A few phone calls this morning to work out what we do now! If Francois Peron National Park is Open then we could spend the day in the Park. If not we could drive on to Tamala Station with the intent of visiting Steep Point tomorrow. Discovered that Tamala Station is closed on Sundays so cross that off the list (guess they need a day off too!!). Had a phone call from Mary (National Parks) to tell us that Francois Peron is open as far as Big Lagoon. Looks like that's the plan.
First stop Peron Heritage Precinct, the original sheep station on the point now set up as a museum. The old overseers quarters has been converted into a display for visitors - the local Indigenous people, French maritime explorers, early pastoralists and fishers through to the conservation managers of today. Two sections of the display show how Project Eden, a plan to restore much of the wildlife to the Peron Peninsula, is changing Francois Peron National Park and included some "stuffed" Bilbys and Mallee Fowl, I guess the closest we'll get to these critters although there are signs around to look out for them on the road. The homestead artesian bore was drilled in 1922-1923 and the water was pumped by three windmills to nine watering points for livestock. Today, visitors can enjoy a dip in the hot water in a "hot tub" - looked inviting and we thought it might be a plan for after the drive out to Big Lagoon.
Before heading to Big lagoon we had a look around the shearing shed at the Station. The First pastoralists came to the area in the 1860s and the initial station lease was taken out in 1883. In 1919 the total area of the station was 106,000 hectares. Sheep numbers fluctuated with the seasons, the highest number being 21,000 in 1976. The station was purchased by National Parks in 1990.
François Peron National Park lies within the Shark Bay World Heritage area and adjacent to the Shark Bay Marine Park. The park covers 52,500 hectares of arid shrublands, rolling sandplains and spectacular coastal scenery. Time to let the tyres down to 22psi and head for Big Lagoon.
Big Lagoon was gorgeous - the water so blue. Lots of money has recently been spent on a 'fancy" day area and we were able to have our picnic lunch at a bench looking out over the lagoon. Along the way there a quite a few birrida (gypsum claypans) covered with pink samphire.
Back to the Homestead and a nice relax in the hot tub, then a wander along a little path to a bird hide.
On the way back to Denham we took a detour to drive along the banks of Little Lagoon and to the point - a popular fishing spot.
Stock up at the Supermarket and fuel up before heading back to the caravan park. Beef curry tonight - and it's raining again.
