From Drummond Cove, which is just north of Geraldton, we have travelled further north to the Pink Lake, part of Hutt Lagoon, then on towards Kalbarri admiring the coastline as we go.

We stop at the Kalbarri Information Centre then off to explore part of the Kalbarri National Park. What majestic places the Murchison River and surrounding landscapes are. The Sky Walk gave a wonderful view of the Murchison River gorge, it’s also a nice piece of engineering. The flowers in this park are as beautiful as they are unique, so many shapes, sizes and colours.

The shrubland in the park around you contains a massive 1200 native plant species representing 10% of the State’s flora in just one park. Although much smaller than the United Kingdom, it contains almost as many plant species!

The Nanda people are the original habitants of this region, have been so for thousands of years. Grey found indigenous people and their huts and farming quite substantial. Interesting to note many Nanda people served in the Australian defence forces, though on their return from active duty they were treated just as badly as the rest of their people.

“…we entered the most thickly populated district of Australia that I had yet observed… We passed two native villages …[the) huts of which they were composed, differed.. in being much larger, more strongly built and very nicely plastered over the outside with clay and clods of turf, so although uninhabited they were evidently fixed places of residence … these superior huts, well-marked roads, deeply sunk wells, and extensive warren grounds, all spoke of a large and, comparatively speaking, resident population.” As reported by Lieutenant George Grey 1839 who led an expedition to the north west of Western Australia

The geology for this region is very interesting, particularly around Kalbarri, it has fossil evidence of an arthropod empire, recorded tracks of these animals. The sandstone beneath your feet formed part of an ancient land surface 400 million years ago inhabited by arthropods, some of the earliest animals to walk on land. Their fossilised tracks and traces can be found everywhere in the park. Fascinating.

We commence a southward return by travelling the back roads to Yuna, a small town in a rural setting, there are plenty of paper daisies in flower. The paper daisies are also out all along the road, pink, white and yellow very picturesque.