<< Goodbye to Ningaloo Reef

08/31/24 - Mandu Mandu

We took an unguided hike right from our tent. We headed north past the lodge to the parking area at South Mandu then out and along the road. We crossed a dry wash and near North Mandu we took a turn east away from the sea. This why dry chaparral with tough looking plants spaced apart and dotting the dry soil. There were signs of running water, most likely episodic.

We've seen drier country. There were leaves on the plants and even a few trees taller than the lower plants around them. There were birds and flowers as one might expect in early spring. We made it to the Mandu Mandu parking area and started along the trail a bit. According to the maps, the trail would soon descend, and we were not keen on descending. We were getting tired, and descending meant that we would have to climb back out.

We took the easy version of the walk. Those more adventurous might have headed up the river at Mandu Mandu, but were were more than satsified.


The scene

Some birds

More birds

Some flowers

Chaparral

Signs of erosion

That's the dry wash, dry now but a river during the rainy season.

River canyon wall

Even some trees

Even more flowers

More of the scene

More of the canyon wall

Tribbles

A bush tribble

Springtime

Yet another bird

A lizard?

Dry country

Another flower

Surprisingly lush for a place so dry

More of the scene

Almost lush

A flowering shrub

Keywords: australia