Features in this issue

Stirling Range National Park

Explore the highest peak in WA's south-west

Around 80 kilometres north of Albany lies Stirling Range National Park, so named after the rugged peaks of the Stirling Range that mark the landscape with their impressive size and jagged edges.

The Aboriginal name for the range is Koi Kyenunu-ruff, which means ‘mist rolling around the mountains’;
a frequent sight.

Many visitors flock to Stirling Range National Park for the challenge of climbing the highest peak in the south-west of Western Australia, Bluff Knoll, which rises 1095 metres above sea level creating a challenging and spectacular hiking experience. The surrounding range draws others to the brooding mountain landscape that comes alive in the spring with a stunning display of unique wildflowers.

The range stretches east-west for more than 65 kilometres and is characterised by stark cliff faces, magnificent views and abundant, vibrantly coloured flowering plants. At any time of year, there will always be some plants in bloom in the park and the Stirling Range is one of the few places in WA where snow occasionally falls.
 

Read more

Other features in this issue

After a year of sampling the species in the Swan-Canning Estuary, it was an exciting moment for Masters student Emily Taljaard to see an albino southern eagle ray (Myliobatis tenuicaudatus) in the Swan Estuary Marine Park at Alfred Cove.

3 minute read

After photographing Australian wildlife for more than 40 years, Jiri Lochman has had more interesting encounters than you can imagine. He is fascinated by the living natural world and has had the rare opportunity to view the incredible world of centipedes up close.
 

5 minute read

The concept of seasons and how they are defined in western culture includes indicators such as air temperature, rainfall or soil dryness. For Noongar Aboriginal peoples, it is a more nuanced and a more lived experience, noticing instead the movement and behaviours of animals or the reproduction of plants. These sensed phenomena play a key part in the seasonality of cultural burning practices.
 

4 minute read

Ten-year-old Olivia Thomas enjoyed some unstructured play time at Kent Street Weir with her friend Edith as part of the Muddy Hands Festival. Each year, the City of Canning runs the festival, and Nature Play WA brings the muddy fun to help encourage children and families to enjoy playing outdoors and being in nature.

4 minute read

If you were lucky enough to visit Perth Zoo’s breed-for-release facility over the last few years, you probably saw many dibblers (Parantechinus apicalis) scurrying around in their leaf-litter filled enclosures. 

7 minute read

The Wilderness Ocean Walk (WOW) Trail near Denmark has recently been extended, linking up with the Bibbulmun Track, Munda Biddi Trail and iconic Waterfall Beach to Elephant Rocks Trail, to create a 15-kilometre coastal adventure that takes full advantage of the picturesque landscape.

5 minute read

Josh Byrne grew up on the south coast of Western Australia, immersed in the stunning coastal landscapes, which carved a deep love and fascination with the natural environment. As his skills and knowledge grew, so did his sense of responsibility for our shared future, and he now spends his days sharing his love and passion for sustainability. 

6 minute read

A new joint management agreement is enabling Nharnuwangga Wajarri Ngarlawangga people to work on Country, rediscover long-forgotten cultural sites and care for the land of their ancestors in Collier Range National Park (proposed Gulali National Park) and the soon to be created national park at the former Waldburg Station (proposed Jilgu National Park).

4 minute read