clog blog: Yanchep National Park and Perth in Spring

For our holiday up north, we purchased a national parks 4 week holiday pass. The pass was still valid when we returned from our two week trip and we tried to use it to see some of the parks nearby in the remaining two weeks. Yanchep National Park is about a 50 min drive from Perth city making it the perfect day trip. We have been wanting to visit the park for a while and having a park pass was the perfect opportunity to do so.

Attractions at Yanchep National Park include a family of koalas, grey kangaroos, limestone cave tours, walking trails, picnic spots, and camping. Although not native to WA, Yanchep has been home to a colony of koalas since 1938. They live in their natural environment, outside in the trees, but are provided with extra fresh eucalyptus leaves every day. A short boardwalk for viewing the koalas winds through their tree area. We spotted several of the bears snoozing in the trees; I’m still amazed at how they manage to sleep in some very uncomfortable looking positions. And we were lucky to see one walking about at the feeding area. Moving to another tree was too much effort so he fell asleep propped up amongst the fresh leaves. The park is also home to many western grey kangaroos, we saw many including joeys grazing and snoozing.

An awake, walking and eating koala bear

Western grey kangaroo and joey

There are 9 walking trails through the park ranging from 500 m to 55 km. We were hoping to do some of the intermediate distance walks. However, we admired the koalas for too long and it started raining shortly after we started walking. A light manageable shower soon turned into a downpour, luckily we were able to shelter near the start of one of the cave tours for the worst. Despite the rain we enjoyed and managed to complete the 4.5 km caves loop and the 2.7 km wetlands loop around the lake. We had hoped to do the 12 km ghost house walk as well but it was less appealing when already soaked and with thick grey clouds still looming.

Scenes from the wetlands loop walk at Yanchep National Park

We really enjoyed visiting Yanchep National Park. It’s so close to the city yet still fully wild bushland. It is an ideal weekend outdoor and picnic spot for families and is a good first impression of the natural WA bushland environment for visitors. Doing the walks during the cooler months of the year is definitely a win and maybe we’ll be back next cool season.

Since the holidays the weather has started improving with more sunny days and colourful spring flowers to be seen in abundance. We have been cycling and walking on the beach most weekends and also enjoying the wildflowers in Kings Park. Enjoy this selection of photos from Perth in Spring!

Until next time xxx

View of Perth city from the newly opened Elizabeth Quay

Bronze statue of civil rights activist Bessie Rischbieth at Elizabeth Quay with the city in the background

The footbridge at Elizabeth Quay

Perth city at sunset from the foreshore on the south bank of the Swan River

The city at sunset from Kings Park

Boab tree in Kings Park

Colourful changing cabins in Fremantle

The boathouse on the Swan River at sunset

Cycling!

We are enjoying the cooler weather for our 25 km cycle route through Kings Park and along the river.

Parrots on the south bank during one of our cycles

City Beach, our favourite beach for long walks

On a grey day,

And on a sunny day

One week we found this little guy on the beach. He is a fresh water oblong turtle and clearly lost. There is a storm water drain nearby which comes at least partly from one of the nearby lakes so he must have washed up through there. Another couple walking past said they knew someone who would know what to do with him so they took him. We looked up oblong turtles when we got home and just as well since we found another one on the beach two weeks later.

A little oblong turtle we found on the beach.

We called the number for an oblong turtle rescue organisation and took him to a lady who is rehabilitating him. When he is big enough, catching his own food and hiding from predators he will be released back into the lake. He is only 5 cm long, with his head and neck making up half of that, and weighed 4.8 grams when we found him. Even though he is so tiny, he is perfectly formed and has such defined features. We are glad we could help you little one! We hope you live a long and prosperous life. Thank you to the people who give up their time and put so much into wildlife rescue and rehabilitation here.