Yanchep NP

20th July 2014

Cold and a bit drizzly this morning but we had a great day enjoying Yanchep NP.  This park is close to Perth so is popular and not as 'natural' as other parks we have been in. However we enjoyed some walks among the tuart trees and in the limestone caves.

Tuart trees in collapsed cave

Crystal Cave

The limestone here is unusual as it is not formed by coral reefs but made from calcified sands.  The sands were ground coral and sea shells which formed into dunes about 500,000 years ago. Rainwater percolating through the dunes dissolved the calcium carbonate cementing the grains together into rock.

The caves have formed through the action of water and stalactities and stalagmites have formed within them.  The caves used to have water running through until about 20 years ago.  Unfortunately the water table in the Perth area has dropped and they are now dry.  The drop is partly due to the demand for water as the city grows and also a large part of the ground water is taken up by pine plantations to the east of the city.

The park has a small koala enclosure in which slumbered about half a dozen animals.

Koala in Yanchep NP

After this we went to the beach in Yanchep where the stormy weather created interesting effects on the headland and the water.

Yanchep beach