Below Below Photo – Tourism WA Tourism – Photo Grand. Le Cape

Hakea laurina Hakea . Photo – Ian Solomon Solomon Ian – Photo . ) ( hakea pincushion

grubs and worms. and grubs

Honey possum on on possum Honey WA. Tourism – Photos Le Grand coastal trail. trail. coastal Grand Le

environment.

southern brown bandicoot, forages in the understorey for for understorey the in forages bandicoot, brown southern right to left Below and Cape Cape and ) speciosa Banksia ( banksia Showy

drop into our office for more information on WA’s natural natural WA’s on information more for office our into drop for the tiny honey possum, while after dark the quenda, or or quenda, the dark after while possum, honey tiny the for

Conservation ( DEC). While you’re in the Esperance area area Esperance the in you’re While DEC). ( Conservation in flower, the banksias are a source of nectar and insects insects and nectar of source a are banksias the flower, in

Western Australia by the Department of Environment and and Environment of Department the by Australia Western

the soil is shallow, shallow, is soil the may be found. When When found. be may pulchella Banksia on their upper slopes. upper their on

throughout the state are managed for the people of of people the for managed are state the throughout

four metres tall. On gravel outcrops and in areas where where areas in and outcrops gravel On tall. metres four during the late Eocene, and wave-cut platforms can be seen seen be can platforms wave-cut and Eocene, late the during

National parks, state forests, nature reserves and wildlife wildlife and reserves nature forests, state parks, National

thrive, growing to three or or three to growing thrive, speciosa Banksia thickets of of thickets Like the peaks at Cape Le Grand, both peaks were islands islands were peaks both Grand, Le Cape at peaks the Like

typical of the south-west. In areas of deep sand, dense dense sand, deep of areas In south-west. the of typical between April and October. and April between

climbers, as it involves exposed rock scrambling. rock exposed involves it as climbers,

great variety of plant and animal life. Flowers are those those are Flowers life. animal and plant of variety great by cool winters. Most rain falls during the winter months months winter the during falls rain Most winters. cool by

summit is only suitable for experienced bushwalkers or rock rock or bushwalkers experienced for suitable only is summit

The sandplains which cover much of the park support a a support park the of much cover which sandplains The Warm summers from December to March are followed followed are March to December from summers Warm

Peak Eleanora are obtained. Beyond here, the walk to the the to walk the here, Beyond obtained. are Eleanora Peak

underwater currents. underwater your own water. own your on the south-east ridge, from which extensive views of of views extensive which from ridge, south-east the on

have been either formed or enlarged by wave action and and action wave by enlarged or formed either been have visitor facilities in this wild area, so go prepared and carry carry and prepared go so area, wild this in facilities visitor The Peak Charles walk leads from the car park to a point point a to park car the from leads walk Charles Peak The

The caves and tunnels found in the peaks are thought to to thought are peaks the in found tunnels and caves The is one of the key gateways to this area. There are limited limited are There area. this to gateways key the of one is

Eleanora (501 metres). (501 Eleanora

and these peaks would have been largely submerged. submerged. largely been have would peaks these and Peak Charles lies within the Great Western Woodlands and and Woodlands Western Great the within lies Charles Peak

the middle of which rise Peak Charles (651 metres) and Peak Peak and metres) (651 Charles Peak rise which of middle the

levels were at least 300 metres above their present level level present their above metres 300 least at were levels heaths and salt lake systems of the surrounding country. country. surrounding the of systems lake salt and heaths

woodlands, sandplain heaths and salt lake vegetation, in in vegetation, lake salt and heaths sandplain woodlands,

During the Eocene period, some 40 million years ago, sea sea ago, years million 40 some period, Eocene the During Peak Eleanora, give sweeping views over the dry sandplain sandplain dry the over views sweeping give Eleanora, Peak

Peak Charles National Park protects a pristine area of dry dry of area pristine a protects Park National Charles Peak

National Park. This ancient granite peak and its companion, companion, its and peak granite ancient This Park. National

the Earth’s crust during the past 600 million years. million 600 past the during crust Earth’s the

, which only grows to about one metre. one about to grows only which , preissiana Eucalyptus

One hundred kilometres inland from Stokes is Peak Charles Charles Peak is Stokes from inland kilometres hundred One

granite and gneiss, exposed by erosion and movements in in movements and erosion by exposed gneiss, and granite

the magnificent yellow flowers of the bell-fruited mallee, mallee, bell-fruited the of flowers yellow magnificent the

corner are formed from massive outcrops of Precambrian Precambrian of outcrops massive from formed are corner wildlife and are an important park of this national park. national this of park important an are and wildlife

when walking in the wetlands. In autumn look out for for out look autumn In wetlands. the in walking when

At Cape Le Grand, the peaks of the park’s south-west south-west park’s the of peaks the Grand, Le Cape At inlet and its associated lakes support a rich variety of of variety rich a support lakes associated its and inlet

of waterbirds. Keep a wary eye open for tiger snakes snakes tiger for open eye wary a Keep waterbirds. of

rocky headlands backed by sand dunes and low hills. The The hills. low and dunes sand by backed headlands rocky

a wide variety of native plant communities and landscapes. and communities plant native of variety wide a near the wetlands, which in turn support a great variety variety great a support turn in which wetlands, the near

encompasses Stokes Inlet and features long beaches and and beaches long features and Inlet Stokes encompasses

region form a network of conservation areas that protects protects that areas conservation of network a form region Yate, swamp yate, and paperbark form dense low forests forests low dense form paperbark and yate, swamp Yate,

Stokes National Park, 80 kilometres west of Esperance, Esperance, of west kilometres 80 Park, National Stokes

The national parks and nature reserves of the Esperance Esperance the of reserves nature and parks national The Inlet and the surrounding heathland and lake systems. systems. lake and heathland surrounding the and Inlet

metres) and Mississippi Hill (180 metres). (180 Hill Mississippi and metres) The environment The Stokes National Park protects the wildlife habitats of Stokes Stokes of habitats wildlife the protects Park National Stokes

including Mt Le Grand (345 metres), Frenchman Peak (262 (262 Peak Frenchman metres), (345 Grand Le Mt including

of granite and gneiss form an impressive chain of peaks peaks of chain impressive an form gneiss and granite of

south-west corner of the park, massive rock outcrops outcrops rock massive park, the of corner south-west

Above Above Photo – Tourism WA Tourism – Photo Park. National Grand Le Cape Bay, Lucky

interspersed with swamps and freshwater pools. In the the In pools. freshwater and swamps with interspersed

the park protects an undulating heath-covered sandplain sandplain heath-covered undulating an protects park the

wide sandy beaches set between rocky headlands. Inland, Inland, headlands. rocky between set beaches sandy wide

Esperance by sealed road, features attractive bays with with bays attractive features road, sealed by Esperance

Cape Le Grand National Park, 50 kilometres east of of east kilometres 50 Park, National Grand Le Cape

Esperance area. Esperance

heathlands characterise the national parks of the the of parks national the characterise heathlands

Wild coastal scenery, rugged granite peaks, and sweeping sweeping and peaks, granite rugged scenery, coastal Wild Parks of Esperance of Parks

Esperance national parks Peak Charles – Cape Le Grand – Stokes

Above Shoal Cape in Stokes National Park. Photo – Klaus Tiedemann/DEC Above Moir Homestead, Stokes National Park. Photo – Tourism WA Stokes National Park More information Stokes Inlet Trail – Allow 1.5 hours for this 3.8-kilometre DEC officers are always glad to help. Don’t hesitate to easy walk. contact them if you need information or assistance. The trail has on-site plaques describing changes which Visitor fees apply to Cape Le Grand and Stokes national parks. have occurred to the inlet environment. The path gives Fees are used to improve facilities and help offset costs. magnificent views of the inlet and surrounds. Cape Le Grand National Park Cape Le Grand PO Box 706, Esperance WA 6450 Frenchman Peak — 3 kilometres return Phone (08) 9075 9072 Fax (08) 9075 9073 A track leads from the car park, up the gentle east slope of A/H (08) 9075 9027 the peak to the summit, which features great views over the park. Allow 1.5 hours hard walking. Stokes National Park Coastal Track — 15 kilometres one way RMB 7138, Esperance WA 6450 Phone/fax (08) 9076 8541 The track runs from Le Grand Beach via Hellfire Bay to Rossiter Bay, and features excellent coastal views. Always Peak Charles National Park carry drinking water with you. 92 Dempster St, Esperance WA 6450 Phone (08) 9083 2100 The track falls into shorter sections. All times are one way: • Le Grand Beach – Hellfire Bay: Esperance District Office allow three hours of hard walking 92 Dempster St, Esperance WA 6450 • Hellfire Bay – Thistle Cove: Phone (08) 9083 2100 allow two hours of hard walking Fax (08) 9071 3657 • Heritage Trail – Thistle Cove: South Coast Regional Office allow 45 minutes medium walking 120 Albany Highway, Albany WA 6330 • Lucky Bay – Rossiter Bay: Phone (08) 9842 4500 allow 2.5 hours of medium walking. Fax (08) 9841 3329

Below Granite landscape taken from Frenchman Peak. Photo – Klaus Tiedemann/DEC State Operations Headquarters 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington WA 6151 Information and recreation guide Phone (08) 9334 0333 www.dec.wa.gov.au

Information current at August 2012. This publication is available in alternative formats on request.

Front cover Frenchman Peak, Cape Le Grand National Park. Photo – Tourism WA RECYCLE Please return unwanted brochures to distribution points 2010253-0812-12000 Things to see and do Remember Facilities such as toilets, gas barbecues, tables and Be careful rubbish bins are provided at places shown on the maps. Stay on paths and help prevent erosion. Your safety in Information shelters on site will tell you more about these natural areas is our concern, but your responsibility. national parks. Be clean Camping Put your litter in bins or, better still, take it with you. Two camping grounds are situated in Cape Le Grand Be cool National Park; one at Lucky Bay and the other at Le Grand Beach (see map). Facilities include flushing toilets, showers Fires are only permitted at Peak Charles during the cooler and campers’ kitchens. months. Firewood is not to be sourced from within the Above Looking west over Lucky Bay. Photo – Klaus Tiedemann/DEC national park. Camping fees apply to both Cape Le Grand and Stokes national parks. Wood fires are not permitted. Free gas Normal fisheries regulations apply in national parks. Fishing Protect animals and plants barbecues are provided. is popular at both Cape Le Grand and Stokes national parks. Firearms and pets are not permitted within these national At Stokes National Park the main camp site is located on Many species can be caught, including Australian salmon, parks. the shores of the inlet. Please be sure to bring sufficient whiting and black bream. Stay on the road fresh water as there are no available water supplies in the Fish safe, be coast safe. Your safety is your responsibility. Follow signs and stay on roads marked in this brochure. park. Basic bush toilets are provided. Park passes Normal road rules apply. Peak Charles National Park has an area designated for camping, but facilities are very basic. There is no fresh Visitor fees apply in Cape Le Grand and Stokes national water so, if you intend to visit, make sure you are totally parks. Passes can be obtained at the park or from the DEC self-sufficient. District Office. Boating Bushwalks In Cape Le Grand National Park, boats are best launched Footpaths have been established at national parks to help at Lucky Bay. Small boats can also be launched from you explore the environment. Cape Le Grand Beach. Launching at Rossiter Bay is not recommended. These beaches are notoriously treacherous for vehicles and it is easy to become bogged in the most innocent-looking wet or dry sand. Always check beach Below Path to Whistling Rock, Cape Le Grand National Park. Photo – Tourism WA surface conditions and tides. Above Coastal walking trail, Cape Le Grand National Park. Stokes Inlet is also popular for boating and canoeing, and it Photo – Tourism WA is possible to launch small boats. However, the capacity of the inlet for sailing is limited. Although the area of water Dieback – Help stop the rot looks large there are extensive areas of shallows and rocks. Dieback is a plant disease caused by a waterborne mould Fishing called Phytophthora cinnamomi. The fungus is microscopic Below Peak Charles. Photo – DEC and lives in the soil. Plants die when the fungus attacks their roots, because the roots rot and cannot take up water or nutrients. Vehicles may spread this pathogen, so it is essential to keep to formed roads and follow road signs in conservation reserves. By keeping out of closed areas you will help preserve the beauty of these magnificent national parks. WESTERN Bushwalkers can help by cleaning mud and soil from their 0 50 100 150 Kalgoorlie-Boulder boots before entering a park or reserve. s AUSTRALIA kilometre Coolgardie C Y O Southern Cross HW O N L Kambalda EASTER G Lake Merredin A R Lefroy D

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0 5 10 SOUTHERN OCEAN kilometres 0 5 10 15 Lake Mends Legend kilometres Sealed road Bush walking Picnic tables Unsealed road Camping (bush) Ranger station Track Caravan park Rock climbing RD Walk trail Day use area Swimming National park Drinking water Telephone FISH RD R ERIES

Barbecue (gas) Fishing (rod) Toilets A S

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Bush walking Information O L H O

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