Wildflowers, Kalbarri National Park
Gorges are the main feature of this park, with many rock formations having been carved over millions of years from the strong winds. Natures Window, the most famous, is a magic spot to take a photo framing the Murchison River below.
Nature's Window- Kalbarri National Park
With many options available Dave and I played tourist and visited all the ‘must do’s. Rainbow Jungle breeds all number of endangered (and some not so) parrots and native birds. Meandering through the ‘jungle’ we encountered many colourful birds we have seen in the wild and those that are now only seen in captivity.
Rainbow Jungle friend
The Black Cockatoos and Macaws were a favourite, but boy do they have a squawk on them.
Black Cockatoo, Rainbow Jungle
The Seahorse Sanctuary was set up for conservation purposes, to stop the pet shop trade of taking seahorses from the wild. Not used to eating ‘frozen shrimp’ most wild caught only last 6 weeks. However, there are no protection laws for these fish and up to a million are collected from the sea each year.
Seahorses!
At the sanctuary they are bred and then taught to eat frozen shrimp. Thankfully, many pet shops globally, are now sourcing their stock from this sanctuary. So if you are in the market for a seahorse, make sure you demand one that has been bred in captivity! We were also lucky enough to see the bubs- seahorses that had been born only 2 hours prior! Less than a centimetre long, they were miniature replicas of Dad, who had given birth to them (yes, Dad gives birth).
Baby seahorses
An afternoon drive took us along the cliffs surrounding Kalbarri. The scene reminded us of the Great Ocean Road, complete with a bridge and island (apostle) formations formed by the fracturing and decaying of the cliff. With a southerly wind gaining strength and making it rather chilly, we also felt like we were back in Victoria too.
Kalbarri Coastal cliffs
This part of the coast is home to much European history, with many ships having become wrecked in the uncharted waters. A small inlet near Kalbarri can boast to be the site of the first European’s settling on the mainland of Australia. Dutch sailors Wouter Loos and Jan Pelgrom de Bye, survivors from the shipwrecked Batavia, were marooned here on November 16, 1629. They were mutineers, however being of a young age; the Captain took pity and did not implement the same death sentence their comrades received. They were given provisions and materials for shelter yet it is a mystery what became of them- did they perish, or did they survive with the help of local aboriginals?
Leaving Kalbarri, we also left Australia- just for a short while, as we entered the Principality of Hutt River. Back on April 21, 1970, having seceded from the Commonwealth of Australia, the Principality of Hutt River became an Independent Sovereign State. Located 595 kilometres from Perth, the principality is about 75 kilometres in area (about the size of Hong Kong). We met with HRH Prince Leonard, who showed us around, having processed our passports in the Government building. This building and the Post Office displays all the stamps, coins and other memorabilia from the past 40 years of existence.
Having my passport stamped by HRH Prince Leonard
It was here we also learnt that our parents are aliens. In 1948 Great Britain withdrew citizenship from Australians, probably worried that we would all journey back to the mother land to settle. We had become British Subjects, or Commonwealth Citizens without citizenship. Therefore, on January 26, 1949 Australia’s Citizenship Act gave citizenship to everyone born in Australia after January 26, 1949. Then in 1973 Australia’s Citizenship Act deleted recognition of ‘British Subjects without citizenship’. This means that unless persons born in Australia before January 26, 1949 are naturalised, they are by law ‘aliens’!!
Bidding farewell to the Price, we were soon back on Australian soil, and stopped for a coffee in the historic town of Northampton, on our way to Geraldton. As Geraldton is our first big town for a long while it was time to stock up the pantry. However, Dave took me somewhere special first- to the local Health Clinic for a Swine Flu vaccination. So romantic..... (hee hee).
With the story of the HMAS Sydney fresh in our minds, having been found only last year, we visited the memorial. It is an impressive tribute to the 645 men who lost their lives, when attacked by the German Kormoran in the Second World War. A visit to the museum enabled us to view pictures of the watery grave, where all on board had lost their lives. The attack of this ‘Pride of the Australian fleet’ was kept quiet for 12 days, and with only accounts from the German survivors much conspiracy prevailed.
HMAS Sydney Memorial
The museum also houses many relics salvaged from the Dutch Ships, which became wrecked in the 16 and 1700’s, off the coast of this uncharted land.
The Francis Xavier Cathedral, built in 1916 (but not completed until 1938), is an impressive Roman style building in the heart of town. Not of a religious nature, we still like to view these beautiful buildings and feel the spiritual power within. However, the Francis Xavier Cathedral makes you feel like you have entered a lolly shop. The entire inside of the church has been painted in grey and white stripes with an orange and white stripe trim!
Inside Francis Xavier Church
With the winds having abated, we continued hugging the coast and are settled in the fishing town of Dongara. Our home is 20 metres from the town beach, however we couldn’t miss the opportunity to stroll around to South Beach- one of Australia’s Top 10 beaches. We didn’t make onto this beach, the raw stench of huge piles of rotting sea grass made us retch. Possibly it is not always like this, but I am still on my quest to find a good beach in WA.
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