Day 22 - Geraldton to Jurien Bay

Following the Indian Ocean Drive to experience the WA coast, cutting inland to see a "global biodiversity hotspot".

Quick Stats

• 3 hours on bike
• 244 km
• 8730 km total

Another slow start to the morning as I take my time getting to Perth. The minibar in the hotel was free last night, I finished all the alcohol. Some regret.

Coffee and a walk along the Geraldton foreshore gets me going again. And a big breakfast cements it.

I pack up and head off around Geraldton toward its west end to checkout some of the surf beaches. I briefly consider a swim despite the cold, but then it decides to insult me.

Heading off, I go through the historic town of Greenough. It boasts a replica ye olde town, and a zoo, its also got some very odd trees.

It's windy again this morning, but I suspect its always like that here. Its also more than made up for with the warmth from the sun and the blue skies.

Continuing on through to Port Denison, I stop for coffee number three. I'm not sure what else to do with a day and a coastline like this.

Five minutes further down the road, I stop again. You can't throw a rock without hitting another white sandy beach with clear blue water.

Leaving Dongaro, I take the right turn off the Brand Hwy and onto the Indian Ocean Drive. The road runs behind the massive dunes along the coast and this is actually a fun road, so I put on some music and set off.

An hour down the road, I'm turning off the coast to checkout Lesueur National Park. Its a fifteen kilometre dirt road to the entrance, but its graded and the views are spectacular.

Southwest Australia is quite distinct from the east coast, and indeed the rest of Australia, due to its seperation by desert. This means a large number of unique plant species have developed here. Add to that, its rare Mediterranean climate (wet-winter / dry summer) and it gets even more unique.

Lesueur National Park is a specific Global Biodiversity Hotspot within the greater Southwestern. A mathematical equation factoring the number of endemic species of plants and the present threats by human habitation. 10% of WA's plant species are found here (900 odd), and 111 are only found here.

The park is an intriguing "drive through national park", where you drive a one way along an eighteen kilometre loop and roadside signs tell you about the park and certain plant species.

At first glimpse, it looks like a monoculture of shrubs. It's only when you get up close you realise how much variety there is throughout.

Wildflower season isn't in full swing yet this far south, but the colours are already starting to show. The air is also amazingly fragrant. It's no wonder the region surrounding is known as the Beekeepers Nature Reserve.

Ten kilometres in, there's an opportunity to climb Mt Lesueur, so naturally I swap out my shoes and head off. The birdlife, the plants, the flowers, fantastic.

The whole region is definitely on my list to return during wildflower season.

Alas its getting on in the day, I swap back to my boots and head on out of the park. Thirty minutes later I'm in Jurien Bay. Yet another nice coastal town with white sandy beaches and blue, blue water.

Think I'll hang around for sunset despite the cold settling in.

I'm swimming with sea lions tomorrow morning, then heading for Perth.