Yanchep National Park – Lancelin – The Pinnacles Desert – Burns Beach

The third day tour that I joined had combination of Wheatbelt and Perth region. Lancelin and The Pinnacles Desert are both part of Wheatbelt while Yanchep National Park and Burns Beach are both part of Perth.

Though the tour seems to had uncertainty at the start of the day, but it ends well, because my wished in every travel that I made is to maximize my time in Perth, I really don’t like wasting time, for not seeing and for not being in a new place. For this tour, I had seen additional spectacular places to discover in Western Australia. I only see these places in photos before, but the tour helped me to achieved my dream to make it come true. My main objective for the tour was to visit The Pinnacles Desert, but reaching Yanchep National Park and Lancelin made the tour more fulfilling and appealing.

Here’s the complete itinerary of the third day tour that I had while I was in Perth.

Yanchep National Park

This is one of the oldest national park in Western Australia state. The park is just more than 50 kms from the city. Though public transportation are available but it requires transfer and more expensive if will compare to driving directly or joining a tour that includes the park. Wildflowers can be enjoyed inside the park when visiting during its blooming season. Some animals can be seen as well such as koalas and western-grey kangaroos. The park also boasted three caves and one of it is Crystal Caves where it features lots of beautiful different formations of stalactites, stalagmites, shawls and flowstones. It is worth to spend sometime in the park. The full story of my visit in Yanchep National Park was described here.

Koalas Board Walk

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Western-grey Kangaroos

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Crystal Cave

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Wildflowers

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Loch McNess (Yanchep Lake)

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Lancelin

It is a small town that we had a chance to visit (which I felt glad that we did) for lunch. We had lunch in a restaurant near the jetty and lovely shore. Because the town has beautiful and fascinating beach and coast, I cannot stop myself to be amazed and appreciate its amazing turquoise water that surrounds the waterfront.

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Towards Lancelin Jetty

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Lancelin and Edwards Islands Nature Reserve

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At Lancelin Jetty looking towards Lancelin

Ocean Drive

After leaving Lancelin, we took Ocean Drive highway to reach The Pinnacles Desert and the scenery along the road were already panoramic in a beautiful day. Along this highway, some of the white sand dunes are visible from a distance.

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The Pinnacles Desert (Nambung National Park)

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One of the main reason why I booked the tour was because of The Pinnacles. The said desert has thousands limestones astray in the desert. When I reached the desert, just being there, standing in the middle felt like I was in another world like being in another planet. The Pinnacles for me is a kind of surroundings that is so unique. This kind of natural settings made me think that the world is indeed so amazing. During the visit, our tour guide Patricia and the other Singaporean guest walked a bit in the middle of the desert. While walking within the desert, I found out that guests and visitors has the options to drive around it since the limestones formation are spread within 190 hectares inside Nambung National Park.

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The Pinnacles was said to be formed underground 500,000 years ago and only exposed 6000 years ago, then covered again due to shifting sands and only exposed again few hundred years ago.

For other scientist, they believe that the story of Pinnacles beings off shore, where shell fragments breakdown to from fine-grained sand rich in calcium-carbonate (lime).

As the water’s edge, beach sands accumulate as a mixture of shell-based sands from the ocean floor and quartz sands carried by the rivers from the hinterlands. Blown by strong winds, the beach sands form extensive dunes along much of the coastline.

By : Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre

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A unique shape (like a monstrous) limestone

Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre

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Emu scat with quandong seeds

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Quandong seeds and necklace (Santalum acuminatum)

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Bobtail skink (Tiliqua rugosa) and Tick (Ixodes australiensis spp)

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limestone

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Some information display inside Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre

Burns Beach

Before ending the day tour, we stopped to witness sunset in Burns Beach as a plan. The beach is just almost 35 kms from Perth. But when we reached the beach, the sky was gloomy and clouds covers the sunset, therefore we were unable to see the full colors of the sunset. But even we haven’t enjoyed sunset, I appreciated the stopover because it gave me a chance to see Burns Beach for a short period of time which additional adventure of the tour.

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Before our tour guide dropped-off us in our accommodation, I was very thankful because Patricia drove us a bit in Hillarys Boat Harbour to gave me a chance to see it before I embark myself in my last tour the next day which will start at the said harbour. Until then.

Notes :
1. Plan to visit Yanchep National Park? Check here. How about Lancelin? Here’s their official site. A tour in Pinnacles Desert? Go here. And Burns Beach? Visit here.
2. Location : Yanchep WA 6035, Australia
Pinnacles Dr, Cervantes WA 6511, Australia
Jetty, Lancelin WA, Australia
Burns Beach, WA 6038, Australia
3. Directions to Yanchep National Park :
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
4. Directions to Lancelin :
Transportation :
a. Join Day Tours from Perth or
b. Drive towards Lancelin WA 6044, Australia or
c. Take bus from Wellington Street Forrest Place (in Perth) and drop-off at
Lancelin YHA or
d. Take train (Joondalup Line) from Perth Underground Station, then transfer                 to Jundaloop Station and take bus to Geraldton, and drop-off at Vins Wy
Lancelin or
e. Take Integrity Bus to Broome and get off at Lancelin YHA
Official Website : Lancelin
5. Directions to Pinnacles Dessert
Transportation :
a. Join Day Tours from Perth or
b. Drive towards Pinnacles Dr, Cervantes WA 6511, Australia or
c. Take bus from Wellington St Forrest Place R10 / Y14 (in Perth) then transfer
to Cervantes Post Office to take taxi and drop-off at The Pinnacles Desert or
d. Take bus from Wellington St Forrest Place R10 / Y14 (in Perth) then transfer
at Vins Wy Lancelin and take taxi to The Pinnacles Desert
Official Website : The Pinnacles Desert
6. Directions to Burns Beach
Transportation :
a. Join Day Tours from Perth or
b. Drive towards Burns Beach, WA, Australia or
c. Take train (Joondalup Line) from Perth Underground Station, then transfer
to Butler Station and take bus to Burns Beach and get off at
Burns Beach Rd After Kontari Lnk and walk to Burns Beach
e. Official Website : Burns Beach, Joondalup City

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.

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Koalas Board Walk

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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Water drips from the cave roof to the ground

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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.

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Stalactites

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Stygofauna

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Stalactites

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Stalagmites

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Stalactites

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Columns (with our cave tour guide)

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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.

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Some columns

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Stalactites

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Flowstone

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Stalactites and Shawls

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Stalactites and Columns

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Flowstone

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Stalactites

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Stalactites with Shawls

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Shawls

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Flowstone

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Stalactites

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Stalactites with Shawls

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Columns

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Columns

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Flowstones with Stalactites

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Stalactites, Stalagmites and Columns

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Flowstones, Columns, Shawls, Stalactites and Stalagmites

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Columns, Stalactites and Stalagmites

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Fossils

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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.

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One-Leaf Cape Tulip (Moraea Flaccida)

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Bristly Cottonhead (Conostylis Setigera)

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Showy Eremophila (Eremophila Racemosa)

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Parrot Bush (Banksia Sessilis)

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Common Smokebush (conospermum stoechadis)

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Milkmaid (Burchardia congesta)

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One-sided bottlebrush – (Calothamnus quadrifidus)

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Posy Trigger-Plant (Stylidium crossocephalum)

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Yellow Buttercup (hibbertia hypercoides)

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Showy Dryandra (Dryandra formosa)

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Flame Pea (Chorizema cordatum)

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

Other unidentified wildflowers

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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.

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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.

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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

 

Name Of The Place : Crystal Cave (Yanchep National Park)

Name Of The Place (Post#59) : Crystal Cave (Yanchep National Park)

Photo of the day is about the name of Crystal Cave inside Yanchep National Park. It is one of the cave that exist in the park that can be enjoyed and one of the beautiful caves to appreciate crystals and other cave formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, columns, shawls and flowstones. Other cave life forms are also emphasize, a worthy cave to explore. The photo is part of Yanchep National Park, The Pinnacles and Lancelin Beach Trip October 2016.

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Notes :
Photo : Name of the Place, Crystal Cave
Location : Yanchep WA 6035, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth or
2. Drive towards Yanchep WA 6035, Australia or
3. Take train (Joondalup Line) from Perth Underground Station, then get off at Butler Station and take taxi to Yanchep National Park or
4. 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