27/07/2024 ….. A week spent wandering – Part 6

National Parks, Numerous days, Other Reserves, Porongurup NP, Road Trip, Twin Creeks Conservation Reserve, Western Australian Orchids

Today we have decided to head up to The Porongurups to see if we could find the Helmet orchids that we found on a previous visit a few years back. So, we head up Chester Pass Road but as usual we make a stop in a possible orchid location. Napier Hall is surrounded by bush, so we pull up to the gate and make our way on foot to explore the bush surrounding the cleared area that the hall is located on. Unbelievably we only find a solitary Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) in flower.

No need to hang around here so we quickly check out the Yoorlarup Napier Creek parking area but decide we stand a better chance finding orchids in the National Park, so we continue along. We finally make it to the Porongurup National Park and make our way to Castle Rock parking area. First up we decide to walk along the smaller Walitj Meil Walk Trail which is only 1km in length. We find some kangaroos resting but alas no orchids. So back to the Triton where we grab out our lunch. We find a picnic table to have a restful lunch, before the bigger walk to Castle Rock.

OK so now for the longer trek up to Castle Rock where the Granite Skywalk is located. It was along this track we first found the Common helmet orchid, a few years back. We were not to be so lucky this time round unfortunately. All we found were leaves of orchids yet to flower. Oh well back we go to the Triton and move on to the next location.

We leave the National Park and head out to the Twin Creeks Conservation Reserve to try our luck. Well, we were not expecting the place to be so flooded. We were unable to walk along any of the trails so we just had a look around where we could. Only one species was found flowering. The Banded greenhood was found all over with only Redbeak and Slipper orchid leaves breaking up the monopoly.

We leave a bit disappointed however notice a sign at the gate which mentions a Gondwana Link Sculpture is close by, so we make a beeline to check it out. It was an amazing piece of art, just placed in the middle of a paddock.

Pics taken we make our way back to Albany. Tonight, we go out for dinner to Rustlers Steakhouse & Grill on Stirling Terrace. This was another enjoyable way to end a great day out in the great outdoors. Orchids not so great but you get that this early into the season.

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