To the cave
The kookaburras perform the morning wake up call with their rather distinctive mocking sounds. I’ve slept all night sitting up despite some half baked idea in the night to shift and lie down. It doesn’t matter, a good night’s sleep was still had.
The toilet roll disappears during the morning make morning ablutions difficult. A box of tissues replaces the roll and with the fire stoked breakfast soon follows. Before long it’s time to pack up and head out again.
Back in ye olden days some of the taller trees were used as look out points for the fires that can spread around the area in long hot summers. Usually started by lightning, the fires can be devastating to an area. Much of the plant life, including the trees, have evolved to keep on growing despite damage. However, the idea of a lookout way up in the trees was made easier by building small huts, or tree houses! In the early days of telephones the instructions were simple. Make the call and do not panic.
One of the taller trees is the Bicentennial Tree, a 75m former lookout which is now open for climbing by way of pegs in the trunk which spiral upwards to the viewing platforms. Not many face the full climb, some get vertigo only part way up.
Next up is Beedelup Falls, a pleasant walk through the forest and across the Beedelup Brook by way of a suspension bridge (ideal for re-enactments from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom or Monty Python and the Holy Grail).
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse stands at the most south westerly tip of Australia. The area of Cape Leeuwin was named after a Dutch ship that first charted the coastline. The Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park covers the lighthouse and surrounding area. The heathland and scrub are home to numerous birds and an historic water wheel, which provided water for the building of the lighthouses, still stands.
Climb giant trees and walk in the Valley of the Giants. Join a tour with Nullarbor TravellerThe Mammoth Cave is our next stop. This ancient cave is near Boranup and has a breathtaking walk through the cave (with added MP3 player for commentary). The tour begins in the Karri Forest as we enter the cave and it is then the full spectacular cave opens up. Throughout the walk through the Mammoth Cave there are ancient bones and fossils from long extinct creatures such as Thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) and a Zygomaturas (a huge wombat-like animal).
Our final night is in a camping ground filled with tents, caravans and motor homes. After so many nights of isolation it is a very public ending. It does give everyone a chance to do some laundry and get a good hot shower. Simo cooks up his world famous spaghetti carbonara and the evening becomes a fun one. Even the Nullarbor Traveller Donkey partakes.
