Fitzgerald Coast Shires

fitzGerAld Biosphere Coast

hopetoun, MunGlinup & rAvensthorpe

The Fitzgerald Biosphere Coast is located on the South Coast Highway between Albany and Esperance. Home to the Fitzgerald River National Park and an abundance of flora and fauna all year round, visitors will love exploring this botanical wonderland.

Two thirds of the Ravensthorpe Shire is natural bushland, made up of the Fitzgerald River National Park and the Ravensthorpe Range and reserves, all of which are rich in geology and native flora and fauna, including many rare species unique to the area. The coastal scenery of Hopetoun and Munglinup is spectacular, with grand headlands and pristine beaches unique to the south east of WA.

The diverse landscape with stretches of coast and unspoiled wilderness provides a variation of rocks and soil nutrients to promote 2,500 species of plants; the region is reputed to have more plants for its size than any other similarly sized area in the world. The Fitzgerald Biosphere retained its UNESCO status as the most significant flora reserve in the world with an expanded boundary covering an area of 1.5M hectares to capture the full biodiversity of the region.

Quoin Head

hIGHlIGHtS to see & do

1. Explore the beautiful wilderness and wildflowers of the Fitzgerald

Biosphere Coast. 2. Visit one of the largest wildflower displays and enjoy the festivities during the Ravensthorpe

Wildflower Show. 3. Explore the many 4WD tracks and historical and nature-based walk trails. 4. Climb East Mt Barren and enjoy the 360° views. 5. Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the scenic Phillips River Canoe Trail. 6. Whale and dolphin watch from one of the many land-based viewing platforms. 7. Take a selfie in front of the incredible artwork on the

Ravensthorpe Silos. 8. Camp under the night sky and enjoy your million-star accommodation. 9. Hike the world-class Hakea Walk

Trail, camping at Whalebone in the Fitzgerald River National

Park. 10. Swim, snorkel or fish in the pristine waters off one of the many squeaky white sandy beaches. For more information, visit fitzgeraldcoast.com.au or contact the Ravensthorpe Shire or Visitor Centre.

upcoMinG events

Hopetoun Summer Festival

January 2022

Hopetoun Annual Fishing Competition

5 March 2022

Ravensthorpe Enduro Club Peak Charles Ride

July school holidays

Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show and Spring Festival

12-24 September 2022

Ravensthorpe Enduro Club Rat Run (Motocross)

October each year

hOpEtOuN

Hopetoun is surrounded by unspoilt wilderness, abundant pristine white beaches and is the perfect setting for a relaxed, all-year round holiday.

A perfect destination for anyone wanting a quiet, refreshing holiday without the crowds or ideal naturebased family-friendly destination. Many visitors come in September to April to enjoy the pristine beaches, the picturesque scenery, the abundance of water activities and the easy access to the Fitzgerald River National Park. Hopetoun boasts 200km of magnificent and accessible white sandy beaches, great for boating, windsurfing, swimming, snorkelling, fishing and whale watching.

There are excellent bush walking and wildflower trails and the town centre offers great cafes and shops. Be sure to check out McCulloch Park, just a stone’s throw from the grassed foreshore with gas BBQ, picnic shelters, play equipment, replica railway station and jumping pillow. The park provides hours of entertainment for the whole family.

The sealed Hamersley Drive and its many good 2WD spur roads give easy road access to 25kms of pristine beaches and the entrance to the Fitzgerald River National Park. East of Hopetoun, the beaches are remarkably

Farm Gate Art Trail

Hopetoun

accessible by gravel roads. The Southern Ocean Road skirts the shoreline and has several coastal lookouts and access points to beaches, many of which have quiet lagoons for bathing and fishing.

hIGHlIGHtS to see & do

• Camp at one of our fantastic camp sites. • Fish off the town jetty and take in those magic WA sunsets. • Wander through the wildflower walk trails. • Enjoy the lagoons at 12 Mile

Beach. • Jump off the pontoon and kayak, swim or snorkel in Mary Ann

Haven. • Have a romantic picnic at one of the many stunning and secluded beaches. • Explore the coastline at Mason

Bay and Starvation Bay. • Go bird watching in the

Fitzgerald River National Park or surrounding reserves. • Take in the picturesque sunrise and clean air as you go for an early morning walk on the beach. • Go beach fishing and catch a delicious fish for dinner.

rAvEnStHoRpE

Scenic drives in Ravensthorpe will be a highlight of your trip and should start with a visit to the Ravensthorpe Silos followed by a visit to the Museum.

The Ravensthorpe Range is a must to explore. With geological complexity, an abundance of plants, wildflowers and fauna, it is one of 34 recognised global biodiversity ‘hot spots’; the only one of its kind in Australia. The rugged range has seemingly endless unspoiled bushland that stretches for about 45km from north of town in a south-easterly direction to Kundip. Be mindful of wildlife while exploring with kangaroos, emus and Mallee fowl never far away.

Ravensthorpe has an extensive history of exploration and mining activity. Historically referred to as the Phillips River Goldfield, more than 90 gold and copper mines have operated at one time or another in the range since the 1890s. Today there are two mines in operation sourcing lithium, nickel, cobalt, spodumene and pegmatite with a third mine sourcing gold, silver and copper due to start soon.

Agriculture extends over and past the range and is approximately one-third of the Ravensthorpe Shire. The productive farmland produces a variety of produce including: wheat, oats, barley, lupins, canola, field peas, beans, wool, cattle and sheep.

The Ravensthorpe Museum and Visitor Centre located on Morgan Street, staffed by volunteers with a wealth of local knowledge has a range of fantastic and comprehensive displays on the history of the region. Here you can pick up visitor information, brochures and maps for local hot spots and the surrounding region as well as find a great retail shop with local crafts, products and books.

hIGHlIGHtS to see & do

• World’s Largest Lollipop The world’s biggest freestanding lollipop is the newest addition to the main streetscape of

Ravensthorpe. The 7.3m tall and 4m wide structure is located on

Morgan Street, creating another must-see icon following the fantastic Silo Art. • Farm Gate Art Trail is a great selection of sculptures made from farm scrap metal, dotted around the landscape. A map of their location and explanation of each work is available on fitzgeraldcoast. com.au

• Kukenarup Memorial and

Heritage Walk is a place for reflection and is one of the first memorials of its kind in Australia to acknowledge the tragic past and help move towards reconciliation. • The Ravensthorpe Silos display artwork following the flowering cycle of a banksia, native to the region. World-renowned artist

Amok Island created the mural throughout August and September 2016, taking 31 days to create the 25m high mural that is visible for miles in every direction. Part of the

Silo Trail, this project was brought to Ravensthorpe by CBH and

FORM - not to be missed. • Archer Drive Lookout 30km return. Wildflowers, picturesque sweeping farmland views from the

Ravensthorpe Range. • Elverdton Road wildflowers line the south side of the road and 15km from Ravensthorpe. Ethel Daw lookout is breathtaking. • Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show, held mid-September each year, has more than 700 labelled species on display. Enjoy a packed program that includes guided wildflower walks, 4WD tag-along tours, Devonshire teas, local art exhibitions and entertainment. Visit wildflowersravensthorpe.org.au for more information. • Mt Short Scenic Drive 40km return, allow two hours. Highest point in Ravensthorpe Range 452m, picnicking, wildflowers, scenery, old gold mine, climb Mt Short.

hIGHlIGHtS to see & do

.../ continued from p63

• Mt Madden Scenic Drive

160km return, allow five to six hours. Pallarup Rocks picnic spot features a large granite rock covering 20ha to explore, panoramic views, and wildflowers. • Railway Heritage Walk Trail is a four-section walk track through natural bush. The original railway track was built to connect

Ravensthorpe mines to the

Hopetoun Port and operated from 1909 to 1935. • . Ravensthorpe Range 4WD is a 28km drive across Ravensthorpe

Range, see new mining activity, wildflowers, Mallee fowl and kangaroos.

Munglinup Beach

Silo art, Ravensthorpe

Sandboarding Hamersley Dunes

MUnGlInUp

Munglinup Beach forms a lagoon that is protected by a reef and here you can swim or snorkel, enjoy the underwater world or just relax on the beach. If you are looking for a secluded beach you needn’t go any further, you’ll find it here. Just a short distance away, Lake Shaster and the Oldfield Estuary are renowned havens for rare and unusual birds. The Oldfield Estuary area offers visitors plenty of activities including canoeing, small boating, kayaking, nature bush walks, wildflower viewing and fishing.

Accommodation

Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun and Munglinup offer RV-friendly camping for 48 hours. Two caravan parks are located in Hopetoun, one in Ravensthorpe and one in Munglinup. Motels and B&Bs are available in both Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe. The Fitzgerald Biosphere Coast is brimming with a great selection of camping options. Mason Bay, Starvation Bay and Munglinup Campgrounds are great coastal options available on a first in basis (cash only). Camping available in Fitzgerald River National Park at Hamersley Inlet, St Mary Inlet and Four Mile Campground (bookable).

Four Mile Beach Qualup Bell

fItZGErAlD rIvEr nAtIoNAL pArK Discover A Botanical Wonderland

The Fitzgerald River National Park, which forms the core of the Fitzgerald Biosphere, is the largest and most botanically significant national park in Australia. Recognised globally for its natural diversity, the park is one of the most flora and fauna rich conservation areas in Western Australia, home to approximately 20% of the State’s described plant species, 22 mammal species, 41 reptile species, and more than 200 bird species. More species of animals live in this park than any other reserve in southern Western Australia and it is truly a nature enthusiast’s playground.

Echidna

Goanna Barrens Regelia

hIGHlIGHtS to see & do

• Head to Cave Point to get a bird’s eye view of the park’s coast from a unique lookout on the very edge of the sea cliffs overlooking the

Southern Ocean, a top spot for whale watching. • Barrens Lookout, located on the eastern side of East Mt Barren, has a viewing platform with universal access. Enjoy a short walk among spectacular wildflowers overlooking

Barrens Beach, Culham Inlet and

Hopetoun. • Experience Hamersley Drive &

Sepulcralis Hill Lookout and be amazed by the abundant wildflowers including the endemic

Royal Hakea and Qualup Bell. • Barrens Beach has 200m of squeaky white sand complemented by rocky outcrops and reef. Swim, fish, snorkel and play the day away. The site includes interpretative signage, seating and toilet facilities. A popular beach among locals.

• Hamersley Inlet Campground.

Toilet facilities, sheltered gas BBQ, enjoy close access to hiking trails, fishing and boating activities. No bookings required. • Sandboarding at Hamersley Dunes located within Fitzgerald River

National Park has 4WD access only.

Sandboard on dunes as far as the eye can see en route to

Hamersley Beach.

• Four Mile Campground and Beach

is a popular camping area located near Barrens Beach with easy access to Four Mile Beach. Enjoy facilities including picnic tables, gas barbecues with 15 camp sites of various sizes accommodating caravans, camper trailers, RVs and tents. Must book online. • Scenic Wildflower Walk Trails.

The Hakea Trail is a 46.8km (return) spectacular and rugged coastal walk trail east of the Fitzgerald

River National Park. It starts at the

Cave Point car park and extends westward to Quoin Head. However, the trail can be accessed at several points along its route with markers bearing the Royal Hakea. More walk trails are available including the East

Mt Barren hike and Mamang Trail.

Orleans Bay Caravan Park

Just 90km east of Esperance, beautiful peaceful location on the beach. 6 chalets and 6 park homes. Plenty of powered and unpowered sites. Lot 1 and 5 Wharton Road Via Condingup WA 6450 Tel: (08) 9075 0033 orleansbaycamp.com.au JJ’S HOLIDAY COTTAGES

Relax in your own private patio and enjoy the sound of the rolling waves, or take a leisurely stroll on the beach nearby. Close to shopping and children’s playground. TV/DVD, reverse-cycle air-conditioning and ALL LINEN SUPPLIED. Pet friendly - dogs, cats and budgies welcome!

Rates: From $170 per night T: 0402 459 915 www.jjholidaycottage.com.au