Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TURQUOISE COAST
Stretching north of Lancelin to Port Denison, the relaxed Turquoise Coast is dotted with
sleepy fishing villages, stunning beaches, extraordinary geological formations, rugged na-
tional parks and incredibly diverse flora. Offshore marine parks and island nature reserves
provide a safe breeding habitat for Australian sea lions and other endangered species, while
crayfishing brings in the dollars. Once somewhat isolated, the whole area has been brought
within easy reach of Perth by the completion of the final section of Indian Ocean Dr
between Lancelin and Cervantes.
KWONGAN WILDFLOWERS
Take any road inland from the Turquoise Coast and you'll soon enter the Kwongan heathlands, where, depending
on the season, the roadside verges burst with native wildflowers like banksia, grevillea, hakea, calothamnus,
kangaroo paw and smokebush. While Lesueur National Park is an obvious choice for all things botanical, consider
some of the following options.
»
Badgingarra National Park
Three-and-a-half kilometres of walking trails, kangaroo paws, banksias, grass trees,
verticordia and a rare mallee. The back road linking Badgingarra to Lesueur is particularly rich in flora. Obtain de-
tails from the Badgingarra Roadhouse. There's also a picnic area on Bibby Rd.
»
Alexander Morrison National Park
Named after WA's first botanist. There are no trails, but you can drive
through slowly on the Coorow Green Head Rd, which has loads of flora along its verge all the way from Lesueur.
Expect to see dryandra, banksia, grevillea, smokebush, leschenaultia and honey myrtle.
»
Tathra National Park
Tathra has similar flora to Alexander Morrison National Park and the drive between the
two is rich with banksia, kangaroo paw and grevillea.
»
Coomallo Rest Area
Orchids, feather flowers, black kangaroo paws, wandoo and river red gums can be found
upstream and on the slopes of the small hill.
»
Brand Highway (Rte 1)
The route's not exactly conducive to slow meandering, but the highway verges are sur-
prisingly rich in wildflowers, especially either side of Eneabba.
If you're overwhelmed and frustrated by not being able to identify all these strange new plants, consider staying at
Western Flora Caravan Park
( 08-9955 2030; wfloracp@activ8.net.au; Brand Hwy, North Eneabba; un-
powered/powered sites $24/26, d $65, onsite vans $75, chalets $120) where the enthusiastic owners run free two-
hour wildflower walks across their 65-hectare property every day at 4.30pm.
8
Getting There & Away
Greyhound
( 1300 473 946;
www.greyhound.com.au
)
runs services to and from Perth along Indian
Ocean Dr three times per week.
