Hyden Wave Rock & Salty Lakes, Hyden Wildlife Park, WA

Hyden Wave Rock & Salty Lakes, Hyden Wildlife Park,WA

Hyden Wave Rock & Salty Lakes

Hyden Rock lies about 3km east of the small town of Hyden and 300km southeast of Perth, Western Australia. Wave Rock is a natural rock formation that is shaped like a tall breaking ocean wave. The wave face is about 14m in height and around 110m in length. It forms the north side of the solitary hill, Hyden Rock. This hill, which is a granite inselberg. Hyden Wave Rock and its surrounding wildland are part of a 160ha nature reserve, Hyden Wildlife Park.

A wall lies above Wave Rock and about halfway up Hyden Rock. It collects rainwater on the rock top to a storage dam. The wall and dam were constructed in 1928 for the original settlers of East Karlgarin District. Both were renovated in 1951 to increase water capacity for the Hyden Township. Wave Rock has cultural significance to Ballardong people. They respected this area as an icon of cultural learning. More than 140,000 tourists visit Wave Rock every year.

The Wildflower Country & Coalseam Conservation Park, WA

The Wildflower Country & Coalseam Conservation Park, WA

There are more than 12,000 species of wildflowers in Western Australia, making it the world’s largest collection. Sixty percent of Western Australian wildflowers are found nowhere else on Earth. What’s more, you can enjoy their glorious carpets of color and curious blooms for six months of the year, as the season begins in June in the north, and sweeps down the State to finish with a flurry on the south coast in November.

Coming back from Exmouth to Perth, we drove through Mingenew, Morawa, Perenjori, Wubin, New Nocia and Bindoon. It's one of the popular and spectacular wildflower trail north of Perth. We stopped in the Coalseam Conservation Park to enjoy our lunch and the carpets of wildflowers.

(A) The Wildflower Country 

(B) Coalseam Conservation Park

Charles Knife Canyon & Shothole Canyon, Cape Range National Park, WA

Charles Knife Canyon & Shothole Canyon, Cape Range National Park, WA

Ningaloo Coast-- World Heritage Area

Part 1-- Yardie Creek & Gorge, Cape Range National Park, WA

http://jeffchentramp.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/yardie-creek-gorge-cape-range-national.html

Part 2-- Mandu Mandu Gorge, Cape Range National Park, WA

http://jeffchentramp.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/mandu-mandu-gorge-cape-range-national.html

Part 3-- Ningaloo Reef Cruise, Ningaloo Coast, WA
http://jeffchentramp.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/ningaloo-reef-cruise-ningaloo-coast-wa.html

Part 4-- Badjirrajirra Walk, Cape Range National Park, WA

http://jeffchentramp.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/badjirrajirra-walk-cape-range-national.html

Part 5-- Charles Knife Canyon & Shothole Canyon, Cape Range National Park, WA
http://jeffchentramp.blogspot.co.nz/2016/08/charles-knife-canyon-shothole-canyon.html

Ningaloo Coast-- World Heritage Area

*Exmouth is the base town of the Australia's World Heritage Area Ningaloo Coast. It's on the tip of the North West Cape in Western Australia, 1,270 km north of Perth and 3,370 km southwest of Darwin.

*Located at north and west of Exmouth is 604,500 hectare marine and terrestrial property of Ningaloo Coast, includes one of the longest near-shore reefs in the world. Annual gatherings of whale sharks occur at Ningaloo Coast, which is home to numerous marine species, among them a wealth of sea turtles.

*On land the site features an extensive karst system, canyons and network of underground caves. Cape Range National Park, included in the World Heritage Area, features several hike trails and lookouts offering spectacular views over the range, canyons, Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf.

Charles Knife Canyon, Cape Range National Park

*Road end car park (22°05'47.7"S 113°59'46.4"E).

*Charles Knife Canyon can be combined with Badjirrajirra Walk, Shothole Canyon and Pebble Beach in a day trip.

*Charles Knife Canyon is located at the eastern part of Cape Range National Park. It is accessed via Charles Knife Road, 21km south of Exmouth off Minilya-Exmouth Road. The mostly gravel road follows the razor-backed ridges of the range and provides breathtaking downward views into the stark, multi-colored gorges. There are several lookout points that provide fantastic photo opportunities. It's 11km driving from Minilya-Exmouth Road turnoff to the road end car park.

Shothole Canyon, Cape Range National Park

*Road end car park (22°03'53.1"S 114°00'39.1"E).

*Shothole Canyon can be combined with Charles Knife Canyon, Badjirrajirra Walk and Pebble Beach in a day trip.

*Shothole Canyon is located at the eastern part of Cape Range National Park. It is accessed via Shothole Canyon Road, 14km south of Exmouth off Minilya-Exmouth Road. Shothole Canyon was named after the shot holes left by seismographic charge explosions during oil searches in the Cape Range during the 1950s. The gravel road follows the base of Shothole Canyon, offering close up examination of the colorful, fossil laden rock layers of the sheer canyon walls. At the end of the 12km road, there is a picnic area and short walking trail.