Day 98: Williams to Beedelup

 The rain continued overnight and was light when we left Williams. Since we had been in the town, it would be unforgivable not to visit the towns icon, the Williams Woolshed.

The Woolshed was designed to transform Williams into a destination, rather than somewhere to stop for food and fuel. It was created to champion local wool growers and add a retail outlet for high quality woollen fashion. It is a pretty amazing place with a very large cafe, with a good food offering.

There is a substantial retail outlet for designer wool clothing

Another section sells local food products, preserves, wines etc. Local artisans are also included with a selection of ceramic kitchenware and craft products. Souvenirs fill out the repertoire.

We had a coffee and, had it been later in the morning, would definitely have been persuaded to try the scones.

After coffee we set out on a wet journey South with a hope we are heading to sunnier locations. One thing is certain though, the T shirts and shorts will be packed away as it is bloody cold.

One minute the sun was shining, the next it was raining. This pattern contiued for most of the morning. 

As lunch time approached we considered stopping in Bridgetown, but long vehicle parking there was terrible, so we soldiered on to Manjimup, where we found a dedicated long vehicle parking area in walking distance of the town centre and also diesel was competitively priced, so we filled our tank as well. I suspect this will be the last decent price we see for some time.

Lunch at the local bakery hit the spot with a tuna melt each, and we set out to cover the last 50km to Beedelup where the RAC Karri Valley Resort is. The caravan park section is remote from the resort, but is a very good facility and not at all busy. There were more kangaroos than campers.

We managed to reclaim our site from the kangaroos and parked ready to unhitch, when the heavens opened, so we sat in the car until it passed.

Plenty of spare sites and puddles

After the initial disruption of us arriving the kangaroos soon came back

Once we are are settled and the weather also is mostly fine, we decide to explore the Beedelup Falls which is only a few km from the resort.

Within the Beedelup National Park, the falls are at their best in Winter, when there is plenty of rain. A feature of the park, and this region is the Karri Forests. 

Karri Forest

Like just about every other National Park we have visited, the infrastructure here is excellent. Toilets, car parking, picnic spots and an amazing complex of boardwalks, lookouts and even a swing bridge across the river to provide an incredible view of the falls.

Maiden Hair fern thrives along the pathways in a very moist environment

Through out our walk the dominant wild flower was the one below wihich we believe is the purple coral pea. The colour is amazing.

The boardwalks and lookouts are impressive.

Having seen the falls from the side, crossing the swing bridge and being able to look directly at the falls and downstream to the cascades below really makes this a great experience.

The swing bridge across the river

A front on view of the falls from the bridge

and the cascades below the falls

 Back home at the caravan park we thought we would check out the resort part of the complex which overlooks the Lake. It is where all of the cabins are located. The Lakeside Restaurant looks nice and on the road leading to the resort we noticed that emus are also quite prolific here.

Plans for sightseeing in the area tomorrow are evolving.