Cape Naturaliste

On the bottom left-hand corner of Australia there is a squarish sticky out bit. The top left corner is formed by Cape Naturaliste and the bottom left corner is formed by Cape Leeuwin. In between is the Margaret River region. This region has to be in our top three in all of Australia. Have look at the images and you will see why.

Most of the coastline is pristine wilderness. Rocky granite headlands, forming bays of white sandy beaches. The untamed Indian Ocean swells roll in ceaselessly, creating magic scenery and amazing surfing. The hilly coastal scrub is home to all manner of unique flora and fauna.

cape naturaliste, western australia
Cape Naturaliste ligthouse...

South of Cape Naturaliste are the Canal Rocks...

cape naturaliste, western australia
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From above you can see where the name comes from...

cape naturaliste, western australia
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Some close ups of the Canal Rocks scenery...

cape naturaliste, western australia
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cape naturaliste, western australia
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cape naturaliste, western australia
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We spent two lunch breaks overlooking Smiths Beach. Watching the surfers and walkers.

cape naturaliste, western australia
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Coming east from Cape Naturaliste is Bunker Bay.

cape naturaliste, western australia
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cape naturaliste, western australia
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Further east is Eagle Bay. Typical sandy beaches almost devoid of people. What is not to like?

cape naturaliste, western australia
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Further east toward Geographe Bay is Gannet Rock.

cape naturaliste, western australia
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Again south of Cape Naturaliste is Sugarloaf Rock it is one of those places you can go day after day just sit and absorb the peace and wonder...

cape naturaliste, western australia
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cape naturaliste, western australia
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cape naturaliste, western australia
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Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo is one of the birds species Jenelle had been seaching for quite a while. Finally two got close enough to photograph.

cape naturaliste, western australia
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An even rarier bird on her list is the Western Emu-wren. We spent over two hours one day walking the paths around the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse. We seen a few but they were too fast and too secretive to get anymore than a brown blur. John had got a good look at a few but not Jenelle. The next day, with renewed determination we went back to seach again. It wasn't easy but Jenelle did get a few good shots. Everybody was cock-a-hoop!

cape naturaliste, western australia
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cape naturaliste, western australia
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We took some shots of other interesting birds too.

cape naturaliste, western australia
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cape naturaliste, western australia
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The Cape Naturaliste - Cape Leeuwin National Parks protect a huge area of pristine native vegetation. Here are some of the wildflowers we found in our wanderings.

cape naturaliste, western australia
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cape naturaliste, western australia
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cape naturaliste, western australia
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cape naturaliste, western australia
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