Road trip: Western Australia (Part 2)

After spending an afternoon avoiding the rain at the whaling station museum in Albany (last used in 1978!), we headed north towards Stirling Range National Park.  I should point out at this point that national parks in Australia are not what we consider to be national parks in kiwiland.  I think by this stage in the trip we had already been through about 7.  There was Leeuwin-Naturaliste with the climbing and the jarrah and tuart forest; Beedelup where we walked through a tree and harassed a kookaburra; D'Entrecasteaux along the southern coast; Shannon where we camped by the river; Torndirrup with the natural bridge; plus a whole bunch of others that we drove passed.  They are all really pretty but basically tiny remnants that have escaped being cleared.

The Stirling Ranges were one of the most scenic parks we got to, which was a shame because it was also one of the wettest spots we got to.  

The plan was to walk to the top of one of the many hills but we had to content ourselves with a scenic drive through the park, broken up by quick dashes out to lookouts in between the showers. (You should totally click on the picture to fully appreciate the 270 degree vista)

It was a little bit cold and damp.  And somebody wasn't that keen on having their photo taken!

But it was really pretty and looked like somewhere you could spend a bit of time, preferably in the dry. 

So we struck south for the coast again in an attempt to find some sunshine.  And we found it at Stokes National Park.  Although the walking tracks weren't that suitable for walking here either.

But there were rocks to be contemplated, so it was all okay.

With the showers finally disappearing off into the east, we headed on our way to Esperance and Cape Le Grande National Park.  

Blue skies, white sandy beaches, surf, amazing granite domes:  this is a pretty awesome place.  We scaled Frenchmans Peak, walked the beaches, soaked in the sunshine, contemplated the water temperature (and wimped out of swimming), and lamented the fact that it was Easter and every man and his dog had come to Esperance, overflowing the camping grounds and cluttering up the scenary.

If you go to Western Australia, go to Esperance.  And don't go on a public holiday (or at least book a camping spot well in advance).  It's definitely scored a place on my list of things that need to be done again (and properly).

In the next installment, we wave sadly goodbye to the coast and head north towards Kalgoorlie and the super pit.