Yanchep National Park – One of the Oldest Park in Western Australia

That day was quite a gloomy day because it was raining early morning in Perth, but since the tour was a confirmed one, even there was drizzling, I booked an Uber so I can reached the pick-up location which is at the front of Perth City YHA hostel in Wellington Street. At first, I thought that I have to check and asked hostel lobby about the tour, but after I inquired inside, they told me that the pickup was just outside of the hostel. I went outside and had uncertainty about the tour though I was in correct pickup location. I felt that way because I did not see signs such as bus tour or even tour guide nearby. I decided to wait.

There was a car arrived at the parking area of the hostel just beside of the building. Then, a woman came in and then, went out and asked my name. Then, I realized that I was talking to the operator of the tour. She introduced herself to me and her name is Patricia. She explained to me the situation of the tour and told me that she decided to push the tour instead of canceling it, even she just had two visitors for the tour. She told me that there was another guest and we waited a bit inside her car.

The second guest arrived and we were introduced to each other. I forgot her name but I recall she is a Singaporean doing solo travel like myself. After few more minutes passed, when Patricia was ready, we started moving towards the first destination. While we were on the road, I was hoping it’s not raining on places that we will visit that day.

If the first tour that I joined headed south of Perth and the second tour was headed east of Perth, this time, the tour headed north of Perth.

We took Mitchell Freeway, Hester Avenue and Wanneroo Road to reach Yanchep National Park. We parked properly and then walked inside the park. While inside, we went straight towards the Koala Board Walk, where we discussed about Koalas. Patricia mentioned that Koalas was not native animals in Western Australia due to mostly dried weather of the states. And while walking on the board, we found some of Koalas resting in the tree branches. I was able to see again the sleepy head Koala Bears. Even though I had seen Koalas for a couple of times while traveling around Australia, it still great to see them again and again specially if they were sleeping in the tree.

Koalas Board Walk

Some Koalas in the trees

After enjoying Koalas, we explored the park and our tour guide discussed some of the wildflowers and we looked for them, and we found some immediately which just visible at the ground. The first batch of wildflowers that we had seen were : Weeping Bottlebrush and Red-and-Green Kangaroo Paw.

Weeping Bottlebrush / Creek Bottlebrush (Melaleuca Viminalis / Callistemon Viminalis)

Red-and-Green Kangaroo Paw, Mangles Kangaroo Paw or Kurulbrang (Anigozanthos Manglesii)

Our walks continued in Yanchep National Park. While walking casually, the next thing we found was great moment for me. We saw a mother and child western grey kangaroos which I dreamed to see by my naked eyes. Same with Koalas, seeing Roos became a pretty common for me. What’s special about these kangaroos? I wanted to see a mother kangaroo and its young ones called joeys inside the special pouch called marsupium. And that day, I was lucky to see one and able to capture it with my camera.

Female kangaroo carrying joey inside its marsupium (special pouch)

So far for me, the day was nice and great, some wishes that I had has been accomplished. Then, we walked towards Crystal Cave which located at the underground of the national park.

Crystal Cave

When we reached the location of Crystal Cave, there was couple already waiting on the entrance shed. At first, I was wondering where was the entrance of the cave, then I just realized that since its underground cave, the path to the cave is not pretty obvious. While waiting, I read some information displayed in the waiting shed.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We waited for few more minutes inside the shed. Then, the cave tour guide and other tourist came out from the ground. Then, he counted the waiting visitors which means that the tour session is open for limited numbers at a time.

We entered the cave through passing a restricted fence and we stepped down the stairs. The moment we were down, I felt the cold weather that circulates at the underground cave.

The first scenery that greeted us the moment we stepped down the stairs from the entrance.

Here we first stopped for a moment while our cave tour guide explaining about the cave. Here, it was mentioned that Henry White whom the first entered the cave in 1903. Then, we took a few steps stairs towards the one of cave chamber.

Water drips from the cave roof to the ground

Chamber where it was emphasized to us some of the formations that can be found in the cave. It was also mentioned here the fauna that lives here. And one of them is stygofauna.

Stalactites

Stygofauna

Stalactites

Stalagmites

Stalactites

Columns (with our cave tour guide)

A sample of water dripping that forms stalactites and the water formed in the ground will result to stalagmites. But these formations cannot be seen immediately at it requires hundred years or more to have even an inch of stalactite or stalagmite.

Some columns

Stalactites

Flowstone

Stalactites and Shawls

Stalactites and Columns

Flowstone

Stalactites

Stalactites with Shawls

Shawls

Flowstone

Stalactites

Stalactites with Shawls

Columns

Columns

Flowstones with Stalactites

Stalactites, Stalagmites and Columns

Flowstones, Columns, Shawls, Stalactites and Stalagmites

Columns, Stalactites and Stalagmites

Fossils

Crystal Cave Photos

After exploring Crystal Cave, before we leave the park, we did a bush walking to see and discover the second batch of wildflowers exists in Yanchep National Park. The following wildflowers found were : One-Leaf Cape Tulip, Bristly Cottonhead, Showy Eremophila, Parrot Bush, Common Smokebush, Milkmaid, One-sided Bottlebrush, Posy Trigger-Plant, Yellow Buttercup, Showy Dryandra, Flame Pea, and Cape Marigold.

One-Leaf Cape Tulip (Moraea Flaccida)

Bristly Cottonhead (Conostylis Setigera)

Showy Eremophila (Eremophila Racemosa)

Parrot Bush (Banksia Sessilis)

Common Smokebush (conospermum stoechadis)

Milkmaid (Burchardia congesta)

One-sided bottlebrush – (Calothamnus quadrifidus)

Posy Trigger-Plant (Stylidium crossocephalum)

Yellow Buttercup (hibbertia hypercoides)

Showy Dryandra (Dryandra formosa)

Flame Pea (Chorizema cordatum)

Arctotheca calendula capeweed, plain treasureflower, cape dandelion, or cape marigold

Other unidentified wildflowers

One more thing that I was fascinated while inside Yanchep National Park, they call it Grass Trees. Literally, they look like just normal grass from the ground at the start but they grow tall as trees.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Grass Trees

Before leaving the national park and before the heavy rain fell, I had a chance to enjoy the Yanchep Lake which also called as Loch Mcness.

Loch McNess

That’s how we enjoyed the exploration of Yanchep National Park. Until then.

Notes :
1. Plan to visit Yanchep National Park ? Please check latest information here.
2. Location : Yanchep WA 6035, Australia
3. Directions to the town of Hyden:
Transportation :
a. Join Day Tours from Perth or
b. Drive towards Yanchep WA 6035, Australia or
c. Take train (Joondalup Line) from Perth Underground Station, then get off at Butler Station and take taxi to Yanchep National Park or
d. Take train (Joondalup Line) from Perth Underground Station, then transfer to Butler Station and take bus to Marmion Avenue After Revolution Avenue, and take taxi to Yanchep National Park
Official Website : Yanchep National Park