Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is a national park in the South West region of Western Australia, 267 km (166 mi) south of Perth. It is named after the two locations at either end of the park which have lighthouses, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste. It is located in the Augusta-Margaret River and Busselton council areas, and is claimed to have the highest visiting numbers of any national park in Western Australia. The park received 2.33 million visitors through 2008–2009.[2]

Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
Western Australia
IUCN category II (national park)
A location in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
Nearest town or cityBusselton
Coordinates34°14′19″S 115°02′50″E
Established1957
Area190.92 km2 (73.7 sq mi)[1]
Managing authoritiesDepartment of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia)
WebsiteLeeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
See alsoList of protected areas of
Western Australia

Description

It has significant stands of karri and jarrah forest, as well as an extensive network of caves – some of which are accessible by the public.

The rugged coastline stretches 120 km (75 mi) from the northern end at Bunker Bay to Augusta at the southern end and has many features of interest including the granite formations, Sugarloaf Rock and Canal Rocks. The coastal area also contains many beaches with well-known surf breaks, such as Supertubes, Yallingup beach and Smiths Beach.[3]

Flora and fauna

The vegetation found in the park varies from the coastal scrub-heath along the coastline that opens up into large areas of peppermint trees, banksia and karri forest.

A large variety of bird species inhabit the park including many sea birds, red-eared firetail, white-breasted robin, rock parrot and emu. Native mammals that can be found within the park include southern brown bandicoots, western grey kangaroos, western ringtail possums and brush wallabies.

Leeuwin – Naturaliste ridge

The national park was created from crown lands along the Leeuwin – Naturaliste ridge at a time after the main primary industries in the region had been dairying and forestry, and when increased land-use conflict was arising from the spread of wineries, increased population on hobby farms and other agricultural activities.

Since then many competing land uses have created a complex land management scenario for state and local government authorities trying to mediate quite conflicting issues. The national park is located on some of the most vulnerable land in the region.

The ridge's geology and the variations in vegetation are confined to a number of very narrow bands that follow the north–south orientation of the ridge.

The ridge has a whole series of caves[4] that run the length of the ridge. It also has the cave known as Devil's Lair which has important archaeological significance.

Cape to Cape Track
The start of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, at Cape Leeuwin.

In 2001, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) opened the Cape to Cape Track, a 135 kilometre walking track along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge.

Panorama from Canal rocks looking towards Yallingup

See also

References

Notes
  1. "Department of Environment and Conservation 2009–2010 Annual Report". Annual Report. Department of Environment and Conservation: 48. 2010. ISSN 1835-114X. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011.
  2. "Shannon and D'Entrecasteaux National Parks Management Plan No. 71 2012" (PDF). Department of Environment and Conservation. 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  3. Blair, Larry and Cheyne Horan Wavefinder Australia 3rd edition.A Hedonist publication ISBN 0-9581726-6-8 Supertubes (Smiths) p.253, Yallingup beach p.252, Smiths Beach p.253. also in (2001) Western Australia's Yallingup Margaret River Region, www.estategraphics.com.au/surfmaps – number 10, Supertubes; number 9, Yallingup; number 11, Smiths
  4. List of caves in Western Australia – see the locations for Augusta, Cowaramup, Margaret River, Witchcliffe, Yallingup

Sources
  • Bastian, L. V. Minerals and their relationships in the Leeuwin block Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park Perth : Government Chemical Laboratories, [1977?]
  • Cape to Cape Walk Track – Hamelin Bay to Cape Leeuwin 29 km" Department of Conservation and Environment, Busselton. n.d. pamphlet
  • Shaping the Capes: Rocks and landforms of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge an explanation of the Leeuwin Naturaliste Ridge.
  • Orr, Kate. and Frewer, Paul (1988) Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park Management plan : summary of public submissions, November 1988 Como, W.A : Dept. of Conservation and Land Management.
  • Taylor, Neil., Scott, Jane., Thomson-Dans, Carolyn and Banks, Roger.(n.d.) Feast for the Soul pp. 15–20 of The Best of the South West – Landscope special edition, Kensington, W.A.: Dept. of Conservation and Land Management ISBN 0-7307-5552-5
  • Western Australian Planning Commission. Statement of planning policy. No. 7, Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge Policy. Perth, W.A. : Govt. Printer – in – Western Australian government gazette, Perth, Friday 18 September 1998, No. 189. Special. 5191–5215 p. .
  • Western Australian Planning Commission. Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge planning review : issues, opportunities and directions : discussion paper for public comment / Western Australian Planning Commission, Shires of Augusta–Margaret River and Busselton. [Perth, W.A.] : The Commission, 1995.
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