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. 

Spring has come to Western Australia

The month - September - tells us that spring is here, but down in the south west of Western Australia we are still in the midst of our winter cold. It's been a long cold winter this year and we are all looking forward to some warming sun. But the Western Australian wildflower season is in full bloom - reportedly the best in 40 years. The wildflowers know that spring is here, so it must be true. 

They were certainly blooming in mid August when we made our way down through the mid-west on our way home from our north-west trip.  Here is one of Australia's most widespread flowers - the wattle.

I had intended to bring you some of our Western Australian wildflower delights this week, but I am down with a later winter cold, so you will have to wait till next week. 

Till then, I wonder if you know what this unusual flower is? You'll find out next week on my blog.

Till then, take care, enjoy the rest of your week and the weekend ahead.

 

Free camping at McDermid Rock, Western Australia

Hi everyone, looking for a wildflower drive? You don't mind bush-camping and a bit of gravel, but don't want to be too "off-road"? Read on. 

I am back this week with the next part of our recent wildflower trip out east of Hyden in Western Australia. If you missed the first part, Camping at Dryandra, you can catch up here - Camping in the Dryandra Woodland, Western Australia

From Dryandra we headed east through the wheat-belt to Hyden and then out along the Hyden to Norseman Road. We have been along this road a few times now, and if you don't mind gravel it is a good short cut going to or coming back from the Nullarbor and the eastern states. 

I blogged about it here in 2013 - Granite & Woodlines Discovery Trail, Hyden to Norseman