Crooked Brook Forest walk, Dardanup, Western Australia

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a great weekend and had a chance to get out in the fresh air and do something enjoyable in the great outdoors. On Sunday we went for a walk along one of the walk trails at the Crooked Brook Forest Reserve, which is nestled in jarrah woodlands, about 10 km from Dardanup off Crooked Brook Road, and 25km (or 20 minutes) from Bunbury, in Western Australia's south west. 

I always enjoy getting out into the bush away from the stresses of life, especially on a sunny winter or spring day.  There really is something regenerating about it don't you agree. 

I was surprised when I discovered that we hadn't been to Crooked Brook for a few years despite it only being about 20 minutes from our home.  We had our grandson with us, and despite him not particularly wanting to go with us, he enjoyed running along the pathways and discovering things in the bush. 


 

Like tadpoles in the creek and this beetle for instance....

There are circuit four walks at Crooked Brook. The sealed easy 600 metre Forest Path is wheelchair and pusher friendly and takes you along the brook to a billabong and is suitable for all ages. There is seating along the way so you can rest or just sit and enjoy your surroundings, and interpretive signage telling about some of the plants you will find. 


The other walks include the easy 1.5km Jarrah Walk, the moderate 3km Wildflower Walk which takes you to a lookout over the valley, and the moderate undulating 10km walk for those who are used to longer trails and have reasonable fitness. Allow three hours for this walk. I like that all the walks are circuit walks and that they all start and finish at the carpark.  Before you start on the walk trails, you might like to check the signage at the information shelter near the carpark, giving you details about degree of difficulty and length of time expected for completing the walks.

We decided to do the Jarrah walk. Although a little early in the season for wildflowers, there were touches of colour through the bush, and great swaths of yellow wattle. 
The wattle is one of the dominate flowers of Australia this time of year, no wonder the wattle is the flower emblem of Australia! 

Here are some other flowers we saw along the way. I am sorry I am not a botanist so I can't absolutely identify all of them. 

Reds clockwise from top left hand corner  -  Hairy Jug Flower - Adenanthos barbiger;  Mangles Kangaroo Paw - Anigozanthos manglesii; one of the pea family; and one of the Darwinias. The bee was enjoying it! 

Here is another look at the Darwinia...

Yellows - clockwise from top left hand corner. From my research I think this first one is one of the Stackhousia family; then we have one of the Hibbertias, there are a few varieties; and then along the bottom one of the Dryandra varieties, seen here just opening and opened.

Whites - clockwise from top left hand corner - white colour along the trail; Musky Beard Heath - Leucopogon apiculatus; Prickly Hakea - Hakea amplexicaulis; and the bottom left hand corner is either a Grevillea or a Hakea....sorry I am not sure which.... I know it was very spiky!

Here we have... clockwise from top left hand corner - Jug Orchid - Pterostylis recurva; Blue Squill - Chamaescilla corymbosa; one of the Myrtles; and Pink Fairy orchid - Caladenia latifolia.

Did I mention about the prickles on some Australian plants? Look at these beauties.....

An interesting plant of the Crooked Brook Forest trails is the Pineapple Bush - Dasypogon hookeri - which seems to grow in profusion here to a height of half to 3 metres tall.

Crooked Brook is promoted as a ‘Forest for all People’ and it certainly is particularly with the wheelchair and pusher friendly Forest Path.  The Crooked Brook Forest Association of volunteers has worked tirelessly on the area since 1994 and continues its work in collaboration with the WA Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Spring when the wildflowers are in bloom is the best time to visit. Facilities at Crooked Brook include a picnic shelter, bbqs, new Eco-toilets, and a 'Flintstone' log car for the children.  Please wear a hat, good walking boots and carry water with you when walking along the trails and I also recommend insect repellent as we found the mosquitoes particular bad this trip.

Crooked Brook Forest is on the doorstep of the beautiful Ferguson Valley where there are galleries, wineries, and restaurants to enjoy, and even a Gnomesville!

For more information please head over to: Crooked Brook Forest

You might also like:

How Green was my Valley - Ferguson Valley
Down in the Woods Today - Gnomesville in the Ferguson Valley
Dardanup Art Spectacular and Art Trail

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed my little visit to Crooked Brook Forest. Do you have a favourite walk trail particularly during spring? Perhaps you would like to tell us about it in the comments.
I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

Synaphea

 
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