When you say Australia, you think beach, desert and big red rock. Not exactly what we encounter this time :) ... We spent a week in the middle of tens of thousands of hectares of forests. Wherever we go Karri, Marri, Jarrah (different species of eucalyptus) look us down and sometimes from the top of their 80m. That's a lot of wood! Abundantly exploited after the Second World War, these huge eucalyptus trees were used to build houses, railway lines, bridges all over the world. Currently, most of these forests are national parks that we browse for the greatest pleasure of our legs.

A eucalyptus mishmash. A grandmother's face looking karri. An Italian coffee pot-shaped red tingle. The base of the eucalyptus grows hollow when it gets old and one day, the wind or the fire will make it crack ...
A eucalyptus mishmash. A grandmother's face looking karri. An Italian coffee pot-shaped red tingle. The base of the eucalyptus grows hollow when it gets old and one day, the wind or the fire will make it crack ...

In order to monitor the beginnings of fires, a network of observation towers was set up in the 1950s. But, the trees are so high that it's a lot of work to build a tower higher than them, some had the idea to put a platform directly at the top of the tree. Three of these semi-natural watchtowers are still accessible to the public. A spiral of metal pegs, in its simplest device, takes you to the top of the canopy. Thrills guaranteed! Another way to gain height is to climb large blocks of granite that emerge from the landscape. It makes you realize that in the region, if you want to be alone, you can be alone! ;)

The three towers. Gloucester Tree Bicentennial Tree and Diamond Tree. They culminate between 55 and 65m.
The three towers. Gloucester Tree Bicentennial Tree and Diamond Tree. They culminate between 55 and 65m.

At the end of this summer, the various waterfalls, supposed to be bursting with life, are a little dry. But there are still many birds and an occasional snake, kangaroo or emu to entertain the walks.

The Village of Donnelly River with pet emus and kangaroos. We lock ourselves in the car to save our breakfast from the gluttony of the emus. Nannup, one of the many villages built by the pioneers.
The Village of Donnelly River with pet emus and kangaroos. We lock ourselves in the car to save our breakfast from the gluttony of the emus. Nannup, one of the many villages built by the pioneers.
A tree trunk across the river. A suspension bridge over a cascade (not so picturesque when it is almost dry.) Eucalyptus dried up in a lake. The large bird is a kookaburra (giant king hunter).
A tree trunk across the river. A suspension bridge over a cascade (not so picturesque when it is almost dry.) Eucalyptus dried up in a lake. The large bird is a kookaburra (giant king hunter).
Bird song

Nature, we talk a lot about it. It's a fact, biodiversity is one of Australia's gems. But there is also History ... In millions of years, the Australian continent acquires its independence by unhooking the super continent of the southern hemisphere, there are impressive rocky remains dating back to those distant times. In thousands of years, there is the establishment of Aborigines on their island. Very close to nature, it is a set of peoples with very different languages ​​and legends (we hope to be able to tell you more later). Hundreds of years ago, the first European settlers in Western Australia set foot in Albany, a prolific whaling station (many whales cross its shallow waters to rest on their way to their annual migration (we have not seen any, it was not the season :)). Then, they infiltrate inland attracted by farmland and forest potential. Finally, it is from the port of Albany that the Australian and New Zealand troops left to lend a hand to the English (and their allies) during World War II.

Light Field to commemorate the soldiers who left from Albany. Sunset on the same city. A seal and seagulls at Salmon Holes.
Light Field to commemorate the soldiers who left from Albany. Sunset on the same city. A seal and seagulls at Salmon Holes.
Plump peaks of granite dominate great plains. Especially around Windy Harbor and north of Walpole. These heaps of granite are also carved by the sea. Olivier thinks he is driving a giant slug.
Plump peaks of granite dominate great plains. Especially around Windy Harbor and north of Walpole. These heaps of granite are also carved by the sea. Olivier thinks he is driving a giant slug.
The ocean. We watch it, play on the rocks that line the beach, dive in the waves, we capture the moment when the sun sets.
The ocean. We watch it, play on the rocks that line the beach, dive in the waves, we capture the moment when the sun sets.

Our next step is volunteering on a dairy farm north of Albany ... :)