Day 19: Sat 06 Apr 24 - Dunns Ecopark (Cape Le Grand National Park)

Sat 06 Apr 24 - Dunns Ecopark (Cape Le Grand National Park)

14 Deg, light NW Wind and cloudy in the morning reaching 26 Deg, with a slight SE wind and remaining partly cloudy all day.

After an early last night, we had a good night sleep and were ready to leave for Cape Le Grand National Park at 08:30. First stop was 18km away to purchase our National Park Day Pass, then next stop was Frenchman Peak. We both set off for the climb, but Noel turned around at the base, disappointed when she realised it would be beyond her today. She returned to the car and waited for me to continue the climb. It's not a long climb, but very steep. Making my way up slowly I stopped occasionally to take in the views (and catch my breath). Eventually I reached the top where I stopped for a while to take photos and enjoy the stunning coastal scenery and rugged granite peaks. 

I eventually made my way back down to Noel at the car and then we continued to Lucky Bay where we sat for a bite to eat, and cup of tea overlooking the beach. The beach is very pretty, but not as pretty as I expected. I think all the weed and vehicles on the beach, and cloudy conditions made it look less appealing than expected. We went for a short stroll along the beach - no Kangaroos today; that is more likely to happen at dawn or dusk. From Lucky Bay we drove back to Thistle Bay and Whistling Rock. By now the clouds cleared and we found this stop very pretty. Onwards we continued to Hellfire Bay, which we both commented was the most scenic of the bays / beaches today. After sitting on the rocks taking in the views for a while, we continued to our last stop at Le Grand Beach. There is another Campground located here, although the beach is nice, I found it less appealing than Lucky Bay. Overall, it's plain to see why Cape Le Grand National Park is regarded as having some of the best coastal scenery in Western Australia. It was a lovely day, but it would have been more enjoyable to be able to camp for 3-4 days to explore the headlands and coastal trails. 

Back at the van by 3:00pm, we had a much needed caffeine fix then I began to sort through the mass of photos I had taken today. Sunset was very pretty tonight, so I took a few more snaps from the drone. (Yep - lots more photos...)

Another fulfilling day was had, and we're both looking forward to a hot shower and an early night. Tomorrow, we continue westward aiming for Ravensthorpe for an overnighter, then continuing north the next day to Hyden - Wave Rock, for a couple of nights.

First up for the day - a climb to the top of Frenchman Peak - A Granite dome  with a pointy peak that resembles the hats worn by French troops in the 1800s

Frenchman Peak - only a 2.5km walk, but after short walk around the base, its a steep slope up the granite face to reach the top


Frenchman Peak - only rising a modest 242m above sea level, this granite dome is no easy climb with a one in three gradient

Frenchman Peak - Hard to imagine that this was all under water millions of years ago

Frenchman Peak - Getting there

Frenchman Peak - Incredible views

Frenchman Peak - Almost there

Frenchman Peak - The end in sight

Frenchman Peak - The first cavern and a welcome breather to take in the views

Frenchman Peak - The first cavern and a welcome breather to take in the views


Frenchman Peak - The first cavern and a welcome breather to take in the views


Frenchman Peak - The Cave

Frenchman Peak - Amazing views from the Cave to the coast

Frenchman Peak - Amazing views from the Cave to the coast

Frenchman Peak - Views from the peak

Frenchman Peak - Views from the peak

Frenchman Peak - Views from the peak

Frenchman Peak - Views from the peak. Worth the effort

Frenchman Peak - Views from the peak. Worth the effort

Frenchman Peak - Views from the peak. Worth the effort

Frenchman Peak - Views from the peak. Worth the effort

Frenchman Peak - Views from the peak. Worth the effort

Frenchman Peak - On the way back down past he cave

Frenchman Peak - On the way back down past he cave. 

Frenchman Peak - On the way back down past the first cavern

Frenchman Peak - On the way back down 

Frenchman Peak - On the way back down and realised i had no evidence)

Colourful plants on the slopes


Frenchman Peak - Done

Lucky Bay Beach - Not looking as nice as expected - probably to do with all the weed and vehicles on the beach

Lucky Bay - Campground to the right

Lucky Bay Beach


Lucky Bay Beach

Lucky Bay Beach

Lucky Bay Beach


Lucky Bay Beach

Lucky Bay Beach
Lucky Bay Campground

Lucky Bay Beach and Campground to the right

Thistle Cove and Whistling Rock

Thistle Cove and Whistling Rock


Thistle Cove and Whistling Rock

Thistle Cove and Whistling Rock

Thistle Cove and Whistling Rock

Thistle Cove and Whistling Rock

Thistle Cove and Whistling Rock

Thistle Cove and Whistling Rock

Thistle Cove and Whistling Rock

Thistle Cove and Whistling Rock

Hellfire Bay

Hellfire Bay Beach

Hellfire Bay (That's Noel looking out across the bay)

Enjoying stunning Hellfire bay from the rocks

Banksia aplenty at Hellfire Bay

Hellfire Bay

Hellfire Bay

Hellfire Bay

Hellfire Bay

Le Grand Beach

Le Grand Beach - A weird cloud formation


Le Grand Beach

Le Grand Beach

Sun setting on a magnificent day - Dunns Ecopark

Sun setting on a magnificent day - Dunns Ecopark

Sun setting on a magnificent day - Dunns Ecopark

Sun setting on a magnificent day - Dunns Ecopark

A map of the National Park with main points of interest 










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