Misplaced Pages

#513486

12-736: Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is a national park in the South West region of Western Australia , 267 km (166 mi) south of Perth . It is named after the two capes either end of the park, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste . It is located in the Augusta-Margaret River and Busselton council areas, and is claimed to have the highest visiting numbers of any national park in Western Australia. The park received 2.33 million visitors through 2008–2009. The park extends over 100 miles, from Cape Naturaliste in

24-616: A complex land management scenario for state and local government authorities trying to mediate quite conflicting issues. The national park is located on some of the most vulnerable land in the region. On 8 December 2021, a bush fire began near Mammoth Cave within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, said to have been deliberately lit . WA premier Mark McGowan urged people to leave the area as soon as possible due to high fuel loads and dangerous conditions. The fire burned through more than 3,200 ha (7,900 acres) by

36-651: Is Western Australia's second-most popular tourist destination after Perth . The South West region consists of the following local government areas : Some well-known attractions include Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and Discovery Centre , Ngilgi Cave , Augusta Jewel Cave , Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse , Busselton Jetty , Mammoth Cave , Easter Cave, Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre , Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree , Diamond Tree , and Gloucester Tree . Mammoth Cave (Western Australia) Mammoth Cave

48-637: Is a large limestone cave 21 km (13 mi) south of the town of Margaret River in south-western Western Australia , and about 300 km (190 mi) south of Perth . It lies within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and is surrounded by karri and marri forest. There have been extinct animal fossils found in Mammoth Cave. The cave is 500 m (1,600 ft) long and 30 m (98 ft) deep. It has been known from about 1850 to European settlers of

60-609: The coast from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin . The ridge is composed of two landform elements, Tamala Limestone and the basement rock the limestone formed on, called the Leeuwin Complex. Tamala Limestone is a naturally occurring eolianite limestone , found in deposits on the western coastline of Western Australia . The Leeuwin Complex is a strongly metamorphosed igneous Proterozoic rock made up mostly of granitic and anorthositic gneisses . The Dunsborough Fault forms

72-456: The coast. Further inland are shrublands, woodlands, and forests, including peppermint tree ( Agonis flexuosa ) and Banksia shrubland and woodland, and significant stands of tall karri ( Eucalyptus diversicolor ) and jarrah ( Eucalyptus marginata ) forest. A large variety of bird species inhabit the park including many sea birds, red-eared firetail , white-breasted robin , rock parrot and emu . Native mammals that can be found within

84-465: The eastern boundary of the Leeuwin Complex where it adjoins the sedimentary Perth Basin . The ridge's geology and the variations in vegetation are confined to a number of very narrow bands that follow the north–south orientation of the ridge. The park contains a large range of geologic features and soil types. The landscape and soil diversity supports a range of plant communities. These include coastal herblands and grasslands, sedgelands, and heath near

96-585: The following day. In 2001, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) opened the Cape to Cape Track , a 135 kilometre walking track along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge. South West (Western Australia) The South West region is one of the nine regions of Western Australia . It has an area of 23,970 km , and a population of about 170,000 people. Bunbury is the main city in

108-634: The north to Cape Leeuwin in the south. It is composed of 28 separate reserves, which together have an area of about 15,600 ha. Despite the park's large size, the reserves are fragmented, and in many places the park consists only of a narrow coastal strip. It has many features of interest including limestone and granite outcrops like Sugarloaf Rock and Canal Rocks . The coastal area also contains many beaches with well-known surf breaks, such as Supertubes , Yallingup Beach, and Smiths Beach. Other coastal features include coastal cliffs and aeolian dunes. The park contains many caves , some of which are accessible by

120-577: The park include southern brown bandicoots , western grey kangaroos , western ringtail possums and brush wallabies . The national park was created from crown lands along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge at a time after the main primary industries in the region had been dairying and forestry, and when increased land-use conflict was arising from the spread of wineries, increased population on hobby farms and other agricultural activities. Since then many competing land uses have created

132-529: The public. There are brackish and freshwater lakes and springs, and the park is crossed by several creeks and rivers, including the Margaret River . The park either passes through or contains historic sites including the Cape Leeuwin water wheel . The Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge is a discontinuous strip of coastal dune limestone running north-south and extending along the western shore, parallel to

SECTION 10

#1732787481514

144-629: The region. The South West has a Mediterranean climate , with dry summers and wet winters. There is about 900 mm of precipitation per year, with most between May and September. Mean maximum daily temperatures range from 16 °C in July to 34 °C in February. The economy of the South West is very diverse. It is a major world producer of aluminium oxide and mineral sands , and also has substantial agriculture , timber , and viticulture industries. It

#513486