South West of Western Australia

18,000ha.This National Park in the rainy South West was established in 1910 to protect its majestic karri trees and other giant eucalypts. The park also takes in a 40km long stretch of coast on the Southern Ocean, with granite promontories, wide beaches, dunes, heath-covered slopes and sheltered inlets. The central feature of the park is the long Nornalup Inlet, into which the Frankland and Deep Rivers flow. Beyond the Nornalup Inlet is the smaller Walpole Inlet at the mouth of the Walpole River, with the holiday settlement of Walpole. There are tracks and walking trails running along the beaches. The park also offers areas for fishing and water sports.Between the Deep River and the sea is the trackless expanse of Nuyts Wilderness, ideal for bush walkers. The ruggedest part of the National Park with its rock-covered hills, coastal dunes, deep wooded gorge and rocky coast has a rich flora (orchids) and fauna. It is reached on a footbridge over the Deep River at Tinglewood Lodge.In spring (between September and November) the wild flowers in the wooded areas put on their finest show. In summer (December to February) it is warm and dry (danger of forest fires), but even in summer the nights can be cold.The Bibbulmun Track, which runs north for over 500km to near Perth, starts from Walpole.Cars are not allowed in the Wilderness Area. From the South Western Highway and South Coast Highway side roads run through beautiful scenery to waterfalls, karri forests, huge tingle trees (Valley of Giants) and the coastal lagoons on the inlets.

11,800ha.Yalgorup National Park takes in a string of coastal lagoons and swamps between lines of dunes and limestone ridges which provide nesting places for countless numbers of water birds. It is a region of eucalyptus woodland with dense undergrowth; on some hill slopes there are expanses of coastal heath vegetation. There are short walking trails round some of the lagoons, and it is also possible to walk along the fire-breaks. On the coast are excellent beaches for a variety ofwater sports.

Busselton (pop. 7780) is one of the oldest settlements in Western Australia. It was founded by the Bussell family at the mouth of the Vasse River in the 1830s. It is now the commercial center of the surrounding agricultural area (dairy farming, beef cattle), a timber town (jarrah forests) and a popular holiday resort with a good surfing beach to the west of the town and sheltered inlets for swimmers.Two handsome old 19th C buildings are St Mary's Church in Peel Terrace (1844; fine timber roof) and Prospect Villa in Albert Street, a mid-19th C brick building, now a government office. Opposite, in Victoria Park, is Ballarat, the oldest steam engine in Western Australia. On the banks of the river is an old butter factory with its original equipment. There is also a film museum.

The port town of Bunbury (pop. 23,000) has developed in recent years into a popular tourist center. From here are shipped the agricultural produce of the fertile hinterland and the mineral sands which are worked in the surrounding area.Among the town's fine old buildings are King Cottage (1867-80), a brick-built house at 77 Forrest Avenue which is now a museum (historical collections, Victorian furniture); the Leschenault Homestead on the Old Coast Road, an early settler's house built of clay bricks and timber, with a beautiful garden; the Rose Hotel (1865) at the corner of Victoria and Wellington Streets; and the Eagle Towers Restaurant at 192 Spencer Street, in a former farmhouse (1877) in the style of an Indian bungalow.

Australind (pop. 3670) is a popular holiday resort (water sports, fishing) on the Leschenault Estuary. It was the scene of a large-scale but eventually unsuccessful settlement scheme in 1841, when land on the south side of the estuary was allotted to 500 British settlers, but the scheme failed because of the poor quality of the soil.St Nicholas's Church in Paris Road is the smallest church in the country; it was originally built in 1840 as a worker's cottage. Opposite the church is Henton Cottage (c 1841).

30,800ha.There is a spectacular view of this national park - the great forests (karri, jarrah and tingle tree, with a profusion of wild flowers in late spring) and the catchment area of the Frankland River - from Mount Frankland (422m).An easy walking trail through karri forest runs round the foot of this granite hill, with steep paths leading up to the summit.

3200ha.Scott National Park lies on the east bank of the Blackwood River and on the Scott River, which flows into the Blackwood. Expanses of marsh and wetland; wooded slopes with jarrah, karri and marri trees and dense shrub undergrowth that blossoms in spring. In the wetlands there are many nesting places of water birds.The park also offers good places for water sports and fishing.

The fishing village of Augusta (pop. 460) is the most southwesterly point in Australia. Founded in 1830, it is the third oldest settlement in Western Australia.There is an interesting Historical Museum (Blackwood Avenue).In Turner Park are 150-year-old fig trees.

Visitors can travel to Northcliffe (pop. 210) from Pemberton on the Timber Tramway, originally built to transport timber but now a tourist train running through magnificent scenery, with forests of majestic karri trees up to 1000 years old.

Margaret River (pop. 1280) lies a few kilometers from the coast on the river from which it takes its name. It was founded in 1921 by a commune.