Aussie Remarkable Rocks Part 1
Naturally everyone has heard of Ayers Rock in Central Australia and even Wave Rock in Western Australia, but did you know that Australia has some remarkable rocks elsewhere? I was awestruck by some of the interesting rock formations that I saw during my travels around Australia.
So here they are:
Albany
Albany in the south west of Western Australia has some wind swept and wave battered rocky granite headlands and a couple of interesting rocky crevasses. At Torndirrup National Park, windswept coastal heaths give way to massive granite outcrops, sheer cliffs and steep sandy slopes and dunes. The Southern Ocean has sculpted a Natural Bridge in the coastal granites and formed The Gap, where the waves rush in and out with tremendous ferocity.
Esperance
Esperance on the south coast of Western Australia has some of the most pristine and unspoilt coastline in Australia featuring the 105 islands of the Recherche Archipelago. The islands are generally composed of granite outcrops.
Cape La Grand, 45 minutes east of Esperance, is a sprawling National Park where massive granite and gneiss peaks rise from the coastal plain. If you scale the 262m high Frenchman Peak you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the park and islands in the Recherche Archipelago.
Kalbarri
The Coastal Cliffs of Kalbarri run along the coast where wind and wave erosion has exposed the sedimentary layers in the sandstone cliffs that plunge more than 100 metres to the ocean. The Kalbarri National Park surrounds the lower reaches of the Murchison River, which has cut a magnificent 80 km gorge through the red and white banded sandstone to create formations such as Nature’s Window, The Loop and Z-Bend.
Denmark
Green Pools in the William Bay National Park, Denmark is a naturally formed pool enclosed by rows of dome-shaped granite boulders and a popular place to swim or snorkel. Elephant Rocks in Elephant Cove, William Bay National Park are clusters of tall, round-topped granite rocks towers and to many people looks like a herd of Elephants wading in the water.
Exmouth
Yardie Creek Gorge in the Cape Range National Park fringes the infamous Ningaloo Reef and is a gorge carved out by an ancient river with steep sided cliffs.
Cervantes
The Pinnacles are limestone formations contained within Nambung National Park, near the town of Cervantes. A walk through this desert-like landscape has been likened to a walk on the moon.
Australia does have remarkable rocks carved out of nature and the ferocity of our harsh climate. I can’t wait to bring you more of these in part 2.
For more incredible photos of Australia take a look in travel under categories on my website. Also take a look at Redz Australia Aussie ABC: R is for Rocks
Do you know of any other places in Australia that have remarkable rocks?
yep we have some great rocks over here in Western Australia. Of course there is Purnululu for the most remarkable West Aussie rocks. And throughout the wheatbelt there are huge granite rocks with wonderful views where you can go camping for free!
I had to look up Purnululu and then I realised the Bungle Bungles – of course! Yes the Bungle Bungles were remarkable and they will be featuring in part 2 of my Aussie Remarkable Rocks. :)
I’ve always found rock formations to be intriguing. Magnetic Island has some amazing boulders. A young girl was killed about fifty years ago by one falling on her. I love the rocks at Yeppoon. I think they’re made from basalt. They look eerie sitting out in the ocean.
There are remarkable rocks everywhere you look. I wanted to see the ones called ‘organ pipes’ in the Gawler Ranges in SA, but we couldn’t go into the area due to us having our dog with us. I never understand why you can’t take dogs into National Parks. Stupid rule!