Day 89 Cape Naturaliste

Today we drove up to Cape Naturaliste on the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, a wild and scenic coastal strip that separates the Indian Ocean on the western side and from the sheltered waters of Geographe Bay on the north.

On the way we stopped firstly at a the Cape Lavender Tearooms for morning tea, then we went to Injidup Beach a beautiful beach with a well known surf break. The name Injidup comes from the Nyoongar word inji for the lovely red pea flower (Templetonia retusa) that grows along the limestone cliffs in spring.






Canal Rocks oceanic swells, broken by a massive finger of rock, surge through a network of canals, which you experience while surrounded by the wind and water that have helped shape them. You can walk across one of the canals on a narrow bridge. The Aboriginal name for Canal Rocks is Winjee Sam. The Rocks are an ancient and unusual rock formation extending from a peninsula south of Smiths Beach on the coastline between Yallingup and Margaret River.










Castle Bay located on the east side of Cape Naturaliste, this calm, turquoise bay is protected from the westerly winds and ocean swell. Clear water, interesting rock formations & captivating scenery.




Point Piquet a tiny spot but beautiful with red ochre rocks that tumble out of shrub and into the blue water. Associated with the French expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, (1800-1803), led by Thomas Nicolas Baudin on the ships, 'Naturalist' and 'Geographe'.

Point Picquet was named in honour of Antoine Picquet, an officer on the expedition on June 1, 1801.
Anse Depuch (Depuch Cove) is now formally known as Eagle Bay and was named in honour of Louis Depuch, mineralogist on the ‘Geographe’ who was excited by finding granite in the creek running into the bay.

Whilst we were there we were lucky enough to see some whales playing in the bay.










Sugarloaf Rock is named for its distinctive conical shape and is a nature reserve and a haven for nesting seabirds such as the geographically-restricted red-tailed tropicbird.








Cape Naturaliste is the northernmost point of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge and separates the relatively sheltered waters of Geographe Bay from the southern Indian Ocean. The 20m high lighthouse stands on a 100m bluff overlooking Geographe Bay. It was built in 1903 using limestone carted by bullock wagon from a quarry about 1.5km away. The three original keepers’ quarters are still standing. The lighthouse is now an automatic operation, with its white beam visible for 26 nautical miles (48km), flashing twice every 10 seconds.






Shelly Cove this delightful little beach is about 70m long and features large granite rocks that protrude from the water.




On the way home we stopped at the Providore and purchased some beautiful sauces, jams etc.