sunset or night. While there are some amazing pictures by professional photographers out there, here is what we’ve seen.

Pinnacles during the day

During the daytime, the light can be very harsh, unless there are some clouds which make the landscape interesting. In the absence of clouds, you will get better results when shooting closer to the end of the day, when the light is a bit softer. Irrespective of the lighting conditions, the Pinnacles, without doubt, do not fail to impress.

Pinnacles at dusk

Twilight is a magical time to take pictures. It is the time when the sky is lit with myriad of colours that change by seconds.

Pinnacles at night

This is the most ifficult time to take pictures. But it can be quite rewarding. Just starring at the sky full of stars is already very fulfilling, when a sense of peace and quietness pervades. These pictures were taken a bit early in the evening (between 7 and 9pm). For best results, it would be better to take them around 10-11pm. Apparently, at that time you can see the Milky Way in a shape of an emu. But our kids were too tired and wanted to go back to campground, so these are the shots I managed.

Lake Thetis

Part of Nambung National Park is Lake Thetis. It is a small saline lake and is one of only a few places in Western Australia where stromatolites are found. Stromatolites and their cousins thrombolites are the oldest living lifeforms on the planet. Although the stromatolites in Hamlin Pool at Shark Bay are more impressive, Lake Thetis is still worth a visit on your way to the Pinnacles.

There is a nice but short walk around the lake and you can see many birds resting on stromatolites. People are not allowed to touch or walk on stromatolites but this rule doesn’t apply to birds. 😊

Where can you stay nearby?

There are plenty of accomodation in Cervantes and Jurien Bay, which includes caravan parks, as well as hotels. But if you are after something more simple and nature based, we recommend Karda campground. Although it is a bit further away from Cervantes but it is close to Lesueur National Park, which is worth exploring.

Good to know

There is entry fee of $15 per vehicle (as of April 2023) to Nambung National Park and no dogs are allowed.

While you are at the Pinnacles Desert, watch out for a family of emus.

Karda campground near Jurien Bay

Karda camp among the tall trees in a cleared block of land

Karda campground is a great nature-based campground, 20km east from Jurien Bay and next to Lesueur National Park. If you are looking for a budget accommodation in that area, Karda campground is an ideal choice. Firstly, it is within the short driving distance from both the Lesueur National Park and the coastal town of Jurien Bay. Secondly, the campground is not too big and not too small. There are 31 sites, located in two loops, and can accommodate all sorts of vehicles and vans, including tents, caravans and trailers. Thirdly, the sites themselves are really huge, which is always very nice. Lastly, each site comes with its own picnic table and firepit. Not to mention that there are two clean and new drop toilets in each loop.

The sites are $11 per adult and $3 per child per night. You would need to book online via Parkstay. We visited Karda campground over the Anzac Day holiday, end of April and there were plenty of spaces available. However, we would recommend booking in advance, as the internet can be quite patchy there.

Very large and spacious Karda campground

Unfortunately, no dogs are allowed. There are also no rubbish bins, which keeps the cost a bit lower.

Man sitting at the table at campground looking away

Karda campground is a great place to stay during cooler months of the year. It can be quite hot in summer there. In fact, it is closed from December to February. There are plently of things to do and see around. Biodiversity hot spot Lesueur National Park is just around the corner. Jurien Bay has a lot on offer too. And of course, the famous Pinnalces Desert is only about an hour’s drive away.

Below: view from our swags in the morning. Nice life 🙂

Ellendale Pool and Greenough

Ellendale Pool and Greenough are two places of interest in Australia’s Mid-West region. They are popular with tourists as short holiday destinations or on the way to Coral Coast. Likewise locals from Geraldton love these places as their weekend gateaway.

Ellendale Pool

Located 51km east from Geraldton, it is an easy 40-minute drive on sealed roads. The natural rock pool, formed by flowing Greenough River is particularly picturesque. Many people swim there, although warning is issued that swimming is not advisable in temperatures higher than 24 degrees due to the presence of bacteria. If not swimming, canoeing can be easily enjoyed on the river. The colours of the gorge are shades of orange which become more dramatic at sunrise and sunset. They cast beautiful reflections into the calm waters of the pool.

The facilities at Ellendale Pool include flushing toilets, outside cold shower, non-drinking water taps, bbqs, picnic tables, rubbish bins, dump point and even a small playground. Dogs on leash are allowed.

At the moment, the area is free, which makes it very popular with locals and tourists alike. However, we suspect, it won’t be free for long. The place is suitable for both tents/swags and caravans. It does have 2 camping areas but it can fill up quickly.

Ellendale Pool attracts lots of birds. Noisy corellas come in hundreds and visit the place a few times daily. Swallows are in much smaller numbers and quieter but you can still hear them chirping cheerfully in the morning. Australian ringnecks and galahs also frequent the place. 

How are the road conditions?

When there is a lot of rain, the road to Ellendale Pool might be closed, as it gets flooded.

The last 1km of Ellendale Pool Road is dirt corrugated road. The good news – it is only a short drive!

Sky wonders at Ellendale Pool

Being far away from the city, there is almost no light pollution at Ellendale Pool, which makes it a great place to watch the night sky.

You can only see sky like this when there is no moon. However, when there is one, we enjoy taking pictures of it too.

Even though trees blocked some of the views of the setting sun, the light from the sun was still visible. From pink to purple to red, the colour of the sky was ujchanging in a matter of a few minutes.

We enjoyed our 3 nights stay at Ellendale Pool, owing to its beauty and excellent facilities. On the other hand, if you are looking for something very quiet and tranquil, it might not be the ideal place as it is a busy place, popular with people and noisy birds alike 😊.

Greenough

Greenough is a small settlement, south of Geraldton, with rich history. Apart from its history, Greenough is also known for its leaning trees. Some of them are lying almost horizontally to the ground. These are eucalyptus species, River Gums. They grow mostly on private properties, but there is one prominent leaning tree, on the Brand Highway, near Greenough settlement, that you can see quite close. Although, there is a fence, so you can’t really touch it. So why do the trees grow sideways in Greenough? Their leaning position is caused by constantly blowing salty southerly winds from the Indian Ocean. The natives of Western Australia say that it is a way of paying respect to the Mother Earth.

Leaning tree in Greenough

Greenough River

Rivers have always been an attraction for people. Being a source of water, rivers attract lots of birdlife. Some of the nicest walks are also along the river banks. If you are around Geraldton, why not enjoy the Greenough River, which meets the ocean at Cape Burney, 10 km south of Geraldton.

Lovers of hiking can take Greenough River Walk Trail. Starting from the Greenough River mouth at Cape Burney, the trail runs in a 17km loop, which you can hike in sections. This is quite an easy hike with the mixed views of the river and coastal vegetation. The trail is shared by bicycles and in some parts by 4WDs.

Devlin Pool, along the trail, is very picturesque. It can be admired from the lookout. Or you can walk down to it and have a swim or go canoeing. We chose to admire from the top 😊.

Devlin Pool

Although not part of the Greenough River Nature Trail, but still along the river is Bootenal Spring. This place has a historical value, as it is thought to be a site of confrontations between local Aboriginal people and early settlers. We found it quite a picturesque place, although hard to get to the water in some places.

The Walkaway Wind Farm

Located 30 km south of Geraldton, near a small town Walkaway is the Walkaway Wind Farm. The MidWest is one of Australia’s windiest regions. With the wind speed of 20-25km per hour and consistent breeze, the farm is able to generate electricity.

Interesting facts: The production of electricity starts at wind speed 14km/h.  The amount of electricity produced increases until the turbines reach the speed 36km/h. When the wind speed exceeds 90km/h, the turbines automatically shut down. The minimum lifetime of a turbine is 25 years. Our observation: all the turbines rotate at different speeds (must be due to the fact that each turbine doesn’t catch the wind equally). Some might even not move, while others continue to rotate.

The Walkaway Windfarm near Greenough

To conlclude

What did we remember most from this 3 day trip to Ellendale Pool? Little Corellas!

Leewin-Naturaliste National Park

View of coastal cliffs near blue ocean
Stunning coastline at Conto Springs

Leewin-Naturaliste National Park is undoubtedly one of the most popular attractions in Western Australia. Firstly, it is the best place to explore amazing cave formations, which are more than a hundred in the region, although only a few are open to public. Secondly, you can get up close to stingrays which frequent the waters of Hamelin Bay.  Additionally, Leewin-Naturaliste National Park offers spectacular coastline with many beautiful swimming beaches, world-class surfing spots and fishing locations. Stretching for 120km along the coast in the South West, from Cape Naturaliste in the north to Cape Leewin in the south, the park is also known for its “Cape to Cape Walk” that so many locals and tourist alike undertake all year round. Lastly, Leewin Naturaliste NP is just next to famous Margaret River, where you can indulge in gourmet food and wine experience. To emphasise, this is one place to explore!

Caves of Leewin-Naturaliste National Park

Spectacular limestone caves lying underneath the ground are unquestionably a reason to visit Leewin-Naturaliste National Park. One can marvel at immensely beautiful stalactites, stalagmites and shawls, created by nature over the periof thousands of years. While there are more than hundred caves in Leewin-Natureliste National Park, we only visited Lake Cave.

Lake Cave

It is easily accessible, just off Caves Road. While Lake Cave is not the biggest and not the grandest of all the caves open to public, it is our favourite. As the name suggests, there is a permanent lake inside the cave, in which you can see beautiful reflections of stalactites and straws. Even though the cave is not big, there are 350 steps to climb down (and then back up), hence one needs to be reasonably fit to accomplish this (our 8- and 11-year-old kids were well ahead of me, jumping like monkeys over the steps!)

Lake Cave

The entry to the cave (half way down the steps) is through a big sinkhole. Once you are down and inside, looking up into the sky through that hole is particularly an amazing experience.

Entry to Lake Cave

Another beautiful thing about this cave is Suspended Table – two massive columns hanging down from the ceiling, attached to the sheet of flowstone. Over the years the cave’s sandy floor has been completely washed away. As a result the whole structure, weighing several tones, floats on the surface of the lake.

Lake Cave is alive. Once inside, with the lights turned off you can tune to the silence, in which you can hear droplets of water dripping constantly from the tips of straws and stalactites.

Entry to the cave is with the guided tour only. It is worthwhile to book in advance, especially during public and school holidays. We highly recommend this experience and are looking forward to visiting other caves in this region.

Swimming and stingrays at Hamelin Bay

Hamelin Bay is a beautiful beach between Cape Leewin and Cape Naturaliste. It is a long stretch of white sand, turquoise water and coastal cliffs. Being sheltered and protected from the strong winds, Hamelin Bay is great for swimming, snorkeling, as well as fishing. It is especially popular as a place to spot stingrays, which frequent the bay and can get quite close to the shore.

Footprints on the rocky beach, near water

Unfortunately, we didn’t see any (I suppose the timing was wrong – we visited Hamelin Bay in the afternoon, late January). Despite that, we still enjoyed walking on the beach, spotting Sooty Oystercatchers and Liolophura hirtosa (below).

Apparently, you can also drive on the beach (not from the main beach entrance). I learnt that by walking along the beach and spotting tyre tracks, a sign and vehicles in the distance.

Margaret River Mouth

Another place worth visiting is Margaret River Mouth in Prevelly. This is where Indian Ocean meets Margaret River. In summer the river is isolated from the ocean, creating a shallow warm pool, popular with families, as well for canoeing. You can even walk across it to the beach when the conditions are right. The beach itself is 500meter long, partly protected by the reefs. It can be windy there, which creates good surfing opportunities, albeit for beginners. Also there are excellent facilities with toilets and showers at the carpark.

World class surfing at Surfers Point

Surfers Point is undeniably one of the best places to go surfing and kite surfing. It is a prime location especially for advanced surfers, because the waves here are guaranteed year-round, reaching the height of 7-8 meters. A variety of breaks means that there are swells offering varying difficulty. For us, not surfers, it was fun and thrill to watch a group of surfers of various capabilities and experience to jump above the waves, fall into the water, get up and do it all over again time. For one thing, these surfers possess so much strength (mental and physical) to handle the cold, strong winds and numerous falls into the water.

Camping at Conto’s

If you are looking for nature-based camping, look not further than Conto campground. It is a huge campground, 19km south of Margaret River, off Caves Road, just next to Lake Cave and 4km from the beach. Being close to all the main attractions in that region, it is a popular place, especially with families. Nestled among peppermint and grass trees, there are over 100 campsites located within 8 camping areas, arranged in loops.

All camping areas have drop toilets and non-drinking water and some (bigger ones) have shelters, bbqs and dishwashing facilities. Only 2 camping areas (Chudith and Quenda) are suitable for caravans and trailers. Others are for tents and swags, because you can’t reverse in and consequently have to park behind the poles. Some sites have low clearance and narrow parking, and as a result you won’t be able to open your awning.

We stayed at Hamelin and were fine with that arrangement for this trip. The cost of the campground is $15 per adult per night. Extra facilities include table and fire ring for each camping spot, chopped wood and rubbish skip bins. Sites need to be booked online via Parkstay site. Being a national park, no dogs are allowed at Conto.

Conto beaches

There are some good beaches in Leewin-Naturaliste National Park. Conto Spring Beach is 3km drive from Conto campground, just off the Caves Road, in the Margaret River region. It is accessible to all vehicles. The beach is great for swimming (on calm days), fishing, surfing and just exploring as it has beautiful rock formations and rock pools. Interestingly, the name of the beach comes from the actual freshwater spring that flows from the limestone ridge into the sand. “Cape to Cape walk track” passes through this beach.

A short driving distance from Conto Spring are a number of points of interest. We Round Rock and Merchant Rock of particular interest, both offering spectacular scenery. Merchant Pool has lots of rocks to climb and powerful waves to watch as they crush against the rocks, creating massive splashes. Not only the beaches are spectacular, but they are also great for fishing.

Below: Merchant Rock (left), Round Rock (right).

Small things to observe at Leewin-Naturaliste

Emu, the second-tallest bird (after the ostrich) and can only be found in the wild in Australia, where it is the largest bird (below left).

Welcome Swallow, a small and fast-flying bird (below right).

In conclusion

We hope you have most compelling evidence to visit Leewin-Naturaliste National Park. It is easily accessible, there is no entry fee and there is so much to see, do and wonder at, that without a doubt, you’ll find something for yourself there. We certainly didn’t see and experience everything and need to go back.

Do you have a favourite place or experience in Leewin-Naturaliste National Park?

West Cape Howe National Park

West Cape Howe

West Cape Howe National Park, half an hour drive from Albany, contains the most southerly point in Western Australia – Torbay Head. The park offers spectacular scenery with 23km of dramatic coastline dominated by black granite looking (it is actually dolerite) towering massive cliffs and headlands washed over by huge waves from the mighty Southern Ocean. The wind blowing straight from Antarctica is strong there. The black cliffs and white sandy beaches are contrasted with coastal heathland and further inland there is karri forest. For the most part, the park is accessible either by foot or reliable 4WD (except for Shelley Beach). Together with D’Entrecasteaux National Park, West Cape Howe is our favourite.

Shelley Beach (2WD accessible)

Shelley Beach

Located half an hour drive from Albany, Shelley Beach is a spectacular and rather popular beach with turquoise waters, white sand and cool breeze. Close to even more popular Cosy Corner beach, we found Shelley Beach a lot more interesting and attractive.

Camping at West Cape Howe NP

The only place to camp at West Cape Howe National Park is at Shelley Beach campground. It is a small campground with basic facilities, which we actually liked more than Cosy Corner campground. Having said that, Shelley Beach campground is a lot more exposed to the elements and does not have any privacy.

Shelley Beach campground

It is rather small with two camping areas – tent sites only area on the grass with vehicles parked in the carpark and campervan area on the opposite side of the carpark with the ocean view. No caravans or camper trailers are permitted. Dogs are not allowed. The cost of camping is $11 per adult per night. Facilities include a drop toilet only. The sites are not bookable.

However, the views are fantastic and this place is well worth visiting, even if only for a day trip.

Testing your 4WDriving skills

West Cape Howe National Park is the place to test your 4WD skills. We found it the most challenging and remote place we’ve visited so far. With very soft sand, stones, slopes going up and down, occassionally narrow lanes and overgrown vegetation, West Cape Howe NP is undeniably a 4WD lovers paradise. In our humble opinion, the tracks are not for the faint hearted, especially when you tackle them on your own.

Know your limits

You should certainly be well prepared when you tackle 4WD tracks on your own. We got bogged a couple of times but managed to get out. We’ve seen someone else got bogged, who had to ask for help to be pulled out with the winch.

At some point we had to turn back (along Dunsky Track going toward Torbay Head) because the track looked too soft and the chance of getting bogged there was very high.

With absolutely no other vehicle nearby, it was too risky to proceed any further once we got to what it looked like a fork that led to a ravine. You need to make your own judgement.

At this point we turned back

This place is so remote, that there are even no signs to identify where you are when you finally manage to get to your destination. With no map, other than the map provided at the entrance to the park, we had to guess where we were!

Almost the most southern point of Western Australia

So, we guessed that we got to West Cape Howe point (and we checked later that it was correct). West Cape Howe was very spectacular, pristine and untouched, with its dramatic black cliffs, crushing waves. We even felt like first explorers discovering a new land.

West Cape Howe is also a popular place for experienced rock climbers.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to Torbay Head (the most southern point of Western Australia) but the scenery is probably more impressive at West Cape Howe and we definitely enjoyed exploring it.

Wildflowers at Mount Frankland

Tattered Trigger plant at Mount Frankland
Tattered Trigger Plant Stylidium laciniatum

Wildflowers at Mount Frankland can be found blooming throughout the whole year, as different flowers bloom at different times of the year. We found Mount Frankland National Park quite abundant in wildflowers when we visited it early January. Below are some of the wildflowers we have seen and photographed.

Below left: Bull Banksia Banksia grandis. Below middle: Candle-spike Hakea Hakea ruscifolia. Below right: Fly-away Trigger Plant Stylidium caespitosum.

Below left: Goodenia eatoniana. Below middle: Crowea species. Below right: Scaevola calliptera.

Below left: Hemigenia (possibly incana). Below middle: Xanthosia rotundifolia Southern Cross. Below right: Karri Boronia Boronia gracilipes.

Below left: Kingia Australis. Below top right: Pimelea. Below bottom right: Many-flowerd Fringed Lily Thysanotus multiflorus.

Cape Peron (Rockingham)

Limestone rock above clear sea water and corals below at Cape Peron (Rockingham)
Cape Peron limestone rock formations near beach

Cape Peron (Rockingham), 45 minutes’ drive south from Perth, is a long stretch of land, surrounded by the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park. It is a popular place yet with plenty of space and a few entrances to the beach.

With numerous limestone reefs, overhangs, caves and swimthroughs close to the beach, it is an interesting place for exploration whether it is snorkeling, skuba diving or just walking.

There is plenty of marine life to observe.

The waters are quite shallow and safe for swimming.

The underwater is amazing to explore but sand boarding on the beach was fun for our kids too.

Sandboarding at the beach

Cape Peron (Rockingham) is a great place to visit as a day trip, especially in summer, when the weather is hot.

Mount Frankland National Park (Walpole Wilderness)

Driving through Mount Frankland National Park

Walpole Wilderness

Mount Frankland National Park, 29km north east of Walpole, in the South West, is part of the Walpole Wilderness. It is the area of wild landscape that is untouched by human activity and any technological intervention. You can have a bird’s eye view of that wilderness that includes majestic karri, tingle, marri and jarrah forest from Mt Frankland Wilderness Lookout. It is a short walk from the carpark, universally accessible.

Mount Frankland Wilderness Lookout

For those seeking more adventure and physical workout there are two trails leading to 411meter high granite rock Mt Frankland. We followed 600-meter-long bitumen Summit Trail to the base, while enjoying the scenery and wildflowers on the way. To get to the summit, one needs to climb a ladder and over 300 steps.

It is strenuous and quite steep 200 meters climb to the summit where there is a Towerman’s lookout. The sweeping views of the surrounding area from the summit are quite impressive. Interestingly, Towerman’s station is still in operation for recording weather and smoke (fire) during dry months between December and April. We even had a chance to go inside and talk to “the weather woman” Susan, who was on duty at the time.

On the way down we took Caldyanup trail – 1,6km loop around the base of the granite rock. The trail goes up and down with some small rocks and uneven parts through a mixed forest (moderate difficulty walk). Part of the trail is Soho Lookout – a newly constructed metal bridge, offering views of the forest below and around.

Soho Lookout

There is no entry fee to the park. Dogs are not allowed.

Where to camp in Mount Frankland National Park

If you are visiting Mount Frankland and are looking for a camping place nearby, then Fernhook Falls DPAW managed campground is a great choice and is only 20km away. It offers excellent facilities, which are well-maintained and cleaned daily. There are only 8 camp spots there, each one with a picnic table, fire ring and rubbish bin. There are also 2 huts with a bunkbed (but can accommodate at least 2 more people on the floor) with a fireplace and outside rain water tank – perfect for hikers!

The campground also has a kitchen area with a sink, tables and bbq plate. For $15 per person per night, we thought it was a good value.

Camping spots have a lot of privacy, are well spaced from each other, yet close to amenities. The whole campground is within the mixed karri, jarrah and tingle forest.

There are some nice short walks around the campground leading to Fernhook Falls and Rowell’s Pool created by the Deep River, passing through the region. Interestingly, the Deep River, although it looks dark brown due to the presence of tannin from native plants breaking down in the river, is actually one of the purest rivers in the south, because 95% of it is flowing through the forested catchment areas.

You cannot book the campground and payment is by cash only. It is quite a popular place even during hot months, so it is best to arrive early. Unfortunately, you cannot bring a dog to the campground. We enjoyed our 2 -day stay at the campground in January and it’s one of the places we would love to visit again in winter when we could enjoy lighting a fire.  

Fernhook Falls

Big Brook Dam

Big Brook Dam near Pemberton

Big Brook Dam is one of the attractions along the Karri Forest Explorer Drive, near Pemberton. It was built in 1986 as an additional water supply for Pemberton. These days it is mostly the place for many recreational activities in the area. It is a great place for kayaking and fishing. The Big Brook Dam 4km sealed walk trail along the shores of the dam is very picturesque. It is a great place for walking, strolling and photographing. There is also a sandy beach area, ideal for swimming on a hot day or just picnicking, with shelters, picnic tables and bbqs. Dogs on leash are allowed around the dam (but not on the beach).

Big Brook Dam is a heaven for birdlife. Below: Grey Fantail (top left), Musk Duck (top right), Black Swan (bottom right), Purple Swamphen (bottom centre).

Where to camp

You can camp at Big Brook Arboretum, 3km away from Big Brook Dam along the Karri Forest Explorer Drive. Nestled in the forest, it is a nice small campground with only basic facilities (toilet) but it can accomodate both tents and caravans. We stayed at Drafty’s in nearby Warren National Park (only 20 minutes drive from Big Brook Arboretum) and highly recommend it.

Above: Big Brook Arboretum

If you are visiting Pemberton and have time, make sure you visit nearby Warren National Park with their famous Dave Evans Bicentennial and Marianne North trees and Warren River.

Travel Nut Family

Warren National Park

Heartbreak Trail in Warren National Park

Warren National Park in the South West (15km from Pemberton) is home to some of the most magnificent karri trees (Eucalyptus diversicolor), which are very tall trees. Some of them are as tall as 90 meters and more than 200 years old.

You can explore Warren National Park by driving along 12-kilometer Heartbreak Trail. You can stop along the trail to look at and climb Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree – 68-meter-high, fire lookout tree (below).

Another tree of significance is Marianne North Tree. It is quite a distinct karri tree (Eucalyptus diversicolour) with large bulbous outgrowth around the trunk. The significance of this tree comes from the fact that it was painted by an English artist and traveler Marianne North when she visited Australia in 1880. So, this is how this tree got its name. Marianne North Tree is close to famous Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree on Old Vasse Road, near Pemberton.

Marianne North Tree

Keen hikers and anyone who enjoys nature, would appreciate the Warren River Loop Trail. It is a 10.5km walk through the karri forest and along the banks of the river. The trail can be walked in sections. We only walked from Drafty’s camp to Warren camp and back (3km return). Both camps have a day use area with picnic tables and canoe launching facilities.

Camping in Warren National Park

There are two campgrounds in Warren National Park: Drafty’s and Warren. Drafty’s is a family friendly, nature-based campground in the heart of Warren National Park. It’s a 2WD dirt road accessible along picturesque Heartbreak Trail off the Old Vasse Road, 16km from Pemberton. It is not suitable for big caravans or buses because the road is steep and winding. With 16 camp sites in a big loop and 6 in a small loop, the whole campground is very well laid out, with lots of privacy (it’s literally in the beautiful forest along the Warren River). There are a number of drop toilets, non-drinking water and camp kitchen (small loop only has a drop toilet).

Nearby Warren campground is very similar but it has only 6 sites, all suitable for tents only and there is no kitchen there. All sites in both campgrounds are on a first come, first serve basis and are $11 per person per night, plus national park entry fee. Being a national park, no dogs are allowed.

We initially planned on staying only 3 nights there but ended up staying 5. Every day we enjoyed morning and evening walks along the river, smelling the forest, listening to kookaburras and other birds and delighting in sights of magnificent karri, jarrah, marri and peppermint trees.

Some of the birds we’ve seen: Musk Duck (below left), Red-winged Fairy-wren (below top right), Silvereye (below bottom right).

The campground is a good base for exploring surrounding areas, as it is an easy drive in and out. It is close to Pemberton to stock up on foodand fuel and the surrounding forests are a pleasure to explore, offering a variety of experiences for everyone.

Can you spot someone watching me?