Pemberton – Walpole 19 October 2011

Pemberton – Walpole 19 October 2011
The sun is back with us after such a wet day yesterday. Amazing what a difference sunshine makes. After feeding our parrots, we left Pemberton with our fist stop at Nothcliffe. We went there to see the Southern Forests Sculpture Walk and we were not disappointed. The walk wound through the forest where every so often there was a work of art that embodied the artist’s feeling about the forest, the people and relationships with the bigger universe. We were provided with headphones to hear the story as walked around.
The lady at the Tourist Centre told us that we might find some orchids at the cemetery so that was the next stop. She was correct. We found four different species so I was most excited.
From Northcliffe we drove south to the coast at Windy Harbour. Talk about going back in time! The town was all small fishing shacks but on a beautiful harbour. Then on to a 6 km scenic drive to Pt D’Entrecasteaux . From there you could see for miles up the coast to the east and the west. Think you could possibly see Cape Leeuwin.
Stopped for lunch at Mt Chudalup – a granite outcrop where you could find the Queen of Sheeba orchid. We climbed most of the way to the top but no luck with the orchid but we did find some other orchids and a flock of rare White-tailed Black Cockatoos few overhead. I saw and photographed a Splendid Fairy Wren.
We then drove back to Northcliffe and the Shannon National Park. We drove the “Great Forest Trees Drive”. We did not enjoy it as much as other tall trees drives that we had done. The drive south to Walpole was much better – in our opinion. Stayed the night in Walpole.