Fernhook Falls to Greens Island

Day 50 - Fernhook Falls to Greens Island

Fernhook Falls, Mount Frankland, Shannon National Park, Manjimup, Greens Island

Saturday, 9 March 2013
Got up, had breakfast and then took Tuka for walk. Walked by myself down to the river and to the falls which were dry. Came back and packed up.

Turned right onto Beardmore Road and 20km later of dirt road we were at the car park at Mt. Frankland. On the way I saw red-capped parrots, kookaburras and four different pairs (usually a small young one and a larger one) of western brush wallabies. As the young are born in April-may and then live in the pouch for 6-7 months, the small ones must have been nearly a year old.

At Mt. Frankland there is a steep walk with ladders to the granite summit. There is a hut on top which is still used as a lookout for bushfires. There were views over the Walpole Wilderness to the north and forests and farms to the south.

We then did the Great Forests Tree Drive, a 48km drive through Shannon National Park. The drive is through some spectacular forest and has its own park radio broadcasts. The broadcasts provide different 4 minutes talks about the area at designated spots. A good idea. Saw more red-capped parrots, kookaburras and wrens but no wallabies.

According to the broadcasts Karri have straight trunk, white bark, shed in autumn to reveal red/orange bark and generally grow to 47 to 70 metres tall. The tallest recorded Karri was 87 metres. The broadcast also told me I should have been able to see 50,000 old growth Karri trees while on the drive. Other trees in the forest are Jarrah and Mari (red gum). At many locations in the forest all three are growing together. Photographed the creamy flowers of a small Jarrah and its bark while being attcked by dozens of March flies.

After finishing the Great Forests Tree Drive I drove to Manjimup, a large town, and bought petrol. No much else open. Drove out of town and about 30km later was at Greens Island. It is a large grassed camping area with dirt bays for vehicles. It is set amongst the Karri forest (and Jarrah trees). Plenty of wrens and March flies. Very pretty spot. Talked to four French backpackers who were camped nearby. They have jobs picking fruit in the area.

	Walkers' hut at Fernhook Falls [Map]		Rowell's Pool [Map]
	Looking towards Conspicuous Cliff from Mt. Frankla [Map]		Walpole Wilderness from Mt. Frankland [Map]
	Karri tree and a Jarrah tree [Map]		Tall Karri trees [Map]
	Very tall Karri [Map]		Campsite at Green's Island [Map]

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