June Art trail and bush walking

 Hi everyone, I hope you and yours are well. June has been such a busy month for me and I still feel like I am tryng to catch up. Where did winter days sitting in front of the fire with a book go? 

The first part of the month was filled with getting ready for and attending the Dardanup Art Spectacular and Art Trail. Various artists had art displays and sales throughout the town and also in the Ferguson Valley. 

I and three other artist friends again hired the lovely old heritage listed Anglican St Mary's Dardanup church to display our wares. Whilst the other girls had beautiful paintings, I had my photography prints, greeting cards, cushion covers and totes, and my botanical eco printing scarves, upcylced tops, tote bags, greeting cards and prints. Unfortunately due to the wet weather we didn't have as good a weekend as last year, but it was still ok. It had taken me several weeks to get organised and I felt exhausted by the end of it all and needed a couple of days to recover. 

In the pic below you can see me with the other three artists - Sylvia, Sandra and Christine, and the beautiful church. 

And below some of my botanical eco-printing products. - upcylced shirts, prints, notebooks and greeting cards printed mostly with local eucalypt leaves. 

And some cynoptype greeting cards - a craft new to me in the last few months - but so much fun! 

As well as the Art Trail - the Art Spectacular art competiion is held every year in the Dardanup Hall. I entered three pieces - 2 photographs and one of my framed eco-prints. I am happy to say that this top image of the autumn leaves which I took in May at the Balingup Tree Park was award a Highly Commended - ie equal second. 

Here is a happy snap of me accepting my award. Two fellow photographers from the Photography Group of Bunbury won 1st prize and the other Highly Commended prize. Sorry about the poor quality of this photo. 

Since then I have been unsuccessfully trying to catch up with life. Some family issues, trying to walk every day, complete some writing projects for my writer's group and a magazine I write for, and I have also been doodling drawing some botanical sketches with pencil. There never seems to be enough hours in the day. Somewhere along the line I need to do some housework! I think my husband thinks so too! 

It was lovely to go bushwalking on the weekend to the Crooked Brook Forest in the beautiful Ferguson Valley. We picked up some morning tea from the Dardanup Bakery first. A must visit. 

Crooked Brook has walks from relatively short easy walks on wheelchair and pram friendly paths to a more challenging 10km walk. 

There were not many wildflowers out yet, but they are on their way. I really need to start a catalogue of wildflowers I have photographed. Clockwise from top left - ground hugging Banksia nivea, commonly known as honeypot dryandra, one of the dryandras, one of the grevillias, the red jug flower, prickly hakea, and jarrah tree buds. 

Gosh we have a lot of prickly plants in the Australian bush. All of these except for the red jug flower and the jarrah are prickly! 

We were also fascinated to see a Mountain Marri - Corymbia haematoxylon - a variety that I have actually photographed before I have discovered - but obviously it hasn't really registered with me before. It doesn't flower till October to March so I will have to go back then.  They call this bark - tessellated bark

I think that is it from me for now.

You might also like:

The wildflowers are starting to pop at Crooked Brook - 2018

Crooked Brook Forest walk - 2017

Dardanup art Trail & Spectacular - 2017

Dardanup art Trail 2021

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
       and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

It's winter

 Dreary and wet here the last couple of weeks. But of course it is winter here in Australia. I am hybernating trying to get through an enormous 'to do' list. I hope to be back with you next week. Stay safe and enjoy your week. 

Here is our inner harbour waterfront on a misty day recently.

Cape Leveque - Part 2 - Kimberley, Western Australia

 Hi everyone. Welcome back. It is WA Day today in Western Australia. A day where we celebrate our amazing state, culture and communities. Today I am sharing more images of our north west.

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about our trip in 2021 to Cape Leveque at the top of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. If you missed it - go here: Cape Leveque, Western Australia

Settled here over 50,000 years ago, and known as Kooljaman by the local indigenous Bardi people, Cape Leveque is located 208 kilometres from Broome, at the tip of the Dampier Peninsula. It is a land of contrasts where red pindan earth meets clear turquoise water, blue sky, unspoiled white beaches and native woodlands. And spectactular sunrises and sunsets over the ocean. 

Last time I took you to Cygnet Bay and Gumbanan Wilderness Retreat at the top of the Cape. This week we turn back south and our next destination. 

In 2021 when we visited some of the campsites were closed due to Covid, and since then Kooljaman wilderness camp located at the tip of Cape Leveque is temporarily closed to upgrade their facilities. Refer to their website to find out more. 

On the way south you can visit Beagle Bay. Statewide restrictions on entry to indigenous remote communities over the last couple of years, to limit the spread of Covid, will be lifted on 15 June 2022, so visitors will again be able to enter Beagle Bay.

Located 170 kilometres north of Broome, Beagle Bay is the traditional home of the Nyul Nyul people, who call the area Ngarlun Burr, Place Surrounded by Springs.

Central to the Beagle Bay community is the heritage listed Sacred Heart Church. Its mother-of-pearl shell alter is the main feature of this church, which is beautifully decorated inside with pearl, cowrie, volute and olive snail shells. The church is an amazing fusion of traditional aboriginal and Christian symbols, local materials and European techniques. It is a must visit. Please leave a donation to help maintain the church.

The church began construction in 1917, under the guidance of Father Thomas Bachmair, a German Pallottine Missionary. The inside was decorated by local women. An absolutely beautiful work of art and a must see on the Cape. You can see some of the beautiful shell work decoration in this image. 

I have blogged about the Sacred Heart Church at Beagle Bay before here: Sacred Heart Church, Beagle Bay

15 kilometres south of Beagle Bay is Banana Well Getaway - our next stop. 

Banana Well is located 140 kilometres north of Broome via a gravel road and then a sand track. Formerly a banana plantation, the grassy shady camping sites were a welcome relief from the dirt further north.  

There are plenty of powered (you will require a 10amp plug) and unpowered sites. There are also cabins, an enclosed camp kitchen, hot showers and a washing machine which, after a couple of weeks away, we were very happy to put to good use.  That's our caravan on the left in the pic below. 

Please take note of the crocodile warnings and don't swim! 

The well produces 100% pure spring water. The artesian spring is part of a huge underground reservoir of fresh water which is the second largest in Australia. A wander around the park brought us to a beautiful lily pond where we saw numerous birds.

A ten minute drive through the bush and marsh lands brings you to a tidal creek where you can fish off the beach, but I suggest you check the tide charts at the camp for the best times, and seek local knowledge, as it makes a great difference to your fishing. We caught a few feeds of javelin grunter fish. Not big, but great for a meal. This is mangrove country so make sure you cover up and use sand fly and mosquito repellent.  And remember there are salt water crocodiles - so no swimming! 

There are several tracks you can explore towards the coast, but please check for directions from the camp hosts and lower your tyre pressures. We actually got ourselves a bit bush-wacked one day because we didn't get proper directions, but managed to find our way back to camp using our gps Hema map - we believe a must have in remote country as it tracks your route and exact location.  

Below here you can see one of my favourite Kimberley wildflowers - Batchelor Buttons - Gomphrena canescens. 

And below is Pandanas - a genus of monocots with some 750 accepted species. This is Pandanus spiralis - commonly known as screw palm due to they way the trunk screws around as it grows and the old leaves fall off. A tropical plant native to northern Australia, the leaves are an important source of fibre for making hats, mats and bags.

OTHER CAMPS AND TOURS

Pender Bay, Middle Lagoon and James Price Point are popular campgrounds with stunning vistas over the ocean. 4WD needed to access via gravel and sand tracks.

Various tours are also available at Lombadina and the One Arm Point Ardyloon Trochus Hatchery and Aquaculture Centre, but were temporarily closed during our visit due to Covid restrictions.

Tours are also available from the The Djarindjin Roadhouse on the Cape Leveque Road. 

Refer to individual websites or the Broome Visitor Centre for camp ground and tour information, including the Lalang-garram Horizontal Falls Marine Park. 

FACTS BOX:

Where is it: Cape Leveque to 208 kilometres north of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula.  Please refer to individual websites or the Broome Visitor Centre before travelling.

Best time to visit: The southern winter is the perfect time to visit the Kimberley. Booking ahead is recommended May to September, especially if you require power. High temperatures and cyclones can occur in summer during ‘the wet’.

4WD is highly recommended. Lower your tyre pressures on the off-bitumen tracks. Conditions vary, drive to the conditions, roads could be boggy after rain.

I know it looks so inviting on a hot day - the water is so blue and clear - but swimming in the ocean not recommended due to salt water crocodiles (these are the huge mean ones) Refer to local knowledge for possible swimming spots. Sandfly and mosquito repellent recommended. Take usual precautions when bush walking.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you and yours are well. 

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. Next time I hope to bring you more of my amazing diverse Western Australia. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
   
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
       and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Gumbanan - Cape Leveque - Western Australa

 In July last year we headed to Cape Leveque on the Dampier Peninsular in the far north of Western Australia. It was an area which we had only briefly visited before in our camper trailer days when the road was dirt, but with the bitumising of the road from Broome to the Cape, it was on our itinery last July to revisit the Cape and go as far north as we could. After languishing in Broome for a few days we couldn't wait to escape the tourist crowds and move on further north. Here is a pic of the road before bitumin and after. 

I have just realised I haven't blogged about our Kimberely and north west trip last year before, so I hope to rectify that and share some posts over the coming weeks. 

Leaving home on 11 July, and returning on 22 August 2021, we did 8,625 kilometres (5359 miles) from our home in the south west to Cape Leveque, with side trips to other places along the way. Below you can see a map of Western Australia showing our trip via the blue line, and an insert showing Cape Leveque - where the blue line ends at the top of the map.  

Settled here over 50,000 years ago, and known as Kooljaman by the local indigenous Bardi people, Cape Leveque is located 208 kilometres from Broome, at the tip of the Dampier Peninsula. It is a land of contrasts where red pindan earth meets clear turquoise water, blue sky, unspoiled white beaches and native woodlands. And spectactular sunrises and sunsets over the ocean. 

Our main destination was the Gumbanan campground. But first a one-night stopover at Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm so we could do the Waterfall Reef boat tour. This two hour tour showcases the islands of the Buccaneer Archipelago, locally known as the Thousand Island archipelago. The highlight was seeing the water rushing off the 1.5 kilometre long living fringing reef created by coralline red algae at Tallon Island. So amazing! 

This up to twelve metre tidal movement happens twice a day creating the waterfall reef as well as amazing whirlpools. Indigenous people hunt fish, turtle and dugong when the water is about 20cm over the reef at low tide.

Times of the tour change each day depending on the tides. Recommend you book ahead. 

Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm is the old­est Aus­tralian fam­i­ly owned pearl farm, oper­at­ing since 1946. There are also pearling, cultural and other water based tours with varied start times according to the tidal movement.

There are caravan sites and safari tent accommodation. Overlooking the swimming pool is a restaurant where you can enjoy local and native ingredients. A great place to cool off and a must for a drink or meal.

Only a couple of kilometres from Cygnet Bay and one and a half kilometres in along a sandy track is Gumbanan Wilderness Retreat our campsite for the next few nights. Gumbanan may be rustic, they do not take bookings, and this is a pick your own spot camp, but there is plenty of space. We were very lucky to secure a part-shaded area with fabulous views over the ocean from which someone had just vacated before we arrived. Perfect! Below you can see our caravan and our view! 

In the above photo you can just see the camp at top left. 

Gumbanan has been home to the indigenous Davey family for centuries, and was opened to the public in 2005. The family are part of the Bardi Jawi people, known as 'Salt Water People' 

Just down from the camp is a large rock fish trap, Mayoorr, which traps fish on the outgoing tide. Originally built by Dino Davey, it has been maintained by the family for over five generations. It was fascinating to see the trap slowly revealed as the tide dropped. At high tide the fish swim in and as the tide recedes the fish are caught here within the rock wall.  It really has to be seen to be believed. Remember there is a 10-12 metre tide drop twice a day. Below here you can see the tide in, first pic, and then as it recedes. 

At Gumbanan there are cultural tours which will help you learn about Bardi cultural and the environment, reflecting the indigenous values of caring for country.  A chance to taste bush tucker, including ngarrangg, mud crabs.

 We were very happy to sit, relax and enjoy the views, the cooling sea breezes and brilliant sunrises and sunsets. On the night of the Staircase to the Moon we bought a barramundi burger from the Fish Trap Café, and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere as campers got together and enjoyed the guitar music. There is nowhere else to buy food, so people gravitate to the cafe. 

The Staircase to the Moon is a natural phenomenon occurs when the rising yellow-orange globe of the of full moon climbs slowy above the horizon scattering a golden staircase over the exposed tidal flats. It can be experienced two to three days a month between March and October when there is an up to twelve metre drop from high to low tide, the third largest tidal movement in the world. We were so lucky that our stay was timed with the Starircase to the Moon and this and  Gumbanan became a highlight of our trip.

You can see the moon rise below here. Those lines under the moon are created by the light reflecting across the mudflats on the low tide. So beautiful. 

Bird watchers will enjoy the great variety of birdlife, including the Gouldian Finch. A small boat may help you catch a feed of fish. However, be aware, swimming is not recommended due to crocodiles. 

Below here you can see Honey Eater in Pindan Wattle, Gouldian Finch, Gilberts Dragon lizard, and a mud crab. 

Suitable for tents, camper trailers, and caravans, as well as furnished safari tents. 4WD highly recommended as the track in gets very churned up during peak season. There is water, toilets and showers, but no power.

With views and sunsets like this, and the friendly relaxed atmosphere, Gumbanan became our favourite camping destination of our trip.

Need supplies? - 

The Djarindjin Roadhouse, 21 kilometres south, has fuel, gas bottle refills, ice, take-away food, grocery items and air-conditioned ensuite accommodation. Please note: the roadhouse is not open all day, but you can still buy fuel from the 24 hour self-serve pumps. Their adjacent caravan park opening in 2022, has 47 powered and unpowered sites.  Tours can be booked from the roadhouse. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed this little trip to Gumbanan and Cape Leveque. I hope to be back with more soon. Until then, above is a sunrise view from our camp. 

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
   
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf
Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
       and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.