Boranup Camping

September 2022
A short but fine adventure by Awesomes Read more
  • 4footprints
  • 1countries
  • 5days
  • 36photos
  • 0videos
  • 699kilometers
  • Day 1

    Boranup campsite

    September 14, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    We set off early this morning as we were worried that the campsite would be full. Got here at noon and not a single other camper in sight. The grey clouds, gusty winds and periodic heavy downpours might have something to do with the sensibilities of other campers to stay away. Whatever the reason, it is always wonderful to have the campsite to ourselves. The rain abated enough for us to set up the tent and even heat up a most delicious Transylvanian Potato and Ham soup that very special friend kindly cooked and froze for us.
    When the rain started again after lunch, we decided to go for a drive and found a Pies and Ale house, next to Boranup gallery.
    We had coffee and cider.
    The parks and wildlife man at Calgadup Cave showed us some orchids from the car park and then we ventured across the road to the 4 wheel drive track to look for more. We found so many new orchids that we have never seen before.
    The sunset at Boranup Lookout was rather unremarkable due to the heavy cloud cover. We're now having dinner in the car as it's too cold and wet outside. It'll be a very early night for us tonight. Might even leave the dishes in the bucket for tomorrow morning.

    May the sun shine tomorrow.
    Read more

  • Day 2

    Love Spring/Davies Loop and Boranup

    September 15, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Preparing our vegetable frittata for breakfast and lunch was challenging with cheeky bold magpies who would snatch a piece of food from right beside you. After breakfast, we ventured down a track near our campsite and gathered some gumnuts to hurl towards the magpies at future meal preparations. We also found a pile of firewood which we gathered with the help of our washing up pail. Unfortunately, the periodic rain prevented us from lighting a fire this evening as we had dinner in the car and retired to the tent at 7.38pm.

    The forest was very burnt in 6.53km hike at Davies and Love Spring Road. An enormous bushfire ravaged and destroyed over 8000 hectares of forest, started 8 December last year and took 4 days to contain, and many more days to burn out. There was much regeneration where we walked today, but the devastation was still very apparent. Some giant karri trees have fallen, grass trees which require a bushfire to thrive have also succumbed some victims. It was rather infuriating to see the damages done and know this fire was deliberately lit. That and the litter on the 4WD tracks made me ashamed to be a human.

    The Boranup Drive loop is a very well maintained compacted dirt road, and it was good to leave the burnt forest behind. We had an in-car picnic lunch on a side track. Grace spotted a very unusual orchid near the toilets by the lookout.

    Margaret River Open Studios are on, so we chanced upon young Ben Edwards who does beautiful resin and wood serving boards and furniture.

    We abandoned our hike towards the Boranup Beach after 1.5km of slow ascend on a 4WD track. We shall save this for another visit.

    3km
    Read more

  • Day 3

    Augusta

    September 16, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We went to Donavon Street to the flat rocks but there was not much wild orchids.
    As there isn't a visitor's centre in Augusta,. Ruby figured a good source of information was to get from the OP shop.
    An old lady named Janet, recommended the old railway track and even came looking for us there to give us a wild orchids guidebook.
    We had a delicious lunch at Glenarty Road.
    Walking off lunch with the Boranup Loop Trail and then rested by a roaring fire that Ruby made.
    Read more

  • Day 4

    Margaret River

    September 17, 2022 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    We started our morning with a hearty breakfast in Margaret River at the Riversmith cafe. Super yummy potato cakes and pancakes and superb coffee.
    Then it was a fruitful visit to the farmer's market and the OP shops.
    We revisited Calgardup cave, and saw the forest mantis orchid.
    We finished off the day with a quiet sit on a log in the Boranup Forest.
    All good things must come to an end. We are heading home tomorrow.
    Read more