Tall, tall, tall,,, a lighthouse and trees

After a last stroll down to Quindalup beach (trail on the left) and a hearty breakfast with our friends, we reluctantly left the beach villa on Tuesday morning and drove south with a stop in Margaret River towards Pemberton, in total about 250 km this day.

 

 

First stop: Cape Leeuwin, the most southern westerly point of Australia, and the point where the waters of the Indian and Southern oceans collide. The Cape to Cape Track, connects Cape Naturaliste (where we've been on Sunday) with Cape Leeuwin, about 135 km, passing spectacular beaches, forests, caves and rocky headlands.

 Australia’s tallest lighthouse was constructed in 1895 - thanks to gold findings in the area! - and is 39 m tall. It was occupied until 1988 by three lighthouse keepers. 

 

In 1830 the first European settlers reached the most southwester point of the Australian mainland, the confluence point of South and Indian Ocean. Ships sank in this highly dangerous waters, among them a navy frigate, weather must have been horrible most of the time (though, not during our visit!). Beautiful location!

Remembering the victims of the ship wrecks:

After a little "snackie" - sausage roll and Bundaberg - we drove on towards Augusta, where the Blackwood River flows into Flinders Bay.

 

 

On through the Southern Forests, as the huge Karri Forests are called. Karri  (Eucalyptus diversicolor) is one variety of Eucalyptus, widely spread in WA. Especially in this region, the Greater Beedelup National Park, they are growing extremely tall. This variety is easily to recognize by its permanently shredding bark and its light color, and, they can grow up to 90 m, very straight like a telephone p

 We stopped at Beedelup Falls with its suspension bridge (further below), at the Gloucester Tree and other giants (which could be climbed in the past, but not right now due to renovations) and at Big Brook Dam (below, right).

A tree with a stair,,,

We stayed in a motel in the historic timber town of Pemberton, a town not too large and not too exciting on its own. A sandwich and a beer for dinner, and we finally caught up with work – not very fittingly the proofread of our Salzburg update,,,