Porongurup’S The

to become slightly different genetically. different slightly become to Photo – Andrew Halsall Andrew – Photo Above Spectacular views from the Granite Skywalk. Skywalk. Granite the from views Spectacular

evolved have and ago years 5000 about forest karri WA’s of

perspective of the forest below. forest the of perspective rest the from separated became trees karri Porongurup’s The

a massive granite outcrop, and grid flooring provides a thrilling thrilling a provides flooring grid and outcrop, granite massive a

the rainfall allowing karri trees to survive in this drier area. drier this in survive to trees karri allowing rainfall the

Visitors can enjoy the feeling of being perched on the edge of of edge the on perched being of feeling the enjoy can Visitors

supplements surfaces granite non-porous from Run-off

to Mount Gardner and Mount Manypeaks to the south-east. the to Manypeaks Mount and Gardner Mount to 700mm. about at short falls Range the for rainfall annual

undulating farmland to Albany on the south coast, with views views with coast, south the on Albany to farmland undulating Karri needs at least 750mm of rainfall per year. The average average The year. per rainfall of 750mm least at needs Karri

a ladder. There are spectacular views of the park and across across and park the of views spectacular are There ladder. a

(rich in organic matter). organic in (rich

The upper lookout requires scrambling over rocks and climbing climbing and rocks over scrambling requires lookout upper The

loamy and deep are soils granite-based the where peaks

granite outcrop of Castle Rock with two lookouts. two with Rock Castle of outcrop granite (Eucalyptus diversicolor) (Eucalyptus the on high found are trees Karri

The Granite Skywalk is a suspended walkway around the huge huge the around walkway suspended a is Skywalk Granite The

of laterite (red, iron-rich rock) and sand. and rock) iron-rich (red, laterite of

Granite Skywalk Granite layers weathered from formed have that soils poorer in grow

(Eucalyptus cornuta) (Eucalyptus marginata) (Eucalyptus trees trees yate and

(Corymbia calophylla) (Corymbia exist today. exist , jarrah jarrah , marri slopes, lower the On

pluton into the rounded shapes and deeply incised valleys that that valleys incised deeply and shapes rounded the into pluton

found.

forms of vegetation in the park. park. the in vegetation of forms

the square edges of the fractures, slowly sculpting the exposed exposed the sculpting slowly fractures, the of edges square the

a number with links to the Gondwanan supercontinent, can be be can supercontinent, Gondwanan the to links with number a

Karri forest and open jarrah/marri woodlands are the dominant dominant the are woodlands jarrah/marri open and forest Karri

The relentless natural forces of sun, rain and wind wore away away wore wind and rain sun, of forces natural relentless The

and carpet pythons plus a multitude of invertebrates, including including invertebrates, of multitude a plus pythons carpet and

buds hidden beneath the scorched tree bark. bark. tree scorched the beneath hidden buds

In moist habitats on the forest floor, frogs, echidnas, goannas goannas echidnas, frogs, floor, forest the on habitats moist In

the granite to fracture. fracture. to granite the

from and soil the under roots from soil, the in stored seeds

in temperature and in the weight of the overlying rock caused caused rock overlying the of weight the in and temperature in

threatened species – have also been sighted. been also have – species threatened

After a severe fire in 2007, new growth quickly sprouted from from sprouted quickly growth new 2007, in fire severe a After

weathered away to expose the giant granite mass. Changes Changes mass. granite giant the expose to away weathered

Baudin’s cockatoo, and the forest red-tailed black cockatoo – all all – cockatoo black red-tailed forest the and cockatoo, Baudin’s

The majority of Porongurup plant species have adapted to fire. fire. to adapted have species plant Porongurup of majority The

Over millions of years the softer rock lying above the pluton pluton the above lying rock softer the years of millions Over

tree-creeper and scarlet and yellow robins. Carnaby’s cockatoo, cockatoo, Carnaby’s robins. yellow and scarlet and tree-creeper

species. species.

birds have been identified in the range, including the rufous rufous the including range, the in identified been have birds

the overlying base rock of the continent. continent. the of rock base overlying the

of plants growing in Porongurup Range, including 10 endemic endemic 10 including Range, Porongurup in growing plants of

Since being vested as a national park, more than 80 species of of species 80 than more park, national a as vested being Since

into upwards pushed and core Earth’s the in deep from rose

Surveys conducted in the past years have identified 700 species species 700 identified have years past the in conducted Surveys

ancient Porongurup pluton, a massive bubble of molten rock that that rock molten of bubble massive a pluton, Porongurup ancient

and bush rats. bush and

Flora

The range’s distinctive granite domes are the remains of the the of remains the are domes granite distinctive range’s The

bandicoots, brushtail possums, honey possums, pygmy possums possums pygmy possums, honey possums, brushtail bandicoots,

including western grey kangaroos, brush tail wallabies, wallabies, tail brush kangaroos, grey western including Devils Slide is the highest of the Porongurup’s round-topped peaks. round-topped Porongurup’s the of highest the is Slide Devils

Porongurup National Park is home to a rich array of wildlife wildlife of array rich a to home is Park National Porongurup approximately halfway to the Stirling Range. At 670m high, high, 670m At Range. Stirling the to halfway approximately

As a biodiversity hotspot of international significance, significance, international of hotspot biodiversity a As The 12km long Porongurup Range lies 48km north of Albany, Albany, of north 48km lies Range Porongurup long 12km The

Fauna The Porongurup Range Porongurup The

Porongurup National Park

Caring for Porongurup National Park Plan ahead and prepare • Protect habitat and wildlife by leaving rocks Your safety in natural areas is our concern and plants undisturbed. Do not bring pets into but your responsibility. the park. • Bushwalking is not recommended in hot and windy • No camping or cooking fires are allowed in the park. conditions due to the risk of bushfire. • Bins are not provided so please take your rubbish out with • Carry and drink plenty of drinking water – 3-4L per person you, including food scraps and toilet paper. Make sure toilet per day. waste is buried to 15cm deep. • Wear sun protection, boots or sturdy footwear, and clothing that is weatherproof and scratchproof. For more information • Be prepared for unexpected changes in the weather. Parks and Wildlife Service officers are always willing to help. • Sloping, rough and uneven surfaces exist throughout the park. Don’t hesitate to contact them. • Take extra care near rock edges as they can crumble without warning or be very slippery. Parks and Wildlife Service • Let someone know where you are going, what you are doing South Coast Regional Office and when you expect to return. 120 Albany Highway, Albany WA 6330 Ph: (08) 9842 4500 • Check exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/alerts for any park or trail closures. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions • Falling branches – eucalypt trees, especially karri, can shed State Operational Headquarters branches at any time. Be extra aware on windy days. 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington WA 6151 Ph: (08) 9219 9000 dbca.wa.gov.au

Visitor guide Front cover Granite Skywalk. Photo – Andrew Halsall