Australia nature reserves and national parks. Australia National Zoo and Aquarium
Australia is the most environmentally friendly continent in the world. Five percent of its territory is reserved for various nature reserves and other natural attractions. Currently eleven national parks Australia is included in the United Nations list of places of exceptional importance to humanity. Therefore, let's look at the best, most beautiful, most famous National parks Australia.
– Gog and Magog Rocks, Port Campbell NP, Victoria, Australia
Top 10 Australia
Best National Parks
Australia is perhaps the only continent on Earth where people have learned to live in harmony with nature, building beautiful cities, equipped with all the benefits of civilization, but at the same time not forgetting about nature protection.
Australia is full of a variety of national parks and reserves, all very different from each other! The best natural parks Australia is located in different climatic zones, so without leaving the country you can see both glaciers and deserts at once.
In Australia, more than 500 national parks have been created with a total area of 28 million hectares, which is about 4% of the country's territory. Another six percent of the territory is protected by other protected areas. According to Australian Geographics, the national network of protected areas includes 9,300 different sites, representing 13% of the country's territory, and also provides information on 71.9 million km² of protected areas and plans to increase this number by 25 million in 2013.
National parks are primarily managed by state and territory agencies in Australia. So far, only six national parks are managed by the federal agency Parks Australia: Booderie, Christmas Island National Park, Kakadu, Norfolk Island National Park, North Keeling, Uluru - Kata Tayuta.
And now about the best, most beautiful National Parks in Australia. As a basis, I took the list of the best National Parks in Australia according to the Australian Geographic magazine.
– 1 – Blue Mountains National Park (Blue Mountains NP)
– Sunrise in the Valley, view from Queen Elizabeth Lookout, Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales
Shrouded in a fairy haze Blue Mountains From a distance they look like an old painting, the author of which was carried away by blue tones. In fact, blueweed is actually the vapor of eucalyptus oils exuded by lush trees. This charming area, spread over an area of over a million hectares, is included in the honorable list of UNESCO sites. It is so densely covered with forest that the world's oldest tree, the Wollemi pine, was simply not noticed until 1994. The colorful area is replete with fascinating routes, among which every traveler can easily choose the most suitable one.
Blue Mountains National Park- one of the most picturesque, and therefore unforgettable places in the world! It is part of a vast mountain system, extending along the entire eastern and south- east coast continent. This is the most picturesque part of the Great Dividing Range, although, in principle, there are almost no mountains in the Blue Mountains National Park, just a few beautiful plateaus and cliffs, and most of the park is occupied by deep green valleys with rivers and lakes. Height Blue Mountains National Park varies from 20 meters above sea level at the lowest point (Nepean River) to 1215 meters at the highest (Mount Werong).
The park was formed in 1959, today it covers an area of about 270 thousand hectares, and is one of the most popular places among tourists - there are even night excursions here. Hiking trails pass through deep canyons with sheer sandstone walls, through forests, among wildly overgrown eucalyptus trees and tree ferns. There are several viewing platforms within the park, offering breathtaking views of the valleys below, the famous Three Sisters rocks (giant rock formations from Aboriginal legends), Echo Gorge, and the Great Australian Canyon. In the town of Katoomba you can ride the world's steepest railway or over rocks in a suspended cabin cable car. The Jenolan Caves are nearby. These are the most famous limestone grottoes in Australia. One of the nine caves contains an abundance of magically illuminated limestone stalactites and stalagmites.
– 2 – Flinders Ranges National Park (Flinders Ranges NP)
– Bunyeroo Valley from the Razorback viewpoint
One of the most stunning national parks on the Green Continent is surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Flinders Ranges. Local landscapes captivate with their color - mysterious gorges, ancient folded mountains, arched trees and huge stones, casting different shades in the light of the sun.
Mountains of the Flinders Ranges- a rare case for Australia, when big cities The scorched desert mercilessly advances. Most scenic route to the National Park begins in Adelaide on the Main Northern Highway, which cuts through the impressive wine region that stretches widely around Clare. As you travel, check out the golden fields of wheat and a number of historic towns - Laura, Melrose and Mintaro. Once you reach Wellington, head towards Quorn, which is within easy reach of Flinders Ranger. Provincial town Quorn is notable for its interesting fate. Fans of vintage trains come here from March to November for retro walks along the steel track. A rare train, which has gone through a long journey of restoration, runs from the city center to the pass Pichi-richi
– View of the northern ridge of Wilpena Pound from Hucks Lookout. In the foreground is a grass tree (Grass Tree) or “dragon heather” (in Russian literature - serpentine or dracophyllum)
The main pride of the National Park is the stunning valley - a huge amphitheater formed by nature itself. Steep cliffs of purple slate and red quartzite became its reliable walls. Like an ancient lost world, Wilpena Pound continues to live according to its own laws: inside the amazing tract there is more rainfall than in all the surrounding areas, and the local panoramas are truly fantastic. The ubiquitous kingdom of herbs is complemented by slender cypresses, red eucalyptus and casuarinas. The local fauna is beautiful. It consists of wallabies, red kangaroos, emus, echidnas and hundreds of species of birds, the polyphonic chirping of which spreads throughout the park. Pink cockatoos and bright rosellas fly up every now and then, creating a characteristic noise. There is plenty of entertainment on the territory of the colossal monastery - sightseeing flights over the valley, romantic walks through the forest, intricate mountain bike trails, camel riding or observing space objects from the Arkaroula Observatory.
– 3 – Kosciuszko National Park
– Seaman’s Hut, Mount Kosciusko NP, New South Wales
Kosciuszko National Park- the largest in the state of New South Wales. The park is part of the Australian Alps and was named after the mountain of the same name, which is highest peak Australia, and located within the park.
In 2008 national park Kosciuszko, along with other protected areas of the Australian Alps, has been included in the Australian National Heritage List. Kosciuszko National Park is one of Australia's most famous national parks, visited by approximately three million tourists every year.
The territory has huge lakes of glacial origin with calm water, which reflect the hills and thermal pools, the water temperature of which is +27 degrees. The largest rivers in the region originate in the park: the Snowy River, the Murray and the Murrumbidgee.
Rare animals found in the park include the mountain couscous, which was thought to be extinct until 1966, and the colorful false toad.
– 4 – Purnululu National Park
– Bungle Bungle Range, Purnululu National Park, Western Australia
Purnululu National Park spreads over an area of 239,723 hectares, in the northeastern part Western Australia, on the Kimberley plateau. It is one of Western Australia's most geologically interesting parks. a real museum under open air. In 1987, the park, covering 240 thousand hectares on the Kimberley Plateau, was listed World Heritage UNESCO. The nature of these places is truly pristine and untouched - the nearest settlement is 250 km from the park.
In the Kiya Aboriginal language, purnululu means sandstone. Sometimes the park is called Bungle Bungle by the name of the same name mountain range, which is entirely part of the park.
The relief of the park is very diverse - this is already mentioned above Mountain chain Bungle-Bangle covering an area of 45 thousand hectares, vast sandy plains, grassy lowlands in the Ord River valley and limestone cliffs in the west and east of the park.
Main attraction Purnululu National Park- these are mountain formations of the ridge Bungle-Bangle, which took the form of beehives as a result of erosion processes that lasted 20 million years. These “hives” have an interesting structure - bright orange sandstone alternates with dark stripes several meters wide. The bright orange color is given to them by the oxides of iron and manganese.
The territory of the park had a huge economic and cultural significance among aboriginal tribes - about 200 rock paintings of ancient people and burials were found here. But the Europeans, due to the arid climate and inhospitable natural conditions, avoided these places. The first cattle breeders appeared here only at the end of the 19th century, and the amazing mountain formations of the ridge Bungle-Bangle first opened to the world only in 1982!
– 5 – Uluru – Kata Tjuta (Uluru-Kata Tjuta NP)
– Ayers Rock (Uluru), Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, a desert landscape with two gigantic massifs sticking out of the ground - Mt. Uluru and a mountain located 40 km from it Olga or Kata Tjuta. I wonder what Olga is a much more impressive massif - 1069 m in height versus 348 m of Mount Uluru, but it is less popular for pilgrimage. Geologists say that Uluru And Olga are not separate hills, but part of a single mountain range, lying under the thickness of the earth and breaking out only in two places.
Uluru or Ayers Rock- a sacred place for Australian Aborigines. The base of the rock is carved with caves, and their walls are covered with ancient inscriptions and drawings. The size of the caves is impressive: the largest of them reach 800 meters in length and 30 meters in height. Three small lakes even formed in the caves, filling during the rainy season with water seeping through the cracks of the rock. So in the hot summer, when all the springs in the area dried up, the aborigines found here shelter from the hot rays of the sun and life-giving moisture.
With name Uluru There are numerous legends and traditions associated with it. Giant, animal-like dents on a strong stone gave rise to many legends and beliefs among superstitious indigenous Australians. Since ancient times, it was believed that the owner of the red giant, the water python, lived here. Because local residents people still come to the foot of the rock to perform a ritual in honor of the natural deity. The mountain giant consists of red sandstone, thanks to its amazing property change color, Uluru looks completely different at sunrise and sunset.
Ayers Rock located near the southwest corner of the Northern Territory, in the dry red heart of Australia. This colossal orange-brown rock, 2.4 km long and 1.6 km wide, rises 348 meters above the surrounding desert plain and is the world's largest monolith. The first European to see the Ayers Rock monolith was an Australian explorer in 1872. Ernest Gile, who crossed this part of the barren desert. He noticed a rock from the shores of Lake Amadies, but could not reach it. However, a year later he climbed to the top of the miracle mountain English explorer William Goss. He called the stone block "Ayers Rock" in honor of the Secretary of State of South Australia Henry Ayres.
– 6 – Kakadu National Park
– Gunlom Infinity Pools, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
Australia is famous for the richness of its nature. Here and amazing landscapes, and a unique underwater kingdom, and a diverse animal world. Australian Kakadu National Park is just one of the worthy representatives of its country.
There are amazing plants, many species of birds, fish and animals here. Among them you can find tree frog, octopus, kangaroo, buffalo, crow, as well as the famous huge barramundi fish. A walk along the Alligator River is an opportunity for the most daring travelers to see freshwater crocodiles.
The area itself is very beautiful: cascading waterfalls, a large Ranger uranium mine, and high cliffs. The biggest pride of the park is the “X-ray” rock paintings of ancient tribes, which have survived to this day. They are called X-ray because they depict not only people, but their internal organs. These are the souvenirs left from the ancient tribe, after which the park itself was named.
Kakadu National Park- UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 147. The country's largest national park stretches 200 km from north to south and more than 100 km from east to west in the Alligator Rivers region. total area The park is equal to the size of Slovenia or almost half the size of Switzerland.
About half of the park is owned by Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Territory, and by law the Park Authority leases this land to manage the national park. The aborigines living today in the territory of “Kakadu” (there are about 5 thousand of them) are descendants of various tribes that have lived here since ancient times.
– 7 – Great Sandy NP
– Great Sandy NP, Fraser Island ( Fraser Island), Queensland
Most of the island, which contains approximately 1,645 km² of intact tropical rainforest, is part of Great Sandy National Park. Freshwater turtles live in well-warmed lakes, and the wild dog Dingo can be found on land. It is strictly forbidden to feed dingoes on the island (fine from $3,000) and you must follow certain rules when meeting them, which the guides will tell you about or read about on the park’s website.
The dunes that make up the island were formed about 400 thousand years ago and have a height of up to 240 m. There are more than 40 fresh “hanging” lakes, which is one of geographical features islands. This is unusual for a sandy island, which is washed on all sides by ocean waters. The most large lake covers an area of about 200 hectares, its name is Lake Boemingen. The western coast of Fraser is occupied by mangrove forests and swamps, the eastern (facing the ocean) is a beach of fairly white sand about 100 km long. The most popular and accessible lake for swimming (you need to walk three kilometers through the forest and dunes) is Lake Wabbi, the deepest on the island (12 meters).
– 8 – Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair NP
– Cradle Mountain, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair NP, Tasmania
Tasmania's most beautiful and famous national park, official name whom Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park. It is located in the Central Highlands of Tasmania, 165 km north-west of Hobart. Main points of attraction – the same name Cradle Mountain 1545 meters high and its neighboring Barn Bluff. Stunning views of Cradle can be seen from the north side, where the Dove Lake with the purest clear water. This is also where Overland Track, Australia's most famous multi-day trekking route, stretching 82 km from Cradle Mountain to the opposite end of the park, to Lake St Clair.
The first European to visit the park in 1910 was Gustav Weindorfer. He purchased a plot of land here and in 1912 built a small chalet for guests, which he called Waldheim, which means "forest house". Unfortunately, that chalet has not survived to this day - it burned down in a fire. But in 1976, an exact replica was built here in Cradle Valley. Waldheim, which still receives tourists today. By the way, exactly Gustav Weindorfer and his wife Kate actively campaigned for the area to be given protected status. In 1922, the area between Cradle Mountain And Lake St Clair with an area of 64 thousand hectares, it was declared a reserve, and in 1971 - a national park.
In 1935, a 6-day Overland Track route was laid out through the park, which began to offer tours and brought the park extraordinary popularity for its breathtaking views. The rugged contours of Cradle Mountain, ancient rain forests and alpine meadows, picturesque beaches and untouched wild nature are the main wealth of the park.
– 9 – Port Campbell National Park (Port Campbell NP)
– Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell NP, Victoria
Park in Victoria, lying on Great Ocean Road , located in the southern part of the state, 190 km southwest of Melbourne, stretched out in a relatively narrow strip along the ocean, with an area of 17.5 km². Originally formed as a small territory for defense coastline, now it is 1750 hectares, including a unique collection of limestone “sculptures”: Twelve Apostles, London Arch(bearing the name of London Bridge before the collapse of the connecting isthmus) and Loch Ard Gorge- a stunning example of many years of natural erosion.
– 10 – Daintree National Park
– Mossman River, Daintree National Park, Queensland
In northern Queensland, 1502 km northwest of Brisbane and 100 km northwest of Cairns, it is located. On 1,200 square kilometers of Australian land, there is a unique tropical forest that has preserved its pristine appearance. The forest is over 110 million years old, making it the oldest forest on our planet. That is why the forest is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is protected in every possible way from the encroachments of mankind.
Daintree National Park consists of two parts, separated in the middle by an established agricultural area, which includes the town of Mossman and the village of Daintree. This entire area is a habitat for rare bird species. The heart of the park is the Daintree River, which rises in the Great Dividing Range mountains and flows into the Coral Sea.
Daintree National Park– this is also the location of the famous "Jumping Stones" V Thornton Beach. This quiet beach is sacred to the Aboriginal tribe Kuku Yalanji. It was the place where the women of the tribe performed secret rituals of household magic. There is a strict taboo on the beach: people who take stones from this shore could possibly be cursed.
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The description of Australia's attractions is impressive. Mountains, cliffs, gorges, deserts, amazing shores and bays - the shortest listThe names of Australian landmarks can take up a hundred pages. Most of them are parks and reserves.What attractions in Australia are not related to nature? Here is a short list of them:
Sydney Opera House. This is the most recognizable symbol, if not of the whole of Australia, then of Sydney for sure. The Opera House has much more in common with ships than with ordinary, earthly buildings.
Harbor Bridge was opened in 1932, March 19. The bridge connects Sydney's central business district with North Shore, crossing Port Jackson Bay.
Sydney Aquarium- one of the largest in the world. It is incredibly diverse, and one cannot help but be delighted by visiting it: even a simple walk along the route of the aquarium without stopping at the exhibits takes up to 3.5 hours - this structure is so large!
That's probably all. You will probably be surprised. Of course, every city in the country can boast of certain attractions. Check out Canberra or Canberra. There are plenty of museums and galleries here. But the main object of pilgrimage in the country remains natural parks, thesemain attractions of Australia. There are hundreds and hundreds of them here. We have compiled for you a fairly extensive list of the most interesting places
National parks of Australia:
Blue Mountains National Park, N.S.W.. This is the most picturesque part of the Great Dividing Range. Most of the park is occupied by deep green valleys with rivers and lakes. Several observation platforms offer views of the famous Three Sisters rocks, Echo Gorge, and the Great Australian Canyon. In the town In Katoomba, next to the park, you can ride along the world's steepest railway or over the cliffs in an aerial cable car. The Jenolan limestone grottoes are nearby.
Flinders Ranges National Park is surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Flinders Ranges. The route to the park starts at Adelaide on the Main Northern Highway, which cuts through the wine region that extends widely around Clare. While traveling, pay attention to historical cities, Laura, Melrose and Mintaro. Local provincial town Quorn is notable for its ancient railway. A rare train runs from the city center to the Pichi Richi Pass.
Kosciuszko National Park- the largest in the state of New South Wales. This part of the Australian Alps was named after the mountain of the same name, which is the highest peak in Australia. There are huge lakes of glacial origin with calm water. The largest rivers in the region originate in the park: the Snowy River, the Murray and the Murrumbidgee.
Purnululu National Park in the north-eastern part of Western Australia, on the Kimberley plateau. In the language of the Kiya Aboriginal tribe, “purnululu” means “sandstone”. Sometimes the park is called Bungle Bungle after the name of the mountain range of the same name, which is entirely part of the park. The mountains here took on the shape of beehives as a result of erosion processes that lasted 20 million years.
Uluru - Kata Tjuta , With Cala Ayers Rock , Northern Territories. Mount Olga is a massif with a height of 1069 m versus 348 m of Mount Uluru, but is less popular for pilgrimage. Geologists say that Uluru and Olga are not separate hills, but part of a single mountain range that lies beneath the earth and breaks out in only two places.
Reptile Center located within Ayers Rock Park. There are many species of reptiles that are protected in the park.
Kakadu National Park , Northern Territories. There are amazing plants, many species of birds, fish and animals here. Among them you can find a tree frog, an octopus, a kangaroo, a buffalo, a monitor lizard, and a huge barramundi fish. A walk along the Alligator River is an opportunity for the most daring travelers to see freshwater crocodiles. You'll find cascading waterfalls, the large Ranger uranium mine, and towering cliffs. See rock paintings of ancient tribes. About half of the park is owned by Aboriginal tribes of the Northern Territory, and the Park Authority leases this land to manage the national park. The aborigines, about 5 thousand of them, are descendants of tribes that have lived here since ancient times.
Great Sands National Park , O Fraser Island, Queensland. Most of the island, which contains approximately 1,645 km² of intact tropical rainforest, is part of Great Sandy National Park.
Cradle Mountain National Park - Lake St. Clair . This is sa Tasmania's most beautiful and famous national park, located in the Central Highlands of Tasmania 165 km north-west of Hobart. The rugged contours of Cradle Mountain, ancient rainforests and alpine meadows, picturesque beaches and untouched wildlife are the riches of the park.
Port Campbell National Park ,12 Apostles Rocks, Victoria. This park is located on the Great Ocean Road. It is located in the southern part of the state, 190 km southwest of Melbourne, stretched in a relatively narrow strip along the ocean. The Twelve Apostles Rocks, London Arch, Loch Ard Gorge are an example of many years of natural erosion.
Daintree National Park, r Eka Mossman , Queensland. A unique tropical forest grows here, preserving its original appearance. The forest is over 110 million years old, making it the oldest forest on our planet. The heart of the park is the Daintree River, which rises in the mountains of the Great Dividing Range and flows into the Coral Sea.
Koala Sanctuary , New South Wales, four hectares of land on which koalas, dingoes, echidnas, cockatoos, wombats and kangaroos move freely.
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park offers to enjoy wonderful views of the sea coast and river valley, where it is located. The shy lyrebird bird lives here.
An integral part of Australia's capital and popular place for tourists who want to see all the diversity of the continent's flora. The garden is located on the slopes of the Black Mountains on an area of 40 hectares and features 6,800 species of flowers from all over Australia.
Healesville Preserve, Victoria, one of the best parks wildlife in a country where more than 200 species of Australian birds, mammals and reptiles can be seen in their natural habitats.
Grampian Mountains , a national park in Victoria, forms the southern tip of the Great Dividing Range. It's thick rainforests, Mountain peaks and waterfalls. The park is famous for its views, rich in flora and fauna, and Aboriginal rock art. Of the thousand plant species, about 100 species are orchids, of which 20 species are endemic.
Great Barrier River f, Queensland, the world's largest reef, one of Australia's most striking natural attractions. The reef is teeming with life, showcasing the diversity of the underwater world, and consists of 3,000 individual reef systems, coral caves and hundreds of scenic tropical islands with beaches.
Cape Tribulation . In that unique place Two Natural World Heritage National Parks converge, the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. This is one of the few places in Australia where the rainforest runs straight down to the sea.
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary , located in the middle of nature in the village Kuranda , offers to see 2000 species of butterflies.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary -home for Australian wildlife animals. Kangaroos, possums, Tasmanian devils, wombats, emus and lyrebirds live here. And his main pride is about 130 koalas. Here you can see animals and birds without cages or visit inside cages with them, get as close as the animal allows.
Lamington National Park -the kingdom of the subtropical jungle. It is a forest with vines, palm trees and ancient ferns. From the Oreilis plateau, almost a kilometer above sea level, a beautiful panorama of mountains and valleys opens up.
Currumbin Nature Reserve -27 hectares of beautiful landscapes next to Currumbin Beach. In one of the largest Australian parks you can feed kangaroos, parrots, and there is a snake show.
Rottnest Island , Western Australia -a nature reserve off the coast of Perth, an ecologically clean area where cars are prohibited. Ancient cypress and tea tree forests have been preserved here, as well as unique small short-tailed kangaroos, the Quoccas, which were mistaken for rats by the Dutch discoverers, who named the island Rottnest, which means “rat’s nest.”
A region of Western Australia located in the north of the state. The area of Kimberley is 3 times larger than the area of the whole of Great Britain. This is a land of stark contrasts. There are the gorgeous beaches of Cable Beach in Brooma to the west and rugged red ridges and gorges to the east. The Kimberley contains some of the world's most ancient landscapes, millions of years old.
Geikie Gorge National Park . The gorge, more than 14 km long, was formed by the waters of the Fitzroy River, which for many years made its way through the ancient coastal limestone barrier reef.
Vindhana Gorge National Park . East of town Derby is home to the Vindyana Gorge, which stretches for 3.5 km, formed by the Lennard River in the thickness of a limestone reef aged 350 million years. The river bed is filled with water only in the summer season, from November to May.
Northern Territory Wildlife Park invites you to plunge into the world of wildlife and enjoy all the diversity of tropical Australia. Particular attention in the park is paid to the restoration of local animal species that are on the verge of extinction.
Litchfield National Park-one of the most beautiful parks in the Northern Territory. The park is located 140 km south of Darwin. The park is famous for its rain forests, natural ponds, picturesque cascading waterfalls, the most famous of which are Wangi, Tolmer and Florence.
Nitmiluk National Park is home to the Jawoin people. Over millions of years, rains have carved 13 separate gorges of incredible beauty from sandstone. Not only can you take a boat ride on the river flowing through the gorges and swim in it, but you can also walk along scenic trails to Seventeen Miley Crystal Falls, Katta-Katta Caves and hot springs. thermal springs Mataranka. The park has the beautiful Katherine Gorge.
Arnhem Land is located in the northeast of the Northern Territory and borders the Kakadu National Park, the Coburg Peninsula and the Arafura Sea. The vast expanse of the park is occupied by tropical savannas, wild sea beaches, deserted islands, rivers teeming with fish, lush tropical forests, huge snow-white dunes. These lands belong to the Aboriginal people, so you can only get here with a special permit or with a tourist group.
West MacDonnell National Park This is a picturesque nature reserve west of Alice Springs. The parallel MacDonnell Ranges belong to ancient mountains on the planet. The gorges are home to many endemic species of plants and animals. extraordinary beauty. Simpson Gap is located 20 km from Alice Springs. Part of the Western MacDonnell Ranges is an Aboriginal gorge and rainwater lake.
An island off the southeast coast of Australia, separated from the mainland by Bass Strait. Tasmania is named after the navigator Abel Tasman, who discovered the island. This is the smallest state in the country. There are mountains and hills, valleys with historical cities, plateaus, volcanoes, tropical forests, hundreds of lakes and snow-white beaches.
The height is 1270 m. The top of the mountain is often snow-covered in almost all seasons except summer. The mountain offers stunning views of Hobart and its surrounding areas, including Bruny Island, the Huony Derwent Valley, and the national park areas to the west of Hobart.
South East National Park -Tasmania's largest national park. It is a land of majestic mountains, dense forests and green plains. A convict settlement was founded on Sarah Island in Macquarie Bay in 1821.
Franklin Gordon National Park with wild, fast-flowing rivers, majestic mountain peaks, and dense forests, they are located in the center of the Tasmanian region, listed as a nature reserve of world significance.
Lake Saint Clare National Park. This part of the nature reserve contains Mount Cradle, the most high mountain Tasmania's Ossa, Lake St Clare, Australia's deepest freshwater lake.
Port Arthur -a former convict settlement, the largest in Australia, which housed more than 12,500 convicts from 1830 to 1877. There are regular boat trips to the Isle of the Dead, where more than 2,000 people are buried. Port Arthur is located on the Tasmanian Peninsula, famous for its extraordinary rock formations: the Tasmanian Arch and the Devil's Kitchen.
Tasmanian Devil Park is located near Port Arthur and small town Rams. Every morning at 11, Tasmanian devils are fed here. Here you can also see typical Tasmanian animals up close, such as wombats, marsupial martens, etc. The park is also a refuge for all injured animals.
Mount Field National Park is one of Tasmania's oldest national parks near Hobart. Trails through eucalyptus and ferns lead to the picturesque Russell Falls.
Cataract National Park - one of the best parks in Tasmania. There is a canal chairlift and a suspension bridge UNESCO World Heritage: Nature reserves of Australia. Part 2Willandra Lake District
The Willandra Lakes District is a UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 167. The area covers an area of 2,400 square kilometers in southwestern New South Wales, Australia. Part of the region (about 10%) is occupied by Mungo National Park.
The Willandra Lakes region covers an area of 2400 km2 in south-west New South Wales, 582 km west of Sydney. There are five large and fourteen small lakes, formed more than two million years ago.
All lakes (5 large and 14 small) are dry, formed more than 2 million years ago, and are covered with salt marsh vegetation. The region also features unique lunar semi-desert landscapes. There are eucalyptus woodlands.
The region is unique for its paleontological finds of the Pleistocene, as well as for the finds of evidence of human civilization dating back to 45,000-60,000 BC. e. In 1968, the remains of a cremated woman were found in the dunes of Lake Mungo. In 1974, a male burial was found not far from the find. Considered to be the oldest remains of human activity on the planet
The nature in these places, unlike other regions of Australia, is not rich - a semi-desert landscape, many sand dunes, fields with sparse bushes and grass, in places small islands of woodland with eucalyptus and coniferous (such as white pine and Australian blue cypress) trees. About 20 species of mammals have been recorded in the region, including kangaroos and echidnas, as well as emus, several species of bats and many reptiles.
Mungo National Park, located in the Willandra Lakes region and taking its name from the large ancient Lake Mungo, is world famous for paleontological discoveries proving habitation of the region some 60 thousand years ago. In the vicinity of Lake Mungo in 1968 and 1974, archaeologists discovered the remains of cremated ancient people - this is a unique, oldest cremation in the world.
There are a total of 19 lakes in the Willandra lake district, and what makes them unique is the fact that they were all formed more than 2 million years ago! In the photo you can distinguish the largest of Willandra's lakes: 1 - Mulurulu, 2 - Willandra, 3 - Garnpung, 4 - Lehur, 5 - Mungo, 6 - Arumpo, 7 - Chibnalwood
In addition to the ancient dry lakes, Willandra can “boast” of interesting semi-desert landscapes, somewhat reminiscent of the moon, among which small eucalyptus groves are occasionally found
The territory of the lake region turned out to be a treasure trove of traces of human activity dating back to 45-60 millennia BC, and the human remains found here in 1968 and 1974 are the oldest burial places of our ancestors today!
Wildlife of Western Tasmania
In a region that was once subject to brutal glaciation, parks and reserves with steep gorges cover more than 1 million hectares, making Western Tasmania's forests some of the last temperate forests in the world. The remains found in limestone caves indicate that people appeared here more than 20 thousand years ago.
Discovered in 1642 by the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, the island of Tasmania is located off the southeastern coast of Australia. It is cut off from the mainland by the Bass Strait, on its western side Indian Ocean, from the east - the Tasman Sea.
The nature of Tasmania amazes with its pristine fabulous beauty, splendor and uniqueness of landscapes - these are mountain peaks and centuries-old, sometimes impenetrable tropical forests, quiet green valleys and fast rivers with crystal clear water and ice waterfalls, picturesque gorges and volcanoes, colorful meadows with marvelous flowers and mirror the surface of the lakes, sea shores with a great variety of narrow bays and snow-white beaches. Surprisingly, the nature of Tasmania still preserves vast spaces where no human has ever set foot.
Orange-bellied parrot, southwest Tasmania. There are about 150 of them left in the wild. Huge number plants, eucalyptus forests, tree ferns - the wildlife of western Tasmania is in many ways very similar to Australia. In the local mild, humid climate there are both evergreen and deciduous trees.
Many of them reach incredible sizes. The globular eucalyptus, for example, can be up to one hundred and twenty meters in height. There are also southern beeches and Franklin pines with very valuable red wood, spinous atrotaxis (some representatives of the species have lived for more than two centuries), cypress anthrotaxis, rare species of mosses and lichens.
The wildlife of western Tasmania is teeming with exotic animals. This paradise is home to the Tasmanian devil, red wallaby, Tasmanian bettong, marsupial wolf, dingoes, platypuses, koalas, kangaroos, echidnas, opossums, and approximately 150 species of birds.
The cultural heritage of this region, which was the southernmost area of human habitation on our planet, is also of enormous interest. There are more than 40 sacred places of local aborigines, which still have exceptional significance for the modern aboriginal population. Archaeological finds Priceless art collections have been compiled from this region.
It is known, however, that the modern cultural history of Tasmania is full of drama and even tragedy. During the colonization of the island by Europeans local population The islands were almost completely destroyed. According to the 1961 census, there was one (!) Aboriginal person in Tasmania. Now there are many more of them officially listed, but does this mean that the connection between times has been restored? The noted specificity of the region can also be traced in its toponymy.
Here are the names of the rivers of the World Heritage region: Gordon, Franklin, Andrew, Denison, Maxwell, etc. and so on. Needless to say, historically, until quite recently, all these rivers had completely different names, reflecting, as elsewhere in the world, their characteristic features in the languages of those people who lived on their banks. Fortunately, many mainland areas of Australia have still retained their natural toponymy, which is also part of the heritage - natural and cultural.
The island of Tasmania is a world heritage wilderness area covering 1.38 million hectares. It is a stronghold of tropical forests, alpine nature and pristine habitats of rare and endangered animals and plants.
The island of Tasmania is interesting for its extraordinary nature- this is the only place in the region where a temperate climate prevails; in the Southern Hemisphere, this is found only in the south of Chile and Argentina. Tasmania is the smallest state of Australia.
Almost the entire territory of the island is a large nature reserve. Almost a quarter of its territory has not yet experienced human influence. Impenetrable forests and jungles, mysterious and strange forest animals, a huge number of rare bird species, a large number of fish in mountain lakes and rivers. One of the legendary inhabitants of the forests of Tasmania is the Tasmanian devil, however, recently the number of this unusual wild animal has decreased significantly.
The nature of Tasmania is exceptional and has no analogues in the world. The heart of Tasmanian wilderness is the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. Here you can see stunning mountain peaks, tropical forests, deep river valleys, and picturesque gorges. And among all this splendor, protected rivers meander.
Can't be ignored national park-mountain Cradle Lake St. Clair. This national park is one of famous monuments nature, it is included in the list of monuments cultural heritage humanity.
The local lakes are popular for trout fishing and bushwalking, and in the local restaurants you can try authentic Tasmanian cuisine and taste wonderful Tasmanian wine. Icy rivers cascade from jagged peaks into clear lakes. It offers stunning views of ancient rainforests and alpine moorlands
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The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia are a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the east coast of mainland Australia, on the border between the states of Queensland and New South Wales.
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1986 (extended in 1994) under the name Australian East Coast Temperate and Subtropical Rainforest Parks. It then included 16 areas of rainforest in New South Wales (an area of about 203,500 hectares). In 1994, the facility was expanded to include 40 more facilities, most of which were located in the state of Queensland. Between 1994 and 2007 it was called the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves.
Currently, there are about 50 separate reserves located on its territory, located between the Australian cities of Newcastle and Brisbane. All of them stretch for 500 km along the Great Dividing Range in eastern New South Wales and southern Queensland, and the site itself is a collection of numerous areas of rainforest, which are surrounded by eucalyptus forests and farmland. The rainforests of Australia's east coast are the most extensive subtropical rainforests in the world. The total area of the facility is about 370 thousand hectares.
From a scientific point of view, they are important because they represent a huge accumulation of ancient Australian vegetation, formed at a time when the modern continent was still part of the supercontinent Gondwana. The terrain on which the forests are located is varied. It includes numerous gorges, prehistoric volcanoes, waterfalls, and rivers.
The world of flora and fauna is extremely rich: about half of all Australian plant families and about a third of Australian mammal and bird species are recorded in forests (even though forests occupy only 0.3% of the total area of mainland Australia).
Wet Tropics of QueenslandThe Wet Tropics of Queensland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the north-eastern coast of mainland Australia, in the state of Queensland. The property is a wilderness area covered in tropical rainforests and characterized by a wide variety of terrain (rivers, gorges, waterfalls, mountains). Located in the Daintree Valley, covering an area of 8940 km². Included in the World Heritage List in 1988.
Great Dividing Range
The property has three main geographic regions: the Great Dividing Range plateau, the Great Cliffs region to the east, and the coastal plains. The plateau has a highly eroded topography, formed as a result of both erosion and past volcanic activity.
Individual lava cones and crater lakes have been preserved. The Big Cliffs area is rugged terrain that has suffered catastrophic erosion. There are numerous gorges and waterfalls. The northern part of the World Heritage Site contains extensive areas of coral reefs.
Coral reefs
The climate varies from humid to very humid. There are two seasons in the year: a relatively dry winter and a rainy summer. Average annual precipitation ranges from 4000 mm near the coast to 1200 mm in the western part. The average maximum temperature along the coast in summer is 31°C, and 5°C lower in the winter months. On the plateau and in the area of cliffs, the temperature in summer ranges from 28 to 17 °C, in winter - from 22 to 9 °C.
The world of flora and fauna is extremely rich: about 380 species of plants and 102 species of animals that are endangered or considered rare are registered in the forests. Forests are home to 30% of Australia's recorded marsupial species, 58% of bat species, 29% of frogs, 20% of reptiles, 58% of butterflies and 40% of bird species. Scientifically, native rainforests are important because represent a huge accumulation of ancient Australian vegetation, formed at a time when the modern continent was still part of the supercontinent Gondwana. There are extensive mangrove forests covering an area of about 136 km².
Local forests are the traditional settlement site of the Australian Aborigines, who settled the region more than 50 thousand years ago.
Shark Bay, Western Australia
Photo from space
Shark Bay is a bay in the northwestern part of the Australian state of Western Australia, located approximately 650 km north of the city of Perth.
On old English and Dutch maps it was called "Shark Bay". The bay is a bay with an average depth of 10 meters, which is cut by two peninsulas jutting into the Indian Ocean. Today, Shark Bay attracts about 120,000 tourists annually. In 1991 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In 1629, the Dutch traveler Francois Pelsaert described the bay coast as a lifeless and dreary place. The bay received its first name - Shark Bay - at the end of the 17th century, when an English ship under the command of Captain William Dampier reached the shores of Western Australia and stopped in the bay.
Around this time, Dampier mapped the coastline of the bay. According to one version, Shark Bay got its name due to the fact that the sailors of the ship under the command of Dampier caught giant shark, which became food for the hungry crew. According to another, the most common version, the bay received this name because more than ten species of sharks live in its waters, including the tiger shark.
Stromatolites in Hamelin Pool
In 1991, the bay was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique ecosystem. The basis of the ecosystem is algae, covering more than 4000 km² of the bay bottom. Plankton, consisting of shrimp and small fish, finds shelter in them. Algae is also the main food for dugongs, of which there are about 10 thousand.
Shark Bay is one of the world's largest dugong habitats. Bottlenose dolphins are found in the bay, attracting biologists from all over the world to the bay. At the southernmost part of the bay is a shallow bay called Hamelin Pool, the world's largest stromatolite formation, which is almost 3 billion years old.
Fossils of Australian mammals (Riversleigh and Naracoorte)The world's most important fossil sites in Australia are Riversleigh (in the north-east of the mainland) and Naracoorte (in the south-east). In Riversleigh, Queensland, the fossilized bones are very well preserved, thanks to an ideal environment (the calcareous plain is rich in surface water), which, unfortunately, is not so favorable for plant remains.
Paleontologists have discovered fossils of animals that date back to the Cenozoic era (65 million years). These are the fossil remains of bison, frogs, and kangaroos. In 2001, the remains of a marsupial lion, a distant relative of koalas, were found here.
Scientists have found that in the Miocene, herbivorous marsupial mammals lived in the Riversleigh forests - wallabies and rat kangaroos, huge diprotodonts and “strange-toothed” yalcaparidonts. And the last representative of the carnivorous striped marsupial wolf (thylacine, “marsupial tiger”, “Tasmanian wolf”) died relatively recently - in 1933, in captivity.
Of the discovered fossil birds, the “thunderbirds” are noteworthy, resembling ostriches in appearance and being the ancestors of modern flightless species.
The nature of Australia fascinates even experienced travelers. The national parks and reserves of this country deserve special attention. If you're planning to visit Australia, be sure to check out Kakadu, Lichfield, Lamington, Cleland Animal Park and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
To make your trip exciting and well-planned, you can buy an excursion package to Australia from the Australian Travel Club. Our specialists will help you plan your route in such a way that you can get to know the main attractions and not lose sight of anything important.
Kakadu National Park
This place in the northern part of Australia, near Darwin, is unique from a natural, archaeographic and ethnographic point of view. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Steep cliffs create a unique natural landscape, and the rich flora and fauna surprise with their diversity.
About half of the park belongs to Aboriginal tribes who have lived here for several millennia. Recently, their way of life has undergone major changes, but the traditions and beliefs of their ancestors still occupy an important part of their culture.
On the excursion, tourists will be able to get acquainted with the unique nature and wildlife of this place, as well as visit the places where ancient tribes lived, and see with their own eyes the objects of their culture and life.
Litchfield National Park
Lichfield is located in northern Australia, near the town of Bethchelor. Travelers will be surprised by the unique vegetation of this place: banksias, grevilleas, terminalias and other exotic plants can be seen in the forests.
Lichfield's fauna is also of interest. Here you can meet flying possums, marsupial martens, and wallabies. Among the birds you can see the Pacific cuckoo-coel, oriole, leaflet and many others.
A tour of Litchfield must pass through Wangi Falls - the largest and one of the most picturesque waterfalls.
Hotels in resorts in Spain
It flows into a lake, a swim in which, according to local superstitions, means recharging the body with health and longevity. In addition to Wangi Falls, you should definitely visit the Tolmer Falls and Florence Falls waterfalls.
Lamington National Park
The park is located on the border of the states of Queensland and New South Wales. The uniqueness of this place is in the unusual combination of jungle, heathland and mountain passes. If you want to enjoy truly extraordinary natural views, then you definitely need to come here.
Thousand-year-old beeches and 80-meter eucalyptus trees grow in the park; very rare specimens include bull, blood and stinging trees. Curious tourists will enjoy an excursion to the foot of the now extinct Tweed Volcano.
The fauna will also delight travelers with its diversity. In addition to flying foxes, platypuses and possums, here you can find unique endangered species of animals - coxena, birdwing butterfly, lyrebird, etc.
Cleland Animal Park
A few kilometers from Adelaide there is a park where you can not only admire the Australian inhabitants, but also pet and even feed the animals. A trip to this park will definitely give you unforgettable experience and emotions. At the entrance to Cleland, vacationers are offered park maps and bags of food for animals for a few dollars.
In Cleland you will meet koalas, Tasmanian devils, wombats, wild dingoes, and various species of birds. The park's terrarium is home to the most poisonous snakes in the world. The park is also amazing for its stunning natural views.
Currumbin Nature Reserve
The park is located in the city of Gold Coast. This place is famous for the fact that here you can see wild lorikeets - small, rainbow-colored birds of the parrot family.
Another feature of the reserve is that on its territory there is a veterinary clinic and a hospital for the treatment of wild animals.
You can admire the local flora and fauna not only during the day, but also after sunset, when nocturnal animals begin to become active. Especially for this purpose, night excursions are held in the park.
Excursion tours for every taste
Australian Travel Club offers group and individual tours who will introduce you to themselves unusual places Australia. A visit to national parks can be combined with a trip to famous city attractions. You can find a suitable tour here: we offer the most popular and exciting routes.
At your request, the standard tour can include additional excursions, which will allow you to get to know such an extraordinary country as Australia in more detail.
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National parks of Australia, nature reserves, game reserves and conservation areas are an integral part of modern Australia. Understanding the seriousness of protecting Australia's fragile nature provides strong reasons for taking strong environmental measures and laws. National parks are well-visited tourist sites that contain many attractions, with many different hiking trails of varying difficulty. A lot of time has passed since the first people appeared on the Australian continent. During all this time economic activity man, the pristine nature of the Green Continent was inexorably subjected to changes to suit certain economic needs. And quite often such actions were thoughtless and mismanagement, leading to disastrous consequences for the already fragile nature. Particularly devastating consequences began after the arrival of the first Europeans. Which, in addition to their mismanagement of that time, also brought with them domestic animals and various house plants. Imported predators such as cats and dogs simply destroyed defenseless local inhabitants. On the Australian continent, before the advent of man and his pets, there were practically no large and agile predators like cats and dogs. But not only cats and dogs caused damage to the nature of Australia, but also domestic agricultural plants and animals, which the local flora and fauna could not compete with, also caused damage. But in the 19th century the situation began to change. International and local government laws and regulations have been enacted calling for and mandating the conservation and restoration of wildlife and vegetable world Australia. Thanks to these actions, environmental protection zones, wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserves and national parks began to be created and continue to be created. The creation and equipping of national parks, reserves and wildlife sanctuaries with modern technology and scientific equipment, as well as constant scientific research, has made it possible to improve understanding of the surrounding nature. What has begun to have a positive effect on the restoration of fragile ancient nature Australia. Currently, a large number of protected natural areas have been created on the Australian continent. This is over 60 million hectares (ha) which is approximately 7.55% of the Australian territory. Also, in addition to national parks on the mainland, there are other national parks located in the external territories of Australia. These are Norfolk Island (650 ha), Christmas Island (8952 ha), Pulu Keeling (2602 ha), Heard and McDonald Islands (1,138,260 ha) and the Australian Antarctic Territory (1,153,610 ha). All of these protected areas of national parks include a total of more than 60.4 million.
National parks and reserves in Australia
ha (7.85%), Australia. Of these, 145 are marine protected areas, covering almost 38 million hectares. In addition, the protected areas include a large number of nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and simply park areas of local importance. There are 11 World Heritage Sites in Australia, covering almost 42.6 million hectares. Also, in addition to protected natural areas, a large number of parks and recreation areas have been created that are open for permanent visits and recreation.
Australian Parks
Australia
Nature
National parks and reserves
In Kakadu Park (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List) on the territory of unique natural landscapes There is an excellent collection of wild animals, flora and representatives of the mainland's bird life. In the Northern Territory Wildlife Park, along with other representatives of the Australian fauna, you can get acquainted with the legendary Australian giant fish "barramandi".
In the vicinity of Darwin there are beautiful Litchfield and Katherine Gorge parks.
Alice Springs is Starting point Many routes to Ayers Rock - Uluru rock mass - a giant rock “table”, rising 348 m above the perfectly flat surface of the surrounding desert and formed in the Archean era (this is one of the most ancient areas of the earth’s crust on the planet).
For the Australian Aborigines, this mountain, changing its color like a chameleon, has remained for thousands of years sacred place. According to the Chukurpa (Law of Creation), the entire area of Uluru was created by ancestral beings, the descendants of which are the Anangu tribe, who leased Mount Uluru to the Australian government for use as a national park. The duty of the "anangu" is to monitor the land of their ancestors, to prevent it from being physically and spiritually polluted, so the aborigines are against tourists climbing to the top of Uluru and many visitors now respect their sincere beliefs and refuse trekking. Instead, trails have been laid around the equally picturesque base of the cliff, which pass through caves and sacred “primordial” areas.
32 km. to the west of Uluru lies the Kata Tjuta massif (or Mount Olgas) - no less impressive and in fact much higher than the Uluru monolith, as well as the Valley of the Winds - no less beautiful place for "pilgrimage".
National parks of Australia
Nearby lies the tiny town of Yulara, the center of the world famous resort Ayers-Rock Resort, surrounded by Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. In addition to several modern hotels, there are interesting Information Center Yulara with an excellent exhibition dedicated to the geology, history and nature of the region, as well as a unique exhibition of magnificent photographs. IN Cultural Center Aboriginal people also have a very interesting exhibition about Aboriginal culture and art.
The breathtaking gorges along the Fitzroy River, Wolf Creek Meteor Crater, Gibb River Road and Bunge National Parks are very popular. In the middle of the sandy desert, 260 km. North of Perth, in Nambang National Park, is one of the country's main attractions - entire fields of petrified remains of an ancient forest - "Pinnacles".
Travel Western Australia: Lesueur National Park – Mount Lesueur
Location: Lesueur National Park, Western Australia
Hiking route: Climbing Mount Lesueur, 4 km, easy
We continue the story of our journey by car through the expanses of Western Australia.
The main purpose of the trip this time is Ningaloo Reef, but besides it, we were successfully able to squeeze into the program a lot of other interesting, educational and beautiful things that exist on the azure west coast of Kangaroo Country.
So, the second day of our trip, we wake up in a caravan park in Jurien Bay- a resort town Australia's Coral Coast.
After a soulful walk along Jurien Bay and Seaspray Beach, which is next to the caravan park where we spent the night, we moved on.
Our path lay in Lesueur National Park.
This national park is located in close proximity to Jurien Bay, that’s what we needed today.
There we planned to go on a hiking trail and climb the mountain of the same name – Mount Lesueur.
This is what will be discussed in this note.
To begin with, the numerous national parks, protected areas and forests (if low-growing native bush can be described as such) located north of Perth are known for their lush and vibrant blooming of wild Australian vegetation in the spring.
Moreover, the variety of shades, shapes and sizes of the local flowering fauna is simply amazing!
At least at the beginning of November we didn’t get to see this very riot of colors in Lesueur Park, but like any other national park in Australia, it has its own special unique flavor that is definitely worthy of attention.
Lesueur National Park got its name in honor of Charles-Alexandre Lesueur. Charles Alexandre Lesueur accompanied the same Nicolas Bodin in 1801 on his expedition to measure the coast of Australia.
Together with Francois Peron, he took part in a natural science expedition. Together they documented more than 100,000 zoological species, making a significant contribution to the study of Australian fauna and bringing success to the Boden expedition. (Wikipedia)
Since that expedition, many places here on West coast were named in honor of one or another of its participants, for example, directly in the Lesueur National Park itself:
Mount Mt Peron (expedition naturalist Francois Peron),
Mount Mt Lesueur and the park itself (Charles-Alexandre Lesueur);
Mount Mt Michaud (botanist-horticulturist Michaud).
Lesueur National Park contains a huge wealth of local flora and fauna.
It has more than 900 species of plants, 50 species of reptiles (the park is proud of a wide variety of lizards), 120 species of birds.
The wetlands of LeSueur Park are believed to be one of the last remaining habitats of Carnaby's Black cockatoo.
In Lesueur Park something is blooming all year round; the peak of flowering occurs in the spring months of September and October.
You can explore the natural attractions of Lesueur National Park in different ways:
- This is a car ride through the territory of the national park with the opportunity to stop here and there to admire the delights of the local flora. The length of the road is 17 km and the traffic there is one-way.
– walking routes with observation platforms.
There are three main walking tracks in the park, these are:
A) Observation deck Iain Wilson Lookout, from the parking lot to it a couple of hundred meters along an asphalt path;
In the photo below: Do you see the grille with the brush?
Before you set out on the hiking trail and then on the way back, you need to thoroughly clean your shoes (by the way, a common practice in Australia and New Zealand).
The fact is that the vegetation of the Lesueur National Park is under the threat of an epidemic of Phytophthora dieback (too lazy to look for an exact translation, something a la late blight), and this “sore” is transmitted with soil stuck to shoes. Hence this necessary procedure.
b) climbing the low mountain Mt Lesueur, “back and forth” sa. 4 km;
V) hiking Gairdner Ridge.
There is a fee to enter Lesueur National Park - $12 per car.
Payment is made independently at the entrance to the park at the information board.
You need to fill out the envelope, keep the torn receipt for yourself, and put the envelope in a special box.
But before we “set foot” on the expanses of this national park, we were first “greeted” along the way by the local fauna in the person of a plump, well-fed lizard unknown to us.
She, like all suicidal animals in Australia, sedately and without any haste at all, went about her business across the road.
It was not difficult to notice her from afar from the car, it was a terrible shame to crush the belly, we managed to brake in time and park on the side of the road.
This lizard was wildly surprised by the attention shown to it and froze dead in the middle of the asphalt road heated by the hot sun.
And no matter how much we walked around her, no matter how much we stomped our feet and “shoo-shoo-kali”, trying to persuade her to go home to a safe place, the lizard found all our efforts deeply violet and in general she even began to be terribly indignant that we disrupted her household affairs.
She opened her mouth wide, jumped slightly and even hissed. It’s both funny and slightly creepy, who knows whether she’s poisonous or not...
Fortunately, the road to Lesueur National Park is not congested with traffic, there were few cars here, but still people drove. I had to wave my hands from the side of the road to one hitchhiker so that she had time to slow down and go around this unlucky lizard.
The car stopped, the elderly couple didn’t need the lizard for nothing, she was much more curious to stare at us fools. Based on our accent, they immediately enrolled us in a group of traveling tourists, chatted with us very friendly, explaining that they have millions of these fat lizards and, they say, tourists often mistake this particular species for baby crocodiles. In general, everyone laughed heartily.
We managed to shoo-shoot this hissing beast to the side of the road, where it quietly crawled away into the bush, swearing at the top of its lungs. Satisfied that we saved someone's life, we moved on.
IN Lesueur National Park In addition to the 17 km trip, we also climbed Mt Lesueur, walking along the path back and forth for 4 km.
The walking track itself is absolutely simple; no special physical effort is required when climbing there - just a pleasant walk.
But it was terribly hot and the entire “trip” was accompanied by a hundred million annoying flies.
And the heat and flies here in Western Australia were so tiresome that, as a result, during this journey along Australia's Coral Coast we were forced to give up our favorite hobby (hiking) and devote all our time to other entertainment.
For those interested, here is the brochure in English. language with information about Lesueur Park (pdf file, 654 MB):
After Lesueur National Park, our path lay along the Indian Ocean Drive to small coastal towns Dongara & Port Denison.
But that’s another story; our journey through Western Australia will be continued.
Bye bye. Your restless travelers Nata and Tyoma
Photos from our trips and travels are here:
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