Part 4: The Wild West …


The Pinnacles

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The Pinnacles, WA

The Nambung National Park was our first taste of the Western Australian desert. It’s here that over 150,000 weathered limestone pillars protrude from the desert floor.

Initially mistaken for the ruins of a lost city, the Pinnacles do make for an odd sight, especially accompanied by all the vehicles driving the park's one-way loop track.

It was my aim to capture the Pinnacles at sunrise, with wind blown sand forming patterns in the foreground. Not such an easy task when you consider the vast amounts of footprints left by visitors to the park. Undeterred, widening my search, I finally found what I was looking for, pristine sand blows with the remarkable Pinnacles as a backdrop.

Kalbarri

Standing at the mouth of the mighty Murchison River, and guarded by a coastline of spectacular cliffs, Kalbarri is quite an unassuming place. It’s only when you really start to explore its surrounds that you discover why so many travellers make the hundred or so kilometre detour from the North West Coastal Highway.

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Nature's Window, Kalbarri, WA
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Kalbarri, WA

Venturing into the heart of the Kalbarri National Park, we discovered what all the fuss is about. The Murchison, over the millennia, has carved spectacular red and white banded gorges throughout the range.

A section of the gorge known as ‘The Loop’ sees the river make a complete 360 degree turn. Part of the gorge here is framed by the aptly named rock formation, ‘Nature's Window’.




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Murchison River, WA

Quobba

Just north of Carnarvon, the lighthouse at Quobba stands guard over the rugged coastline and the infamous Quobba blowholes. Complimented by the surrounding flora and perfect evening light, this humble lighthouse makes for a very pleasing picture.

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Quobba Lighthouse, WA

Cape Range National Park

The Ningaloo Reef fringes this part of the coast for over 200 kilometres. The reef is home to a myriad of sea life, including turtles, manta rays, dugong, and of course, whale sharks.

It’s been a long term goal of mine to see these magnificent creatures, so given the chance I jumped at it. A day spent swimming with whale sharks, the largest topping out at seven metres, is I’m sure going to be one of the highlights of this trip.

Not forgetting the reason I’m here, I grabbed my camera and headed out to explore some of the area's coastline. The reef can be as close as 100 metres from the coast, making for a calm shoreline and some fantastic beaches. Two of the highlights of the park are the beaches at Turquoise and Osprey Bays.

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Osprey Bay, WA
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Turquoise Bay
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Cape Range National Park

Millstream-Chichester National Park

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Deep Reach Pool, WA






















A modest park on the map turns out to be an absolute gem in terms of natural beauty. The Millstream-Chichester National Park was created in 1982, forming a park of contrasts. The Chichester Ranges form the arid and parched section of this park, whilst the journey south into Millstream turns into one of waterholes, lush palm oases, and plentiful wildlife.

Capturing both aspects of the park's landscape was going to be the challenge of this particular area. Photographing the Spinifex strewn landscape dotted with ghost gums really shows the park's arid side, whilst views over pools formed by the Fortescue River show just how much water can affect the land and its inhabitants.

Karijini National Park

Karijini National Park is seen by many as the jewel of The Pilbara. A landscape that hides its gems in the form of a series of gorges, that drop vertically from the undulating landscape.

Rivers and creeks of this region have slowly carved their way down through colourful banded shales, rocks that have been sculptured and smoothed by the passage of time.

Wading through the cool waters of these gorges is a pleasure in itself, but to photograph these wonders is an absolute delight. Blue and red hues reflect to create walls that ooze colour. Cascading water looks more like molten rock as it flows into emerald pools.

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Hancock Gorge
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Fern Pool
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Dales Gorge
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Hamersley Gorge
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Mount Bruce
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Circular Pool
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Hamersley Gorge

Broome

As the sun sets on Cable Beach, the evening’s proceedings commence. Camel trains carry tourists along the shoreline, pearl luggers sail by, and a throng of onlookers await the sun's last rays.

For us, Broome is a real contrast to the past few weeks, travelling the outback. Our camp is now bordered by five star resorts rather than the desert we’ve become accustomed to.

I suppose whilst we’re here we may as well join the melee. Maybe I’ll even photograph the sunset myself, so long as no one gets in the way that is!

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Cable Beach, Broome, WA
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Roebuck Bay, WA
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Pearl Lugger, Broome, WA







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